Supplier Quality Assurance Engineer

Key Responsibilities

1. Supplier Quality Management

• Monitor and manage the quality performance of assigned suppliers to ensure compliance with agreed quality requirements and specifications.
• Review supplier quality performance, identify recurring issues, and drive improvement initiatives.
• Support supplier performance evaluation and rating activities.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with suppliers to ensure timely resolution of quality issues.

2. Supplier Audit & Assessment

• Plan, organize, and conduct supplier audits based on the annual audit schedule or when required due to quality concerns.
• Assess supplier manufacturing processes, quality systems, controls, and compliance against applicable requirements.
• Identify potential risks and gaps during supplier audits and follow up on corrective actions.
• Monitor and verify the effectiveness of corrective actions before formal closure.

3. Supplier Quality Issue & Complaint Management

• Investigate incoming material quality defects and supplier-related complaints.
• Work closely with internal teams to verify defects, identify root causes, and determine appropriate containment actions.
• Communicate quality issues and requirements clearly to suppliers.
• Follow up with suppliers on 8D, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and ensure timely closure.
• Escalate critical or recurring supplier quality issues where necessary.

4. Supplier Continuous Improvement

• Drive supplier improvement activities to reduce defects, improve process capability, and strengthen quality performance.
• Analyse supplier quality trends and identify opportunities for preventive action.
• Work with suppliers to implement sustainable corrective actions and prevent recurrence.
• Monitor key supplier quality indicators and provide regular performance updates to management.

5. New Supplier & New Part Qualification

• Support the qualification and approval of new suppliers and new parts.
• Review supplier quality documentation and ensure compliance with internal and customer requirements.
• Participate in supplier process evaluations and qualification activities.
• Work with cross-functional teams to ensure new suppliers and parts meet required quality and technical standards before production implementation.

6. Quality System & Compliance

• Ensure supplier quality activities are aligned with applicable quality management system requirements.
• Support compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, VDA, and other applicable customer or industry requirements.
• Maintain proper documentation and records relating to supplier audits, quality issues, corrective actions, and supplier performance.
• Represent customer quality requirements within internal functions and supplier engagements.

7. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Quality, Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Planning, and other relevant functions to resolve supplier-related issues.
• Provide technical input during supplier selection, qualification, quality improvement, and problem-solving activities.
• Communicate supplier quality risks and improvement opportunities to relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a related discipline.

• Equivalent technical qualifications with relevant supplier quality experience may also be considered.

• Preferably 3–5 years of experience in Supplier Quality Assurance, Supplier Quality Engineering, Quality Engineering, Manufacturing Quality, or a related role.

• Experience in semiconductor, electronics, automotive, EMS, or high-volume manufacturing would be an advantage.

• Experience in supplier auditing, incoming quality control, supplier development, and quality problem-solving is preferred.

Technical Skills & Competencies

• Working knowledge of IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and/or VDA requirements.

• Strong knowledge of quality improvement and problem-solving tools, including (8D, FMEA, DOE, SPC, Root Cause Analysis, CAPA)

• Supplier auditing and assessment skills.

• Good understanding of manufacturing and quality processes.

• Knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing processes would be an advantage.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Good communication, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple supplier quality issues simultaneously.

• Willingness to travel for supplier audits and quality improvement activities when required.

Authority & Accountability

• Authorized to stop non-conforming materials or parts from entering the manufacturing process where quality requirements are not met.
• Authorized to recommend or initiate supplier shipment holds where supplier products or processes are found to be non-conforming.
• Authorized to issue stop instructions in accordance with the company's quality procedures.
• Responsible for ensuring supplier corrective actions are implemented and effectively closed.
• Responsible for representing customer quality requirements in internal functions and supplier engagements.