Supplier Quality Engineer

Job Summary

The Supplier Quality Engineer supports supplier quality initiatives that enable the business to achieve its operational and strategic supplier quality objectives. This role partners with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders to improve supplier performance, manufacturing processes, and product quality by applying quality engineering principles, industry standards, and continuous improvement methodologies. The Supplier Quality Engineer helps ensure suppliers consistently deliver products that meet customer, regulatory, and business requirements while driving operational excellence across the supply base.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with external suppliers, customers, and internal stakeholders including Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Supply Chain to improve supplier quality and business outcomes.
• Support supplier quality planning activities by applying Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) Core Tools, and Cummins quality methodologies.
• Evaluate and improve supplier manufacturing processes to enhance process capability, product quality, manufacturability, and operational performance.
• Participate in supplier quality audits and, when qualified, lead low-complexity supplier audits to assess compliance with quality management systems, manufacturing standards, and customer requirements.
• Investigate supplier quality issues using structured problem-solving methodologies, support root cause analysis, implement corrective and preventive actions, and verify the effectiveness of solutions.
• Monitor supplier quality performance and analyze quality metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support supplier development initiatives focused on improving manufacturing capability, reducing defects, enhancing process stability, and achieving Zero Defect performance.
• Apply AIAG Core Tools including PPAP, DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, and Source Release to validate supplier manufacturing processes and production readiness.
• Participate in quality planning and supplier performance improvement projects across assigned suppliers, commodities, or product segments.
• Support new product introduction activities by ensuring supplier readiness, process validation, and compliance with engineering and customer requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, statistical analysis, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure supplier compliance with quality standards, regulatory requirements, and Cummins quality expectations.