Supplier Quality Engineer

at  Plexus

WHO WE ARE

We’re a global team of over 20,000 engineering, manufacturing, supply chain and sustaining service experts who partner with customers to bring their products to life through inspired innovation and world-class customer service.
From surgical devices and health monitors to warehouse robotics and space products, we partner with our customers to help create the products that build a better world.
Whether you’re looking to start, make a change or advance your career, find your path at Plexus Corp. and make an impact.

Key Job Accountabilities:

• Supplier Qualification - Lead supplier qualification as a key member in supplier selection and evaluation teams using a risk based approach. Lead supplier audits applying good auditing practices and our Quality Management System (QMS) in both new programs and on-going management of suppliers.
• Part Qualification - Use purchased product specifications to identify Critical to Quality features and complete part qualification activities using different elements of Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) to flow requirements from Customers into the supply base. Connect part qualification activities into receiving inspection setting both sampling plans and inspection criteria. Represent Supplier Quality in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) teams and supplier change requests as a key member driving Zero Defect strategies into the supply chain.
• Supplier Management - Lead supplier corrective action activities in multiple levels of the supply chain using non-conforming parts, data trends and supplier audit findings. Analyze data to identify trends and provide suppliers feedback to drive supplier performance improvements. Assist in categorization of suppliers by risk for additional development or auditing activities.
• Engineering expertise - Apply expertise in assigned engineering function to challenge suppliers processes using a risk based approach. The approach includes design reviews, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans (CP) and statistical process controls (SPC) applied to selected manufacturing technologies.
• Assist in guiding or shaping future Supplier Quality Strategies and support development of supplier quality engineers in both technical growth and supplier quality fundamentals. Apply domain depth to standard operating procedures (SOP), work instructions (WI) and templates to improve standard work and operational rigor within function

Education/Experience Qualifications:

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a minimum of 5 years of related experience.
• A combination of education, experience, and time in field will be taken into consideration, and internal candidates may have distinct requirements tailored to their demonstrated skills and contributions within the organization

Other Qualifications:

• ASQ Certification preferred (CQE, CQA, CMQOE)
• Broad understanding of materials, manufacturing technologies and processes

Physical Requirements:

• Role will support operational teams in a manufacturing environment with required personal protective equipment. Facilities include comfortable temperatures, repetitive low noise level and suitable lighting for required tasks. May require walking, standing and sitting, using a computer, and other office equipment. Direct interaction with people and equipment is event driven and will include activities related to inspecting, qualifying, troubleshooting and improving jigs, fixtures, and manufacturing methods using different types of components or material. Role may require working individually on tasks with a prolonged focus on written material, working collectively as part of a team of various disciplines and backgrounds and working in multiple software systems

Travel Requirements:

• Less than 10

Purpose Statement: The Supplier Quality Engineer is responsible to drive the organization’s Zero Defect Strategy and continual improvement into the supply base for both compliance and risk mitigation within operations. This role will represent the supplier quality function to customers, external auditors, and internal teams for all incoming raw material and services. Supplier Quality is a key technical and indirect leadership function that will apply fundamentals of quality in order to influence suppliers in meeting or exceeding expectations.
This role will be manufacturing based at our manufacturing facility located in Buffalo Grove, IL focusing on electrical assemblies.

Key Job Accountabilities:

• Supplier Qualification - Lead supplier qualification as a key member in supplier selection and evaluation teams using a risk based approach. Lead supplier audits applying good auditing practices and our Quality Management System (QMS) in both new programs and on-going management of suppliers.
• Part Qualification - Use purchased product specifications to identify Critical to Quality features and complete part qualification activities using different elements of Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) to flow requirements from Customers into the supply base. Connect part qualification activities into receiving inspection setting both sampling plans and inspection criteria. Represent Supplier Quality in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) teams and supplier change requests as a key member driving Zero Defect strategies into the supply chain.
• Supplier Management - Lead supplier corrective action activities in multiple levels of the supply chain using non-conforming parts, data trends and supplier audit findings. Analyze data to identify trends and provide suppliers feedback to drive supplier performance improvements. Assist in categorization of suppliers by risk for additional development or auditing activities.
• Engineering expertise - Apply expertise in assigned engineering function to challenge suppliers processes using a risk based approach. The approach includes design reviews, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans (CP) and statistical process controls (SPC) applied to selected manufacturing technologies.
• Assist in guiding or shaping future Supplier Quality Strategies and support development of supplier quality engineers in both technical growth and supplier quality fundamentals. Apply domain depth to standard operating procedures (SOP), work instructions (WI) and templates to improve standard work and operational rigor within function.

Education/Experience Qualifications:

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a minimum of 5 years of related experience.
• A combination of education, experience, and time in field will be taken into consideration, and internal candidates may have distinct requirements tailored to their demonstrated skills and contributions within the organization.

Other Qualifications:

• ASQ Certification preferred (CQE, CQA, CMQOE)
• Broad understanding of materials, manufacturing technologies and processes.

Physical Requirements:

• Role will support operational teams in a manufacturing environment with required personal protective equipment. Facilities include comfortable temperatures, repetitive low noise level and suitable lighting for required tasks. May require walking, standing and sitting, using a computer, and other office equipment. Direct interaction with people and equipment is event driven and will include activities related to inspecting, qualifying, troubleshooting and improving jigs, fixtures, and manufacturing methods using different types of components or material. Role may require working individually on tasks with a prolonged focus on written material, working collectively as part of a team of various disciplines and backgrounds and working in multiple software systems.

Travel Requirements:

• Less than 10%

This document does not represent a contract of employment and is not intended to capture every possible assignment the incumbent could be asked to perform.
We are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities or special requirements. If you need an application accommodation, please contact us by email at
GHQ.TA@plexus.com
. Please include your contact information and clearly describe how we can help you.
The email address above is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
Some offers of employment are contingent upon successfully passing a drug screen and upon completion of a confidentiality agreement.
Our Values and How We Lead behaviors guide our processes. Plexus does not make employment decisions based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and encourage all to apply today