Supplier Quality Manager

at  Kone

KONE Supply Chain is committed to building a resilient, locally accountable, yet globally harmonized supply chain that operates with agility. We work closely with our customers, partners, and stakeholders to address evolving market needs. Safety, quality, environment, and sustainability are key pillars driving our supply chain function.
As part of this vision, Supplier Quality Management (SQM) is a critical global function within the KONE Safety & Quality Organization. SQM ensures the delivery of high-quality materials and services by managing supplier relationships and enforcing KONE’s stringent quality and sustainability standards.
We are now looking for a Supplier Quality Manager to join our team in Hyvinkää.
The SQM Manager is a techno-managerial role responsible for both strategic and operational aspects of supplier quality management. You will lead a small team of 2-3 SQM Engineers while playing a key role in driving supplier quality excellence across the upstream supply chain.
This involves managing supplier selection, qualification, development, and ongoing performance to ensure that all suppliers meet KONE’s quality, sustainability, and safety requirements.
We are seeking a growth-mindset individual who is not only capable of meeting goals but also willing to go the extra mile when the situation demands it—ensuring that quality standards are met, even in challenging circumstances.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field (M.Sc. preferred).
• Experience: 5-8 years of experience in supplier quality management, ideally in casting, machining, electronics, or a similar manufacturing environment.
• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of quality auditing practices (ISO 9001, 14001, 45001) and experience with supplier qualification processes.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Strong ability to analyse complex quality issues, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Project Management: Excellent organizational and project management skills, with experience in leading cross-functional teams.
• Language Skills: Fluency in English; proficiency in other European languages (e.g., Finnish, German, Spanish) is an advantage.
• Additional Certifications: Lean Six Sigma certification is a plus.
• Willingness to Travel: Flexibility to travel up to 25% of the time, both domestically and internationally.

• Team Leadership & Development: Manage and mentor a team of SQM Engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.
• Supplier Performance Management: Oversee supplier qualification, development, and auditing processes, ensuring adherence to KONE’s quality standards and sustainability criteria.
• Technical & Process Oversight: Collaborate with technical and business teams to define and implement product and process quality requirements for supplier categories.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive supplier development and risk mitigation projects, utilizing Lean Six Sigma methodologies to enhance supplier performance and reduce defects.
• Strategic Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with procurement, R&D, and other key stakeholders to align supplier quality processes with broader business objectives.
• Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis: Lead root cause analysis for quality issues, driving the implementation of corrective and preventive actions with suppliers.
• Compliance & Auditing: Ensure that suppliers comply with ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 standards, and lead regular audits to assess their quality management systems.
• Upstream Supply Chain Optimization: Act as a key driver in optimizing the upstream supply chain by ensuring supplier quality readiness for new product launches and engineering changes through robust PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) management.