About the position
The Supplier Quality Engineer position at Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is a critical role within the Body and Fuel Division of the Automotive segment. This division is dedicated to driving profitability through innovative solutions and application engineering, focusing on products such as fuel housings, door and safety handles, Capless solutions, and EV charge ports for major OEMs globally. The Supplier Quality Engineer will be responsible for ensuring that all products meet the highest quality standards throughout the manufacturing process, which takes place across multiple locations in North America and Mexico. In this role, the engineer will develop and maintain robust Control Plans for Production Quality Control, incorporating lessons learned from continuous improvement activities. They will also be tasked with establishing and modifying quality standards for various materials and finished goods, implementing inspection and testing methods, and ensuring the calibration of measuring and testing equipment. The engineer will review Non-Conformance Material Reports (NCMRs) for accuracy and assist in the development of the Supplier Quality Assurance program, which includes data management and system development. The Supplier Quality Engineer will conduct inspections, audits, and analyses to support the organization's quality goals, facilitate supplier quality audits, and provide technical leadership to less experienced engineers. They will also be responsible for managing customer complaints, ensuring compliance with quality testing phases, and leading problem-solving activities using methodologies such as the 8D Process and DMAIC Principles. This position requires a strong understanding of statistical process control (SPC) and the ability to interpret data to make informed decisions about part quality. The role demands a self-motivated individual who can work both independently and as part of a team, with a keen attention to detail and strong communication skills. The Supplier Quality Engineer will also need to be flexible in their working hours, including the possibility of overtime and weekends, and will be expected to travel up to 25% of the time.
Responsibilities
- Develop robust Control Plans for Production Quality Control and update with lessons learned through continuous improvement activity.
- Develop, modify, apply, and maintain quality standards for processing materials, purchased materials, manufactured materials, and finished goods.
- Devise and implement methods and procedures for inspecting, testing, and evaluating the precision and accuracy of products and production equipment.
- Responsible for calibration of measuring and test equipment in all areas and maintaining such records.
- Review NCMRs to assure accuracy, verify reject reasons, and update the NCMR database.
- Assist in developing and implementing the supplier Quality Assurance program, including data input, assessment capability, chart and form establishment, data maintenance, and new system development.
- Assist in auditing products and production processes to support documented business quality goals and objectives.
- Conduct inspections according to prints and update the FAI database.
- Perform incoming inspection/outgoing dock audits and maintain inspection sheets.
- Analyze Supplier returns and coordinate disposition and feedback to management.
- Perform complex quality audits and set quality standards for outsourced products and materials.
- Develop and guide methods for testing, sampling, and training.
- Report on complex quality analyses and defective products and recommend necessary quality procedure changes.
- Ensure compliance throughout all quality testing and validation phases.
- Facilitate supplier quality audits and regulatory inspections and help lead laboratory studies, research, testing, and operational activities.
- Work closely with external vendors, contractors, and suppliers to ensure that the final product meets the organization's quality standards.
- Provide technical leadership and assist in training less experienced engineers/inspectors.
- Ensure continuous control over materials, facilities, and products.
- Mitigate customer complaints and act as the point of contact with the supplier.
- Review control of nonconformance material disposition and inspection of reworked product.
- Accurately track and report costs.
- Measure prototype, pre-production, and serial parts during product launch.
- Responsible for all serial PPAP documentation at suppliers.
- Facilitate and lead problem-solving activity through the 8D Process, DMAIC Principles, and 5-Why Problem Solving.
- Interpret SPC to make sound judgments on part quality, with a clear understanding of Cpk and Ppk data.
- Assist manufacturing engineers with RPN reduction by creating and enhancing PFMEAs and Control Plans based on lessons learned.
- Follow and instill good Safety Practices by ITW objectives.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a minimum of 5+ years of relevant work experience required.
- 3+ years of manufacturing experience in the role of Quality Engineer.
- 2+ years of manufacturing supervisory experience.
- TS / IATF 16949 experience.
- Manufacturing automotive experience.
- Strong communications skills, both written and verbal.
- Computer Skills - MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Root cause analysis techniques.
- Able to read prints; GD&T experience is a must.
- Must be able to work in a team or individual environment.
- Self-motivated individual with attention to detail.
- Must be able to travel 25%.
- Must be able to work a flexible shift, including overtime and weekends.
Benefits
- Competitively priced medical and dental coverage the first of the month following hire.
- Free life insurance.
- Paid vacation and holidays.
- Immediate 401k matching.
- Additional retirement savings contribution after one year.
