The Purchasing Quality Technical Specialist plays a central role in maintaining and improving supplier quality within the procurement process. Focused on designated material categories, this position ensures that suppliers meet rigorous technical and quality benchmarks through qualification, ongoing development, and performance oversight.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead supplier qualification efforts, including selection and approval for quality programs and participation in new supplier release processes.
- Support supplier sourcing decisions by providing quality input during Pre-Sourcing and Global Sourcing meetings.
- Deliver technical guidance during supplier claim resolution, following defined escalation protocols.
- Collaborate with project teams on Supplier Quality Planning (SQP) activities, ensuring alignment with established quality management processes.
- Plan and conduct process audits for suppliers, including remote assessments, and contribute to annual audit planning.
- Develop and maintain quality checklists tailored to specific material groups, such as LL, EM, TSR, and MF benchmarking tools.
- Support cost-saving initiatives, production ramp-ups, and material change projects like RPP and PEP.
- Design and implement inspection strategies in coordination with plant quality, purchasing, and engineering teams.
- Advise purchasing teams on Quality Assurance Agreements and support negotiations on quality and technology terms.
- Assist in resolving supplier quality issues that affect delivery performance and contribute to recovery plans.
- Provide input during the creation of material-specific technical specifications.
- Support project-based technical qualification of suppliers and assist plant teams during quality reviews.
- Identify strategic suppliers for inclusion in targeted quality improvement initiatives.
- Perform additional duties as needed to meet organizational quality and supply chain objectives.
