Supplier & New Market Quality Manager

About the role·        

• Manage incoming supplier quality for current products across all U.S. Wolverine Advanced Materials (WAM) facilities.
• Support global WAM facilities on supplier quality initiatives, including supplier development, performance improvement, and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Technology teams to ensure new products have clearly defined requirements, specifications, and quality standards.
• Drive supplier quality improvements to strengthen consistency, reliability, and compliance with WAM expectations.
• Support new market expansion by ensuring customer and supplier quality requirements are met for both existing and new products.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to proactively address quality risks and enable smooth product launches in new markets
• This position is located on site in Blacksburg, VA. (no remote work).

·       What you'll do

Ensure current WAM suppliers are meeting required and established standards by:

• Ensure suppliers are following to policies and procedures, operational guidelines related to established quality management system. (ISO/TS 16949).
• Drive supplier management through effective facilitation of supplier corrective actions, supplier certification, nonconforming material review and failure analysis and participation in the Quality Review Team (QRT).
• Create supplier audit schedule and participating in audits which are conducted on a scheduled basis, record action items, and ensure timely follow up. 
• Lead implementation and monitoring supplier scorecards.  Work with Purchasing on key metrics and ensure supplier’s expectations are clearly communicated.
• Establish a cadence with Purchasing for review of Supplier Concerns.
• Evaluate and verify proper root-cause analysis and effectiveness of corrective actions;
• Assist in developing best practices (standard inspection procedures, work instructions, quality test methods and policies).

Supplier Development / Improvement

• Work with suppliers on effective development of Process Maps, PFEMA’s, and Control Plans. 
• Participate in working with the supplier; develop improvement plans including dated action plans.
• Collaborate with suppliers to ensure successful PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) completion, including reviewing submitted packages, providing guidance on deficiencies, and securing timely approvals

New Products

• Work with APQP teams, (Operations, Supply Chain and Technology) to determine the critical specifications of a new purchased product.  Ensure that the proper tests are in place at the supplier to meet the specification and that material certifications clearly communicate specifications and results to the plants.  
• Participate in process audits at the supplier when new purchased product is being produced, record action items and ensure timely follow up.
• Lead new product PPAP processes.

New Market Expansion Support

• Provide quality support to WAM teams in India, Brazil, Japan, WAM joint ventures, and other developing markets, ensuring customer requirements are met and supplier development activities are executed effectively and on schedule
• Ensure customer complaints are addressed promptly and thoroughly, including root cause investigation, corrective action, and preventive action implementation.
• Maintain clear, timely, and consistent communication with WAM teams, customers, and suppliers worldwide.
• Oversee the PTR (Product Technical Review) process for products developed for new markets, ensuring accuracy, compliance with specifications, timeliness, and customer satisfaction.

Other

• Lead Supplier Quality Management efforts, and implement improvements when necessary
• Work with Plant Quality Managers to ensure components are meeting the plant’s needs. 
• Assist Plant Quality Engineers with process improvement teams and customer concerns. 
• Participate on internal audits and as an audit guide on external audits.

The above is intended to describe the general content of, and the requirements for, the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited university in Engineering, Business, or a related field; or 10 years minimum of relevant industry experience.
• 5–10 years of experience in a manufacturing environment; automotive manufacturing in Quality or Supplier Quality roles strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects and/or previous roles.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to apply root cause analysis techniques such as 5 Whys, 8D, or similar methodologies.
• ASQ or RAB auditor certification preferred.
• IATF Lead Auditor certification, including second-party audits, preferred.
• AIAG Core Tools certification or demonstrated knowledge of APQP, PPAP, Control Plans, FMEA, MSA, and SPC.
• Ability to handle supplier and customer inquiries, concerns, and complaints in a professional and tactful manner.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% to support customer and supplier needs.
• Strong understanding and practical experience with statistical concepts, including Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Six Sigma problem-solving methods.
• Shainin RED X certification a plus.
• Excellent communication skills with proficiency in auditing techniques, including evaluation, documentation, and reporting.
• Proficiency in relevant computer software applications.

**Wolverine Advanced Materials is an Equal Employment Opportunity Company