Supplier Quality Representative

Supplier Quality Representative

This position entails visits to supplier and vendor shops to perform the activities defined by the quality surveillance assignment. The Supplier Quality Representative verifies, through monitoring, observation, document review, witnessing of examinations and tests, and selective hands-on inspection, that supplier-furnished material and equipment includes the defined attributes of recognized codes and standards and Bechtel procurement document requirements. Rejects material found nonconforming to procurement document requirements. Collaborates with the supplier and project supplier quality personnel to identify a course of action to achieve satisfactory disposition of disclosed nonconformances, releases conforming material for shipment, and reports surveillance results to Bechtel project personnel and the customer.

Responsibilities

The Supplier Quality Representative represents Bechtel as the supplier's primary contact and performs quality surveillance activities defined by the assignment scope to verify that supplier-furnished material and equipment conforms to the technical and quality requirements of the procurement documents. Acting in this capacity, the Supplier Quality Representative performs the following:

Requirements and Pre-Fabrication Readiness

• Reviews the procurement document requirements with supplier representatives to ensure they are understood and implemented, including client-specific and code-driven requirements.
• Participates in kickoff and pre-fabrication meetings; confirms witness and hold points, inspection and test planning, documentation deliverables, and traceability expectations before production begins.
• Verifies that qualified procedures, qualified personnel, calibrated equipment, current approved drawings and revisions, and released material are in place prior to the start of work.

Surveillance and Verification

• Performs the surveillance activities defined by the assignment and Bechtel's quality surveillance plan, which establishes what Bechtel verifies and at what level; the supplier's inspection and test plan governs the supplier's own regime, and the two meet at witness and hold points.
• Monitors supplier personnel activities, including the witnessing of operations, inspections, examinations, or tests, to verify purchase order document requirements have been met - first operation and nondestructive examination, welding, fit-up and dimensional verification, blasting and coating, pressure and functional testing, final inspection, factory acceptance testing, and pre-shipment verification.
• Reviews supplier-generated quality verification documentation to verify conformance to procurement document requirements, including material test reports, traceability and heat records, nondestructive examination reports, personnel and procedure qualifications, calibration records, coating records, and data books.
• Verifies that sub-suppliers and subcontracted operations are disclosed, qualified, and controlled, and that sub-tier findings and records are included in supplier reporting.
• Reviews supplier documents submitted to Bechtel with or without comments; does not sign, initial, stamp, or otherwise endorse supplier inspection and test plans or other supplier documents.

Nonconformance and Corrective Action

• Rejects material found nonconforming and documents the condition objectively with reference to the governing requirement and supporting photographic evidence.
• Collaborates with the supplier and project supplier quality personnel to identify a course of action to achieve satisfactory disposition of disclosed nonconformances; refers design-driven items to the Responsible Engineer for technical disposition.
• Verifies corrective action in the shop using supplier evidence together with the representative's own observation; ensures open actions carry an owner, due date, closure evidence, and follow-up verification, and reports repeat findings and adverse trends.

Release, Reporting, and Schedule Interface

• Releases conforming material for shipment and notifies other Bechtel functional organizations to assist in coordination of their activities.
• Reports the results of quality surveillance activities to provide Bechtel project personnel and the customer with the status of surveillance activities, using timely and accurate surveillance reports as the auditable record of attendance, observations, and actions.
• Provides early notification of quality or fabrication progress risk to the Area Supervisor and project supplier quality personnel, and coordinates with area expediting personnel so quality and progress status are consistent.
• Supports remote and technology-enabled surveillance, including hands-free video collaboration, three-dimensional scanning, and model overlay tools that extend Engineering and project visibility into the shop; these tools supplement, and do not replace, in-shop presence and judgment.
• Maintains assignment, notice-of-inspection, finding, certification, and photographic records in the applicable Bechtel systems.

Qualifications and Skills

Basic Qualifications

• Two years of related experience involving 2,000 hours of in-shop surveillance, examination, or testing activities; or
• High school diploma or equivalent and 1,000 hours of in-shop surveillance, examination, or testing activities; or
• Associate Degree, or the equivalent of two years of full-time college coursework in a related discipline, plus 500 hours of in-shop related experience in equivalent inspection, examination, or testing activities.
• Valid driver's license and the ability to travel routinely to supplier facilities within the assigned area.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any client, facility, or export-control access required for assigned suppliers.

Additional Qualifications

• The demonstrated ability to work under moderate supervision and to reach defensible conclusions independently while in a supplier facility.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including clear and factual surveillance report writing.
• Computer skills must consist of a working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications, electronic submission of reports and assignment tracking, and digital camera use.
• Additional hours of in-shop quality surveillance or related experience with equipment or materials common to the Bechtel marketplace.
• Commodity experience in one or more of the following: structural steel and plate work; piping, spools, valves, and supports; pressure vessels, exchangers, tanks, and skids or modules; rotating equipment and packaged units; electrical and instrumentation equipment, including transformers, switchgear, and e-houses; protective coatings and linings; precast and prestressed concrete products.
• Working familiarity with the applicable codes and standards for the assigned commodity, such as the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (Sections I, V, VIII, and IX), ASME B31.1 and B31.3, AWS D1.1, API standards, and AMPP/SSPC coating standards.
• Industry certifications such as ASNT Level II in one or more nondestructive examination methods, AWS Certified Welding Inspector, AMPP/NACE coating inspector, or NPCA Production and Quality School certification.
• Experience with quality programs applicable to the assignment, including ISO 9001, 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, or NQA-1.
• Experience on engineering, procurement, and construction projects in energy, nuclear, liquefied natural gas, mining and metals, or major infrastructure.
• Experience with supplier assessment, surveillance level determination, supplier requalification, or supplier document and certification data book control.
• Experience with international suppliers and translated documentation; a second language relevant to the assigned region is an advantage.
• Ability to work safely in an industrial fabrication environment with exposure to noise, heat, cold, dust, fumes, and moving equipment, wearing required personal protective equipment at all times.
• Ability to climb ladders and stairs, work at elevation, enter confined or restricted spaces where authorized, stand and walk for extended periods, and lift and carry inspection equipment of approximately 25 pounds.
• Vision and hearing, with correction as needed, sufficient to perform visual examination and witness testing.
• Include any and all industry certifications with your resume, including issue and expiration dates.