Job Description

Company / Location Information

A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Primary Function

The Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) reports to the North America Water Heater Quality Manager. The SQE implements our supplier quality functions to proactively prevent quality concerns while improving cost. The SQE ensures the implementation of the AO Smith Supplier Requirements Manual and follows our AO Smith Quality Management System policies and procedures. The SQE drives incoming quality by evaluating new and existing suppliers, promoting the incoming quality verification program, and resolving supplier issues to closure in a timely manner utilizing the supplier corrective action system. The SQE works with the Commodities Group, Engineering, AO Smith manufacturing plants and suppliers to develop and improve the entire supply chain. The position requires an individual with strong communication and project management skills, a teaching attitude, and a degree of assertiveness tempered with patience. This position may require periods of extensive travel to domestic and international destinations.

Responsibilities

Supplier Evaluation and Selection:

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of potential new suppliers.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, supplier quality systems, and supplier processes.
• Collaborate with procurement and engineering teams to select suppliers that meet our standards.
• Lead the development of Supplier Onboarding Management Plans, including, but not limited to, initial supplier assessment, receiving inspection planning, inspection tools/equipment planning, and administering supplier PPAP.

New Product Development:

• Apply knowledge of customer requirements while supporting product groups and manufacturing plants for customer/supplier quality-related activities.
• Participate in product development project activities. Communicate special characteristics and capability expectations to suppliers early in the product development process to ensure their ability to provide a conforming product.
• Review new design specifications and provide input from component quality and manufacturability perspective.
• Promote best practices for properly testing software and product designs.

Supplier Performance:

• Maintain and support the supplier performance management system through supplier reporting, supplier performance analysis, supplier corrective actions (SCAR), and surveillance audits.
• Support activities associated with Supplier Collaboration Management including new product development, supplier selection, supplier development, and when necessary, supplier de-qualification for poor performance.
• When appropriate, conduct on-site supplier quality assessments to ISO 9001 requirements to identify and prioritize areas for improvement.
• Identify and require corrective actions resulting from supplier on-site quality assessments and significant defect discoveries. Follow-up on SCAR implementation and effectiveness verification.

Supplier Development (Continuous Improvement):

• Develop and implement Supplier Quality Improvement Plans (SQIP) based on trends and findings associated with the supplier performance management system.
• Develop and perform training (internal and external) on the requirements of the A.O. Smith Supplier Quality System and support any supplier-related training necessary for A.O. Smith associates.
• Plan and review Process Capability Studies, Measurement System Analysis and Design of Experiments.
• Provide training and guidance to suppliers on quality standards, quality tools, problem solving and best practices.

Issue Resolution:

• Work directly with suppliers to initiate, implement, and verify practical corrective actions for Non-Conforming Report issues.
• Support containment actions as necessary to minimize company exposure to supplier-related defects.
• Provide oversight for field failures related to supplier materials. Develop corrective action plans where necessary.

Other:

• Work with plant resources to implement the responsibilities noted above, when appropriate.
• Participate in the planning and executing of strategic supplier quality-related plans, policies, and procedures.
• Generate and maintain incoming inspection procedures. Train inspectors to these procedures.
• Manage the development of fixtures and test equipment for incoming quality control (IQC) and functional trouble shooting.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by their manager or supervisor.

Qualifications

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor of Science - Technical or Business-related discipline preferred.
• Minimum 3 years manufacturing experience in Quality / Supplier Quality.
• ASQ – CQE / CSQP / CQA / CRE/ CSQE preferred.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to utilize Six Sigma tools to resolve product/process issues.
• Ability to read, interpret, and understand technical and non-technical documents including but not limited to contracts, product drawings, and product specifications.
• Utilize interpersonal skills to communicate professionally at all levels within the operational customer/supplier environment.
• Must be proficient in DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, PPAP, AQP and problem solving.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, SAP, Quality Management Software and Minitab.

We Offer

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.

ADA Statement & EEO Statement

In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.