Engineer II, Supplier Quality (Full Time)
Department: All Openings, Quality

Position Summary

Evaluates vendor operations, products, and services for compliance with government and company quality standards. Conducts audits and testing of products, materials, and processes to measure effectiveness and compliance with company expectations. Analyzes and monitors metrics and KPIs to suggest improvement initiatives. Works with vendors and identifies alternative vendors to mitigate risks and resolve problems. Assists with drafting and negotiating service-level agreements to ensure performance/quality metrics, responsibilities, expectations, and penalties are adequately defined. Prepares reports and updates on vendor status and quality.

Essential Job Functions

• Maintain nonconforming material matrix data for the purpose of quality reporting through the use of statistical process control.
• Maintain, implement, and monitor supplier control system, including Material Review Boards (MRBs) and Supplier Corrective Action Request (SCAR) as required.
• Maintain corrective action database for supplier returns and warranty claims.
• Trend rejections associated with supplier product for internal corrective action, perform procedure audits associated with the Piper Quality Management System.
• Analyze production and service limitations and standards; recommend the revision of specifications, policies, and procedures.
• Perform internal audits in accordance with Quality Assurance manual.
• Interface with Engineering, customers, and suppliers on vendor related quality issues.
• Investigate root cause and corrective action for discrepancies targeted.
• Evaluate Piper Process Specifications (PPS), engineering drawings, and other acceptance criteria to verify quality characteristics or functions for supplier products.
• Application of statistical quality control and statistical methods for the purpose of measuring and improving the quality of processes.
• Evaluate quality activity in various areas to determine process capability and control to ensure smooth, uninterrupted workflow associated with supplier items.
• Implement strategic plans initiated by the department as advised by organizational leadership.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities. May be required to train and assist other employees, effectively partnering and collaborating on department and cross-functional organizational initiatives

Minimum Position Qualifications

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and Experience

• Bachelors’ Degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience, having a minimum of five years within a quality capacity in a manufacturing organization with aircraft experience preferable.
• Quality inspection experience required. ISO9001/AS9100 experience preferred. Familiarity with APQP and failure mode analysis.
• Ability to periodically travel domestically and internationally by efficient means of transportation, including air travel and overnight stays as required.
• Requires comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing process and quality system, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements.
• Must have working knowledge of Windows based computer programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Must demonstrate flexibility on the job, self-motivation, and attention to detail.

Physical Demands

• Demonstrates physical and functional ability to perform and accomplish tasks. Regularly required to walk throughout Piper’s campus and stoop, kneel, bend, crouch in and around aircraft while performing investigations. Uses hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Requires moderate physical effort consisting of occasionally lifting and/or moving light to moderately heavy weight material up to 35 lbs.

Mental Demands

• Working knowledge of computer management tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access is necessary to perform the duties in this position.
• Ability to read and understand technical data including engineering design and process specifications.
• General knowledge of all phases of aircraft design, approval, manufacturing, and service, all manufacturing processes and techniques relative to fabrication and assembly.
• Ability to foster collaborative relationships, to work well under pressure, to organize and synthesize new information, and prioritize tasks. Possesses critical thinking, analytical skills and flexibility. Ability to multi-task. Required detailed attention to work in an environment where interruptions need to be controlled. Demonstrates sensitivity to customer needs and expectations.

Working Conditions

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to both office and plant environments. May be exposed to odors, chemical agents, dust, fumes, gasses, sharp objects, hazardous or moving equipment, wet slippery floors, and extremes in temperature and humidity.
• Interacts regularly with various staff and employees, vendors, suppliers, and occasionally with community members and regulatory agency representatives.
• Travel and overtime may be required.

Operational Excellence

• Supports all operational excellence initiatives ensuring full participation in all department services, continuous improvement efforts, and training programs.

Quality Assurance

• Maintains a safe, orderly working environment including FOD compliance.
• Ensures adherence to Piper Aircraft, Inc. corporate compliance policies.
• Adheres to organization and department policies and procedures.

Compliance

• Responsible for ensuring compliance with laws, rules and regulations appropriate to job function.
• Comply with all organizational policies and standards regarding ethical business practices.
• Work ethically and with integrity; upholds organizational values.
• Maintains compliance with company safety policies and procedures, OSHA, and EPA regulations including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), behaviors, physical space and hazardous waste disposal procedures.

Communicates Effectively

• Effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills who understands how to develop and maintain external supplier and internal customer relations in both written and oral form.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism at all times during direct contact with employees, suppliers, and customers.

Decision Quality

• Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving on-time with deliverables.

Optimizes Work Processes

• Knows and contributes the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.

Attention to Detail

• Takes responsibility for a thorough, accurate, and detailed method of completing work tasks.

Drives Results

• Overcomes adversity, consistently achieving quality results - even under demanding deadlines and unexpected operating circumstances.

Teamwork

• Interacts, partners, and collaborates effectively with others, positively contributing to overall department and organizational deliverables and results.