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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage suppliers for Body in White components, ensuring quality and reliability standards.
- Company: Join McLaren Automotive, a leader in innovative automotive engineering.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and hands-on experience in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a cutting-edge team shaping the future of automotive manufacturing.
- Qualifications: Degree in engineering or equivalent experience; knowledge of automotive supply chains.
- Other info: Opportunity to work globally and drive continuous improvement with top suppliers.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As part of McLaren Automotive's multi-propulsion strategy and ongoing growth, we are strengthening our Supplier Quality & Development (SQD) team. This role will focus on managing suppliers for Body in White (BIW) components, ensuring that high quality, delivery, and reliability standards are met across new and existing vehicle programmes.
What to Expect
You will work with suppliers of BIW commodity components including structural stampings, aluminium castings, extrusions, composite panels, adhesive bonding systems, and complete body assemblies. Operating primarily from the UK with a global remit, you will support suppliers throughout the product lifecycle—from sourcing and industrialisation to series production—ensuring successful launches and ongoing performance. This role is supplier-facing and hands-on, with responsibilities including process feasibility, quality planning, and issue resolution.
What You'll Do
- Supplier Sourcing & Qualification
- Conduct thorough assessments of supplier global sites to ensure a competent and reliable supply base.
- Ensure non-IATF16949 suppliers achieve certification in line with approved nomination plans.
- Collaborate with Engineering and Purchasing to select and nominate capable suppliers aligned with programme requirements.
- Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) & PPAP
- Support and implement APQP for all new tooled parts, ensuring timely and robust completion of activities.
- Work with Engineering and suppliers to complete PPAPs according to commodity timing plans and track approvals against delivery milestones.
- Provide progress reporting to Purchasing and SQA Programme teams, covering APQP open issues, PPAP pedigree, and delivery forecasts.
- Manage non-PPAP part concessions to ensure a "Plan for Every Part" is in place for build support.
- Design for Manufacturing (DFM) & Process Feasibility
- Collaborate with Engineering and suppliers to ensure product designs are feasible for manufacturing processes such as casting, machining, welding, hose manufacturing, pump assembly, and cooling system production.
- Verify that supplier manufacturing processes meet durability, performance, and reliability requirements.
- Launch & Series Production Support
- Ensure suppliers meet launch and delivery commitments in line with APQP requirements.
- Manage suppliers during series production to maintain PPAP compliance and resolve quality, capacity, and delivery concerns.
- Series Supplier Management & Governance
- Conduct annual supplier audits to verify continued compliance with McLaren standards and regulatory requirements.
- Monitor supplier performance through KPIs and quality metrics, ensuring sustained capability and delivery.
- Facilitate regular governance reviews with key suppliers to address risks, escalate issues, and drive continuous improvement.
- Identify critical suppliers and parts requiring cross-functional engagement and oversight.
- Risk Management & Issue Resolution
- Implement risk mitigation strategies to prevent supply chain disruptions and ensure business continuity.
- Identify critical suppliers and parts requiring cross-functional engagement.
- Drive resolution of major open issues, ensuring supplier senior management is actively involved.
- Deliver quality and capacity verification in line with McLaren Development Process (MDP) targets.
- Supplier Development & Continuous Improvement
- Develop and implement improvement strategies with suppliers to enhance performance and capability.
What You'll Bring
- Strong understanding of Body In White (BIW) supply chains and processes within automotive manufacturing.
- Knowledge of Aluminium alloys, high-strength steels, carbon fibre composites, and advanced lightweight materials.
- Experience with core quality tools: PPAP, MSA, APQP, FMEA, and SPC.
- Working knowledge of IATF16949 and AIAG standards.
- Understanding of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) for component fit and finish.
- Familiarity with durability and performance validation for mechanical systems.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, SAP, and CATIA viewer.
Essential Functional / Technical Skills Qualifications
- Degree-level qualification in a technical engineering discipline or equivalent practical experience.
- Commodity Expertise: Must possess deep commodity expertise, including a strong understanding of supplier manufacturing processes, tooling requirements, and typical quality and delivery risks associated with their commodity area.
- Supplier Quality Expertise: Proven experience in SQA/SQE roles, including leading suppliers through multiple new model launches.
- Core Quality Tools: PPAP, MSA, APQP, FMEA, SPC.
- Structured Problem Solving: 8D and DMAIC methodologies.
- Quality Management Systems: IATF16949 and AIAG standard practices.
- Engineering Standards: Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T).
- Digital & Systems Competence: Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SAP, and CATIA.
Supplier Quality in Woking employer: McLaren Automotive Ltd
Contact Detail:
McLaren Automotive Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Supplier Quality in Woking
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the automotive industry, especially those involved in Supplier Quality. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, highlight your experience with core quality tools like PPAP and APQP. Share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in supplier management or quality assurance.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see a company you’re keen on, don’t wait for them to post a job. Reach out directly through our website, express your interest, and share how your background in BIW supply chains can add value to their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of IATF16949 and AIAG standards. Be ready to discuss how you’ve applied these in past roles. Confidence in your expertise will make a great impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Supplier Quality in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Supplier Quality & Development role. Highlight your experience with BIW components and any relevant quality tools like PPAP and APQP. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about supplier quality in the automotive industry. Share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles, especially those related to supplier management.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your technical qualifications and experience with tools like Microsoft Office, SAP, and CATIA. We love seeing candidates who are not just qualified but also tech-savvy and ready to hit the ground running!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us that you’re genuinely interested in joining the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at McLaren Automotive Ltd
✨Know Your BIW Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Body in White (BIW) supply chains and processes. Familiarise yourself with the specific materials like aluminium alloys and carbon fibre composites, as well as the core quality tools such as PPAP and APQP. This will show that you're not just interested in the role but also understand the technical aspects that come with it.
✨Prepare for Supplier Scenarios
Think about potential scenarios you might face when managing suppliers. Be ready to discuss how you would handle issues related to quality, delivery, or compliance. Having concrete examples from your past experience can really help demonstrate your problem-solving skills and your ability to work hands-on with suppliers.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Highlight your proficiency in Microsoft Office, SAP, and CATIA during the interview. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these tools in previous roles, especially in relation to quality management systems and engineering standards. This will reassure them that you can hit the ground running.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare some thoughtful questions about McLaren's approach to supplier quality and development. This could include inquiries about their risk management strategies or how they ensure continuous improvement with suppliers. Asking insightful questions shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.