Senior SQA Engineer in Oxford

Ensure the supply chain performance of product and services. To support all Plant related supplier concerns, work with suppliers to raise and close out NCR’s and improvement activities, resulting in the continued supply of conforming product.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating containment activities when supplier non-conformance is suspected.
• Supervise and lead the plant based, supplier quality team making sure actions and SLA’s are carried out in a timely manner.
• Notifying and working with Suppliers to investigate and prevent reoccurrence of supplier non-conformance.
• Working with internal Quality and Suppliers to ensure measurement results are robust.
• Raising the appropriate paperwork to return suspect products to suppliers, and/or use product ‘as is’ until improvements are in place.
• Work closely with other functions to ensure no line stoppages.
• Provide technical support in the areas of Assembly, Inspection, Goods Inwards, and Production line Quality support activities.
• Support regular inspection meetings with representatives from appropriate departments to establish an action plan for improving build quality.
• Work with Engineering team to define process parameters and criteria to ensure supplier process capability in order to meet product and process requirements.
• Attend and report at regular improvement meetings, providing secure preventative actions to external and internal quality related concerns.
• Ensure all products flow through the inspection department.
• Ensure all incidents of non-conformance are recorded.
• Establishing supplier scorecards; monitoring quality, delivery, and commercial performance.
• Raising NCR’s/8D’s on suppliers and ensuring the timely and effective implementation of preventative actions and closure of investigations.
• Work closely with Purchasing, Supplier Development and Operations to ensure the consistent supply of conforming products.
• Lead supplier monitoring visits and audits, both in the UK and overseas, as required.
• Support the implementation and subsequent maintenance of systems and processes to ensure compliance with the automotive TS16949 Management Systems.
• To undertake regular Process Audits to assist in the management of the business processes and QMS.
• Analysis and reporting of supplier quality incidents.
• Undertake other additional duties that may be required from time to time as determined by the company.

Skills and experience required:

• Minimum HNC/Degree in Engineering discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Previous supervisory experience.
• Experience gained in an automotive supply chain quality environment, preferably in high volume manufacturing business to set the right standard.
• Very strong experience in Problem Solving.
• Understanding of engineering drawings.
• Understanding manufacturing processes.
• Planning and prioritising activities.
• Experience of auditing both internal and supplier processes.
• Experience of development programmes, Pareto, PFMEA or similar continuous improvement initiatives to drive quality improvements.
• Knowledge of APQP tools and techniques (including FMEA and Control Plans).
• Knowledge of statistical analysis, process capability and problem resolution tools (8D, 5 Why, 6 Sigma etc.) and techniques.
• A team player with the ability to work on own initiative, and able to influence others by demonstrating a positive “can do” attitude.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work at pace in a multi-project environment.
• Candidates must have UK driving license and ability to travel.