Supplier Engineering Manager

Job description

Primary Function of the Position Manage a team of Supplier Engineers with a focus on introducing new products into production and sustaining products already in production for the Multiport business unit. The successful candidate will have the ability to lead a team, and understand and solve complex issues associated with the supplier manufacturing process, quality, and business inter-relationships. This person will develop supplier quality systems and manufacturing processes to sustain suppliers and parts effectively.

Essential Job Duties

Lead a team of supplier engineers in strategic supplier selection, evaluation, development, and improvement with the goal of establishing and maintaining a high-performing, long-term, sustainable production supply chain. Develop and implement a robust long-term supplier strategy for the product family. Select and evaluate suppliers that fit the supplier strategy and influence critical stakeholders to utilize and maximize the use of the Production supply base.

Ensure suppliers are compliant with the Intuitive quality management system. Manage quality and lead the team in mitigating business risks and overcoming related challenges. Manage supplier relationships to partner with Intuitive and the supplier effectively.

• Support the team in completing the Production Part Qualification deliverables: pFMEA, Special
• Process Validations, FAI, and Process Capability Analysis
• Support transfer of parts and suppliers throughout the product development life cycle
• Manage the planning and implementation of supplier change management projects using the Supplier Change
• Request process (SCR).

Develop and use measurement techniques for supplier part quality, capability, cost, capacity, and delivery by creating metrics to determine if an action is required. Identify and investigate opportunities for cost reduction and/or quality improvement by collecting opportunities and creating tactics to present opportunities, perform research, and provide data-driven plans to management. Drive the supply base to continually improve their business and manufacturing process performance to meet Intuitive’s requirements for supplier excellence using a collection of best practices in project management, Six Sigma, Lean, SPC, and negotiation.

Review, analyze, and close non-conformances, and first article inspections by judging risk analyses and justifications, determining corrective and preventive actions at suppliers (SCAR), and looking for opportunities with suppliers to eliminate recurrence. Led the team in solving complex process issues in the manufacture of components and assemblies. Facilitate, influence, and work cross-functionally to improve supplier engineering processes.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Proven ability to lead teams to solve complex technical and process problems
• Proven ability to hire highly capable staff, and grow and mentor staff
• Proven ability to assess cost and capacity across supply base and develop plan to meet strategic targets Outstanding analytical skills along with good judgment
• Proficient in Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing techniques; certification preferred
• Proficient in pFMEA, process validation, route cause investigation, inspection, and test techniques
• Knowledge of document management systems and ERP Systems, preferably Agile and SAP Knowledge of 21 CFR part 820 and ISO 13485 preferred Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of manufacturing processes, including an understanding of key input variables for quality, cost, and capacity
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentations to executives Demonstrated Project Management skills Experience in a high-volume medical device company is a plus
• Ability to travel to suppliers on an as-needed basis – domestic and international (25%) Required Education and Training BS degree in engineering, advanced degree preferred Minimum
• 8 years related experience in Manufacturing, Operations, Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, or related field with significant medical or medical device experience preferred Minimum
• 1 years of experience leading supplier development or supplier quality engineering teams, or leadership of equivalent areas.

Working Conditions None

Preferred Skills and Experience

Plastics Injection Molding Process Development Knowledge Plastics Extrusion Process Development Knowledge Silicone/Elastomer Processing Knowledge