Supplier Quality Engineer

What is the job?

With support from other Thorlabs departments, engage and collaborate with Thorlabs supply chain to implement best practices that eliminate waste, emphasise defect prevention, reduce component variation, ensure on-time delivery and nurture an environment of continuous improvement. In co-operation with Thorlabs Quality, Purchasing and Engineering functions, perform root cause analysis with suppliers and implement corrective action plans to prevent poor quality. Offer technical support to existing and prospective suppliers to enhance supplier capability and performance.

Monday to Friday 8am – 4:30pm (office based)

Quality Engineering

2 stage process following shortlisting (w/c 14th September): 30-minute Teams call with HR;
First stage: 1 hour Teams interview;
Second stage:
Onsite 2 hour interview

• Leading Supplier Audits, collating and presenting the results that highlight any risks to the business.
• Support strategically selected suppliers by performing on-site supplier visits, raising and validating Supplier Corrective Action Reports.
• Experience of working with CNC machined parts to very tight tolerances, and understanding of metal finishing processes, particularly anodising, preferred but not essential.
• Engage in supply chain improvements by active and collaborative supplier engagement to eliminate waste and emphasise defect prevention.
• Develop an understanding and utilise continuous improvement tools such as Lean, Six-Sigma, Poka-Yoke (Error Proofing), Measurement System Analysis and Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) to enhance supplier performance
• Collaborate with other teams to monitor and critique key supplier quality data to identify process improvement opportunities within the supply chain
• Collaborate with Engineering teams (R&D, NPI, Quality, and Manufacturing)
• Produce and present concise supplier action plan summaries with internally agreed KPIs to monitor and track impact of supplier quality improvements on cost, quality, and on-time delivery
• Develop a supplier audit programme to ensure corrective actions are maintained by periodic verification

Thorlabs is a global, industry leading optical technologies company. We are experts in the design and manufacture or a range of innovative photonics products. We use these products in manufacturing and research, from fibre optics to piezo motors. We are the gold standard with optics laboratories worldwide. There are now 22 facilities across the world in 9 countries. Here in Ely, we are responsible for the Motion Control and Optical Tables product line.

You will be working in our new purpose-built facility in Witchford, Ely. Our purpose-built facility is just 12 miles from Cambridge, within the beautiful mediaeval city of Ely. There are train and bus links to Ely from Kings Cross and Liverpool Street London, and our site is within distance of Ely train station and Ely Bus station.

• Degree qualified in Manufacturing Engineering, Process Engineering, Quality Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in an equivalent Supplier Quality Engineering role
• Basic to intermediate understanding of Lean principles and their practical implementation within the supply chain,
• the ability to coach suppliers to adopt lean principles (including but not limited to SMED, PFEP, EPEI, and pull)
• Basic to intermediate experience in Supplier quality development and working with suppliers to meet agreed quality standards
• Appreciation of Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) & Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA); experience in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) would be beneficial
• Ability to understand and interpret high precision engineering drawings (down to micron level tolerances would be beneficial)
• Experience in a low volume, high mix manufacturing environment
• Substantial ability to create and enhance working relationships with suppliers to partner in their pursuit of zero defects
• Experience in working with a multidisciplinary project team to drive improvement projects
• Ability to multitask, time…