Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
· Strategize and develop the annual supplier qualification and monitoring program for all key suppliers located at various international locations; lead supplier development strategy especially for new solar suppliers that will undergo a rigorous on-boarding and qualification process.
· Execute supplier assessments, audits and development protocols; recommend mitigation and corrective action plan for any identified gaps.
· Support the Procurement team with the supplier approval process by assessing manufacturing/technology capabilities, along with Health, Safety and Environmental Management System requirements.
· Lead New Product Introduction Process and work with Process Engineering and Production teams to ensure proper product qualification and seamless introduction into manufacturing lines prior to formal stage gate approval.
· Develop key metrics (defect rate, NCRs, RMAs, findings etc.), monitor and improve supplier performance, drive quality improvements and work intensively with suppliers on systematic problem-solving, root cause analysis and validate implementation of all corrective and preventive actions.
· Execute intensive review of supplier documentation through Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) – review of product specifications, D/PFMEA, Control Plans, Bill of Materials, material and product data sheets, statistical process control data, (Cpk/Ppk Analysis), packaging, reliability qualification tests, etc.
· Provide timely escalation of internal IQA and process quality issues correlated with supplied materials and drive fast disposition from suppliers and replacement of rejected incoming lots.
· Ensure compliance of suppliers to relevant quality and product certification standards – ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, IEC 61215, UL 61730 and other applicable international and regulatory standards.
· Ensure proper training and qualification to all supplier and internal employees on supplier and incoming quality management systems, procedures and continual improvement initiatives.
· Manage, coach and develop a high performing Supplier Quality team located in the USA and other international sites in Asia.
· Other duties and responsibilities that may be assigned due to criticality and urgency.