**DESCRIPTION** **Key Responsibilities:** + Build strong relationships with all critical partners to improve quality and business outcomes, including external suppliers, external customers, and internal customers and stakeholders such as Purchasing, Manufacturing, and Engineering. + Support the cross-functional supplier selection process for any given component. + Collaborate with external suppliers to validate that the manufacturing process is designed to conform to engineering prints, standards, and customer-specific requirements. + Apply industry-standard Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes, Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) tools, and Cummins specialty tools to develop zero-defect components within the external supply base. + Embrace continuous improvement in the external supply base by contributing to product and process-focused projects utilizing methodologies such as lean and six-sigma. + Conduct external supplier audits to support supplier risk mitigation, readiness, and performance improvement. + Support quality improvement plans within the external supply base to enhance supplier performance. + Ensure resolution of external supplier-related quality challenges by leading root cause analysis, supporting the development of corrective actions, and verifying the effectiveness of corrective actions. **Core Responsibilities:** + Engage in technical discussions with suppliers and engineering during the start of part development projects. + Oversee source release, PPAP, and APQP approval for parts at the supplier end. + Guide suppliers on process failsafe, provide training on required topics, and ensure proper documentation. + Obtain CAPA from suppliers on issues reported by the plant. + Interact with plant quality teams (both domestic and global). **RESPONSIBILITIES** **Education, Licenses, Certifications:** + College, university, or equivalent degree in Engineering or a related technical or scientific subject required. + This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations. **Competencies:** + **Communicates Effectively:** Develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. + **Customer Focus:** Build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions. + **Auditing:** Apply auditing skills and techniques and Quality Management Systems knowledge to effectively appraise a manufacturing process for quality and safety risks and non-conformances. + **Interpreting Technical Requirements:** Apply knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing principles and Engineering Standards to correctly interpret technical requirements and improve product design for manufacturability and measurability. + **Manufacturing Process Design:** Apply knowledge of manufacturing technology to design a zero-defect manufacturing process that consistently meets technical and customer requirements. + **Manufacturing Process Validation:** Use core automotive tools (DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plan, SPC, MSA, Source Release, and PPAP) to validate that a manufacturing process can consistently meet technical and customer requirements. + **Measurement Process Design:** Design a measurement system that consistently meets industry and customer requirements using knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing principles and measurement technology. + **Problem Solving:** Solve problems using a systematic analysis process, leveraging industry-standard methodologies to create problem traceability and protect the customer. + **Quality Influence:** Recognize stakeholders, create forums to extract stakeholder perspectives, engage in constructive conflict, and influence outcomes to ensure balanced decisions inclusive of quality priorities. + **Quality Standards:** Apply knowledge of quality standards (ISO9001:2015, IATF16949) to develop procedures, processes, and external suppliers in alignment with regulatory requirements. + **Statistical Foundations:** Apply statistical tools and techniques to influence decision-making, leveraging data collection methods, key statistics, and analytical methods to describe process performance and drive improvement actions. + **Supplier Performance Improvement:** Develop and execute effective quality improvement strategies to enhance supplier performance. + **Supplier Quality Project Planning and Execution:** Apply APQP skills to develop and execute quality plans that enable external suppliers to meet customer expectations. + **Values Differences:** Recognize the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. + **Supplier Product Reliability:** Evaluate supplier product design, manufacturing process design, and product validation process to ensure reliability expectations are met. **QUALIFICATIONS** **Skills Required:** + Strong analytical skills for data mining and driving improvements. + Hands-on experience with APQP, PPAP, and source release processes. + Proficiency in handling inspection equipment, quality tools, and systematic problem-solving methods. + Excellent communication skills in English. **Experience:** + Preferred experience in supplier quality: 8 to 10 years. **Job** Quality **Organization** Cummins Inc. **Role Category** Remote **Job Type** Exempt - Experienced **ReqID** 2413073 **Relocation Package** Yes