Who We Are:
Challenge Manufacturing is a leading Tier 1 automotive supplier to a growing portfolio of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customers. Since 1981, Challenge Manufacturing has grown from a very small shop in Walker, Michigan to 12 locations across North America with 4,000 team members supported by 1,500 industrial robots.
What Makes Us Different?
Challenge Manufacturing is an employee-owned company and is currently ranked in the top 50 largest employee-owned companies in North America. Being an employee-owned company enables the Company to maintain a collaborative and teamwork-oriented work culture. Additionally, over time as the company grows, employees will share in that upside financially through ESOP retirement benefits.
Challenge is #PeoplePowered!
Position Summary:
The Quality Engineer is responsible for conducting on going analysis of the production process inputs and output to ensure that customer (internal and external) quality requirements are being achieved.
- Safe Launch” participant to constructively accept a detailed hand-off of product requirements from APQP QE.
- The “Safe Launch” hand-off process links the APQP QE and Current Production QE when the first MRD parts are being run. These QEs work together to obtain
and complete the necessary quality system documentation, dimensional data, GP-12 support, and PTR/MRD packaging and labeling for shipment. - Supporting the “Safe Launch” process also includes providing the plant communication linkage for a formal tooling buy-off process, including Run at Rate support and associated documentation to declare die/welder readiness for production. This is then followed by the preparation of all PPAP documentation for submission.
- Responsible for all plant level quality concerns for assigned product.
- Serve as direct point of contact for customer complaints.
- Manage Quality System for all changes after launch.
- Obtain “Master Samples” from 300 piece initial production run for Program archiving of Part Quality at start of production.
- Update Control Plans & FMEA as Issues Arise from the Floor or Customer.
- Issue Product Quality Check Deviations following direction from management.
- Provide timely acknowledgement responses to customer complaints.
- Provide formal documentation PRR/HTR, responses to the customer.
- Be a presence at the assembly plants to provide face-to-face interaction and ensure customer satisfaction while developing relationships.
- Understand how each part is utilized in the vehicle build and become the “expert” about what the customer expects from us as the supplier of this part.
- Provide the plant management with the “voice of the customer” and explain what key part attributes are important to manage on each part and why.
- Train plant level quality auditors and production team leaders on part to part concerns regarding acceptability, inspection methodology, and customer expectations.
- Direct Quality Technicians to provide supporting product quality documentation (Part Picture Visuals, Packaging Instructions, Gage Instructions, Quality Alerts, etc.), and floor support as necessary.
- Provide plant with priorities for part improvement to ensure the most important attributes are addressed first, and stress continuous improvement.
- Address plant floor quality concerns as they arise, provide timely opinions for acceptability, and be able to provide the proper decision criteria for management to direct the part disposition.
- Champion problem control meetings for customer complaints, and attendees need to be accountable for their problem control responsibilities by area managers.
- The QE should be involved in monitoring daily part quality and spend time on the floor checking parts and auditing product and process to verify that customer requirements are met.
- Participate in the layered process audits.
- Implement new methods of inspection and control when required. (i.e.: enhanced containment techniques and documentation, SPC data, scheduled CMM runs or Roamer scans, etc.).
- The QE is responsible for supporting all QSB+ and TS requirements associated with his/her assigned part responsibilities.
Requirements:
- Associate degree (required).
- 5 Years of related experience and/or training (required).
- Bachelor’s degree (preferred).
- 10 to 15 years related experience and/or training (preferred).
- Must be physically capable of performing the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Benefits We Offer:
We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions, Flexible Spending Accounts, Company-Paid Short-Term Disability and Basic Life, Voluntary Life and LTD, Employer 401k Match, ESOP shares, tuition reimbursement, and paid time off.