Supplier Quality Manager

Komatsu is an indispensable partner to the construction, mining, forestry, forklift, and industrial machinery markets, maximizing value for customers through innovative solutions. With a diverse line of products supported by our advanced IoT technologies, regional distribution channels, and a global service network, we tap into the power of data and technology to enhance safety and productivity while optimizing performance. Komatsu supports a myriad of markets, including housing, infrastructure, water, pipeline, minerals, automobile, aerospace, electronics and medical, through its many brands and subsidiaries, including TimberPro, Joy, P&H, Montabert, Modular Mining Systems, Hensley Industries, NTC, and Gigaphoton.

Job Overview

We are seeking a Supplier Quality Manager to oversee supplier quality management, ensuring compliance with quality standards and driving continuous improvement across the supply chain. This role will lead a team of Senior Supplier Quality Engineers and oversee Receiving Inspection processes to maintain high-quality incoming materials and supplier performance. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership, problem-solving, and process improvement skills.

Key Job Responsibilities

Supplier Quality Management and Development

• Lead and mentor a team of Supplier Quality Engineers to drive supplier excellence.
• Develop and implement supplier quality strategies to reduce defects, improve reliability, and ensure compliance with company standards.
• Establish and maintain supplier quality performance metrics, driving accountability and improvement initiatives.
• Partner with Procurement, Engineering, and Operations to qualify new suppliers, manage audits, and support supplier development.
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective actions for supplier-related non-conformances, implementing sustainable long-term solutions.

Receiving Inspection & Material Quality Oversight

• Oversee Receiving Inspection processes to ensure incoming materials meet quality requirements before integration into production.
• Define and optimize inspection plans, sampling strategies, and testing requirements.
• Implement risk-based inspection strategies, leveraging supplier history and data analytics to optimize efficiency.
• Ensure proper measurement systems are in place to verify incoming material conformance.

Additional Information

Process Improvement & Compliance

• Lead supplier quality improvement initiatives, including Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen projects.
• Collaborate with suppliers to enhance process control and standardization to reduce variation and defects.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, or other applicable quality standards for supplier management.
• Perform supplier audits and drive quality system improvements based on audit findings.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

• Serve as the primary liaison between Suppliers, Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to resolve supplier-related issues.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering on supplier-related design changes, material qualifications, and process validation.
• Lead supplier busines