Supplier Development Engineer

Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Your Work Shapes the World
Joining Caterpillar means becoming part of a global team focused on the work and mutual support. Employees at Caterpillar contribute to creating resilient and sustainable communities through their roles. Progress and innovation are achieved alongside our customers, where we work and reside. Our collective efforts aim to improve the world for everyone's benefit.

Job Description Summary

A Supplier Development Engineer is the single point contact for supplier processes, component quality and the owner of component development and manufacturing processes, systems and manufacturing techniques which influence the quality of the components produced from the supply base. They are the champion of Caterpillar systems and their deployment, and the custodian of customer interests with the supply base which they develop and nurture with the systems, processes, and procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manufacturing Process design, development, and audits

• Component quality - Weld quality inspection and dimensional inspection, qualification, and certification of the finished component through final inspection

• Compliance audits with respect to Caterpillar and customer specifications

• Collaboration between supplier, Caterpillar and end customer as required.

• Coordinate meetings, generate reports and project management.

• Ensuring the quality of supplies by conducting audits and establishing process expectations and standards. Specialisation in large fabrications and with strong welding process foundation.

• Generating reports on supplier quality, by monitoring their defect rates and areas that can lead to potential flaws, guiding suppliers to reduce these defect rates through process controls and improvements.

• In case of defects and customer complaints, RCCA and CAR are the sole responsibility of this job role, along with ECA, ICA and PCA with rapid response, in tune with the customer expectations.

• Researching the suppliers' manufacturing environment, practices, and procedures; Conducting supplier quality control audits to ensure compliance with organizational and federal policies and standards.

• Supporting suppliers in improving their performance through process enhancements, implementing process controls, and developing quality assurance plans.

• Lead the quality initiatives from the enterprise, Continuous improvement processes, deploy and pursue supplier excellence initiatives and certification processes.

• Documentation, system updates, database maintenance, record upkeep on quality management, leading meetings and collaboration between the suppliers, customers and stakeholders as required.

Key Skills

• Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs.

• Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

• Process Improvement: Understanding and insight into evaluating current product quality and production methods and ability to maintains focus on the continuous improvement of processes, products and services.

• Quality Orientation: Knowledge of quality management methods, tools, and techniques; ability to create and support an environment that meets the quality goals of the organisation.

• Production Part Approval Process (PPAP): Knowledge of Production Part Approval Processes (PPAP) elements, submissions, and objectives; ability to determine whether a supplier can manufacture products that meet the quality requirements and standards of their customers consistently.

• Supplier Management - MFG: Knowledge of processes and methods to effectively manage business relationships and transactions with suppliers of raw materials or product components; ability to apply related knowledge, experience and skills into real practice.

• Supplier Evaluations and Certification: Knowledge of supplier evaluations and certification; ability to identify the methods, tools and documentation for evaluating, selecting and certifying vendors, suppliers and partners.

Qualifications/Experience required

• Desired – Bachelor or Engineering Degree or equivalent experience

• Previous experience working in a similar role

• Certification on welding – Certified Welding Inspector is preferred.

Additional information

• Sponsorship is not available

• This position will require up to 50% travel on supplier site

• Working environment - 5 days in office

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.