Responsibilities
* Act as the primary point of contact between internal stakeholders (Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Planning) and external suppliers to ensure alignment on production requirements, schedules, and technical expectations.
* Support problem‑solving activities within the production environment, working collaboratively to resolve issues related to production delays, quality concerns, or technical challenges.
* Identify inefficiencies within manufacturing and supplier processes and propose practical improvements to enhance productivity, quality, and robustness.
* Coordinate and track process changes, decisions, and actions, ensuring all relevant stakeholders are informed and updates are clearly communicated.
* Work closely with Quality teams to ensure manufactured products meet required specifications, standards, and regulatory requirements.
* Conduct structured supplier evaluations to assess operational systems, manufacturing processes, and controls against company standards and applicable industry regulations.
* Verify supplier compliance with legal, environmental, ethical, and quality requirements, including internal policies and external regulatory obligations.
* Review supplier Quality Management Systems to ensure consistent production of conforming products and effective control of variation.
* Monitor and analyse supplier performance over time, including quality, delivery, and cost metrics, ensuring agreed performance levels are being achieved.
* Prepare clear, detailed audit reports highlighting supplier strengths, weaknesses, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
* Provide practical recommendations to suppliers and internal stakeholders to improve processes, policies, and quality controls.
* Work collaboratively with Procurement, Quality Assurance, Compliance, Supply Chain, Planning, and Manufacturing teams to communicate audit outcomes and operational issues.
* Support suppliers in addressing non‑conformances or improvement actions, fostering a constructive and development‑focused supplier relationship.
* Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across both internal manufacturing operations and the external supply base.
Qualifications
* Experience within manufacturing, production, quality, or supplier quality environments.
* Experience working with suppliers, subcontract manufacturers, or outsourced production operations.
* Experience supporting quality investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action activities.
* Experience conducting audits, supplier assessments, or process evaluations (desirable).
* Experience interpreting engineering drawings, technical specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
* Experience within regulated or quality‑controlled industries such as aerospace, defence, automotive, or advanced manufacturing (desirable).
* Experience supporting continuous improvement or lean manufacturing initiatives (desirable).
* Familiarity with Quality Management Systems and compliance standards.
Technical Skills & Education
* Strong understanding of manufacturing and quality assurance processes.
* Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
* Good analytical and problem‑solving skills with strong attention to detail.
* Ability to communicate effectively with suppliers and cross‑functional stakeholders.
* Strong organisational and reporting skills.
* Good IT skills including Microsoft Word and Excel.
* Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently where required.
* Experience working within quality‑controlled or regulated manufacturing environments.
* Technical qualification in Quality, Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering (HNC/HND or Degree in an engineering or quality‑related discipline).
* Knowledge of quality standards such as ISO 9001 or AS9100.
* Experience with supplier quality management and audit processes.
* Familiarity with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
* Knowledge of root cause analysis tools such as 8D, 5 Whys, or Fishbone analysis.
Local Needs
Full‑time onsite working required. Candidates may be required to obtain BPSS clearance. Occasional travel to supplier sites may be required.
Benefits
* Opportunity to influence supplier quality, manufacturing standards, and operational performance.
* Exposure to both internal manufacturing operations and external supply chain activities.
* Involvement in supplier development, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives.
* Opportunity to work across multiple engineering, quality, and operational disciplines.
* Development opportunities within manufacturing quality, supplier quality, and operational excellence functions.
* Experience working within regulated and quality‑focused manufacturing environments.
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