Supplier Quality Manager, APAC

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Summary

The APAC Supplier Quality Manager provides regional leadership for supplier quality strategy, governance, and capability development across Asia Pacific. The role drives proactive supplier risk management, new-program supplier APQP readiness, supplier performance improvement, supplier audit compliance, and structured escalation. Working closely with country Supplier Quality teams, Purchasing, Engineering, Program Management, Supplier Development, plants Supplier Quality teams to ensure suppliers consistently meet customer, regulatory, and company requirements across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Regional strategy and governance: Develop and deploy the annual APAC supplier quality strategy, priorities, standards, procedures, and performance objectives in alignment with business and customer requirements.
• Cross-functional leadership: Partner with country Quality teams, plants, Purchasing, Engineering, Program Management, and Supplier Development to resolve risks, align decisions, and share best practices across APAC.
• Supplier risk management: Establish regional visibility of critical suppliers and parts through structured risk assessment, mitigation plans, clear ownership, due dates, and timely management escalation.
• New-program quality and launch readiness: Govern Supplier Advanced Quality Planning (SAQP), supplier feasibility, interim and full PPAP readiness, Supplier Process Sign-Off (SPSO), capacity verification, and launch-risk closure for critical programs.
• Supplier performance and escalation: Monitor supplier quality indicators, scorecards, audit findings, and escalation status; lead regional reviews and escalate chronic or high-risk suppliers through the appropriate management and sourcing channels.
• Audit and compliance: Govern supplier audit planning, auditor qualification, audit-report quality, corrective-action closure, and compliance with IATF 16949, applicable customer-specific requirements, and company quality systems.
• Team capability building: Assess competency gaps and coach APAC SAQE and SQE personnel in supplier quality processes, core tools, auditing, technical problem solving, and effective stakeholder communication.
• Regional supplier support: Provide onsite support for critical suppliers, including China-based suppliers supporting APAC programs, and verify sustainable implementation of corrective and preventive actions.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or above in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality etc.
• Leadership: Strong influencing, coaching, decision-making, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority.
• Experience: Minimum ten years of progressive experience in automotive quality or supplier quality, including experience leading supplier improvement, audits, launches, or major quality escalations. Automotive seating experience is preferred.
• Regional exposure: Demonstrated ability to work effectively across APAC countries, cultures, functions, and time zones.
• Technical expertise: Knowledge of seating commodities is an advantage, for example, stamping, welding, plastic, trim etc.
• Automotive quality systems: Thorough knowledge of IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plan, MSA, SPC, process capability, and change control.
• Auditing: Proven experience conducting supplier system and process audits; VDA 6.3 or equivalent auditor qualification is preferred.
• Problem solving: Advanced capability in 8D, A3, 5-Why, Ishikawa, Six Sigma, Shainin, statistical analysis, corrective-action verification, and lessons-learned deployment.
• Drawing and measurement: Proficiency in engineering drawings, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T), measurement methods, gauge design, and measurement-system evaluation.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Chinese, including clear executive reporting and supplier-facing communication.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel regularly within APAC to supplier, plant, and program locations.

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