Supplier Development Engineer at Sportech, LLC – Elk River, Minnesota

Sportech is a rapidly growing company in Elk River, MN. We are looking for talented people who wish to join a values-based company that desires to help our people and customers win. We design, manufacture, and assemble cab components and systems for the powersports, golf and turf, industrial and agricultural end markets. Our design and engineering capabilities allow us to provide complex components and assemblies to our original equipment manufacturer customers. We are always on the gas and seeking dynamic, enthusiastic, and motivated individuals to join our extraordinary team.

Sportech offers eligible full-time employees a robust and competitive benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision plan options, including flexible spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCA)
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Basic life insurance and voluntary life insurance
• Hospital indemnity plans, pet insurance, and legal/identity theft services
• 401k plan with up to a 4% employer match
• Paid company holidays, paid vacation, and paid volunteer time
• Sportech Learning Academy (SLA) with courses offered onsite quarterly, focusing on personal and professional growth and development for employees, and tuition reimbursement options for courses completed outside of Sportech

Further benefits information is provided as part of the offer process for any offer extended by Sportech. Pay varies by position and is based on multiple factors including labor market data and, depending on position, may include education, work experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, and/or certifications. Additionally, Sportech takes into account the internal equity of current employees when considering compensation. Sportech’s reasonable and good-faith estimate for the range of new hire compensation at the time of posting for this position is between $80,000 - $90,000 annually. Pay may also include variable compensation from time to time such as overtime for non-exempt positions, shift differential for specific shifts, and/or bonus targets (subject to plan eligibility and other requirements).

Job Summary

This position is responsible for improving Supplier Performance and supporting all supplier activities including production quality, new product launches, new supplier assessment, supplier resourcing, audits, and continuous improvement activities. This position will collaborate with Operations, Quality Engineering, Strategic Sourcing, and New Product Development with the aim to increasing PPAP approval rate, lowering scrap dollars, make recommendations for improvements, establish regular communication cadence, and support improved or expanded supplier capabilities.

Essential Job Functions

• Primary responsibility for the selection, onboarding, training, tracking and development of the supply base
• Serve as the primary quality assurance resource to the supply base for problem identification, resolution, change management and continual improvement
• Effectively communicate significant issues or developments identified during quality assurance activities with the supply base and ensure timely resolution
• Responsible for corrective action activities with all suppliers
• Support supplier inspection and testing of materials, parts and products to ensure adherence to standards
• Support supplier metrics – scrap dollars, percent credit recovery, OTD, and responsiveness
• Oversee supplier approval process –assessments, audits and approval for purchased products and components
• Provide input for acceptance criteria and future purchases from suppliers
• Maintain trip reports, open action lists and improvement plans
• Works with outside 3rd party inspection labs as required
• Lead, participate in, and champion continual improvement projects, kaizen events and cost reduction programs with supply base
• Travel to supplier locations
• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in Supplier Development or related discipline
• Strong manufacturing, process, quality systems and root cause analysis experience required
• Injection molding experience highly desired; metal fabrication & painting, electronics, and plastic extrusion knowledge appreciated.
• Demonstrated experience in problem solving using formal methodologies (8D, A3 etc.)
• Demonstrated experience in supplier audits and selection
• Knowledgeable and hands on experience in application of Lean and Six Sigma (or alternative advanced problem solving methods) including: Value Stream Mapping, Cpk/Ppk, GR&R, SPC, Control Plans Sampling Plans, Kaizen, 5S, Statistical Analysis, SMED, 5 Why's, Root Cause Analysis, Error Proofing, Cause and Effect Diagrams, Pareto Analysis, etc.
• Knowledge and application of AIAG quality tools (APQP: PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, etc.)
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to coach suppliers on latest revision of ASME Y14.5 Geometric Dimensions and Tolerances (GD&T)
• Demonstrated experience in Supplier Risk Management
• Strong interpersonal communication skills needed
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and ERP systems (Epicor preferred)
• Travel Required up to 35%, will vary throughout the year based on need

Additional Preferred Requirements:

• Certification in Quality Management – ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
• ISO9001:2015 or IATF 16949:2016 Lead or Internal Auditor Certified
• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt