Manager of Supplier Quality

Supply Chain – Supplier Quality | Full-Time | On-Site | Waxahachie, Texas

Americase is a Texas-based manufacturer and distributor of protective cargo cases and specialized shipping solutions, serving customers across the country and around the world. We are looking for an experienced Manager of Supplier Quality to lead the quality, readiness, and performance of our supply base across the United States, Mexico, APAC, and EMEA.

Why Join Us?

Lead the Function: Own the supplier quality strategy and build a team that keeps defective material off our docks.
Global Scope: Oversee suppliers and outsource manufacturers across North America, Asia, and Europe.
Visible Impact: Present supplier performance and risk directly to leadership, and see your work reflected in on-time, defect-free production.
Growth Environment: Shape a growing supply base in a company that values hands-on leadership and accountability.

Position Summary

The Manager of Supplier Quality ensures suppliers deliver the right parts, at the right quality, on time, preventing defective material from reaching our docks and surfacing supplier constraints before they stop production. Reporting to the Director of Supply Chain, this role is responsible for supplier qualification and audits, part approval, supplier corrective action, cost of poor-quality reduction, supplier risk management, supplier capacity and readiness, and quality oversight of outsource manufacturers.

This role partners closely with Procurement, Quality Assurance, and the Product and Engineering teams. The ideal candidate is an experienced supplier quality leader with strong technical and manufacturing knowledge who holds suppliers and internal teams accountable while building lasting partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Quality Strategy: Develop and execute the supplier quality strategy, including selection criteria, qualification, onboarding, monitoring, and escalation.
Audits and Qualification: Lead supplier audits and qualification assessments covering process capability, quality systems, capacity, and financial stability.
Part Approval: Oversee first article inspection and part approval for new and revised parts, ensuring documentation, testing, and approvals are complete before production release.
Outsource Manufacturer Oversight: Define quality requirements, inspection plans, and acceptance criteria for outsource manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad, and conduct on-site audits and reviews.
Source and Receiving Inspection: Manage pre-shipment and source inspection for overseas suppliers, including third-party inspection services in China, and establish risk-based receiving inspection plans.
Supplier Corrective Action: Lead the corrective action process using 8D, root cause, and containment methods, and verify that actions prevent recurrence.
Cost of Poor Quality: Reduce supplier-related cost of poor quality by analyzing trends, implementing preventive measures, and recovering costs from suppliers.
Capacity and Recovery Planning: Assess supplier capacity and readiness for critical parts, including sub-tier constraints, and lead recovery planning with at-risk suppliers.
Supplier Risk: Perform supplier risk analysis based on performance, process controls, capacity, and financial stability, and develop mitigation plans with Procurement.
NPI and Change Readiness: Drive supplier readiness for new product introductions, design changes, and supplier transitions, ensuring suppliers build to the current revision.
Scorecards and KPIs: Maintain joint quality and delivery scorecards with Procurement, set supplier KPI targets, and lead performance reviews and development plans.
QMS and Data Integrity: Maintain supplier quality procedures and supplier data within the quality management system, flow down customer requirements, and support customer audits.
Subject Matter Expert: Train internal teams on supplier quality tools and present supplier performance, risks, and resource needs to leadership.

Team Leadership

Team Development: Lead, coach, and develop the Supplier Quality team with clear goals, objectives, and metrics.
Performance Management: Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching, career development, and succession planning.
Staffing: Partner with Human Resources on hiring, onboarding, staffing, and disciplinary decisions.
Escalation Point: Serve as the primary contact for supplier quality and readiness escalations that could impact production, safety, or customer delivery.
Culture: Foster accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement across the team and the supply base.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field, or 8+ years of equivalent on-the-job experience
8+ years of progressively responsible experience in supplier quality, quality engineering, or manufacturing quality, including 3+ years leading people
Experience managing suppliers in multiple countries, especially Mexico and Asia, and overseeing outsource manufacturers
Hands-on experience with fabricated metal (sheet metal, aluminum, welding), machined components, plastics, foam, and purchased hardware
Proven track record establishing supplier scorecards, performance targets, and escalation processes, and reducing cost of poor quality
Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record for the past three years

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree
Experience in aerospace, defense, or other regulated manufacturing
ASQ CQE or CMQ/OE certification
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
ISO 9001 or AS9100 Lead Auditor certification
Spanish proficiency

Skills and Competencies

Supplier audits and qualification
First article inspection and part approval
Root cause analysis and corrective action (8D)
APQP, FMEA, MSA, and SPC
Blueprint reading and GD&T
ISO 9001 and AS9100 knowledge
Leadership, team development, and supplier relationship management
Communication, influence, and data-driven decision making
Microsoft Excel proficiency

Who You Are

Holds suppliers and internal teams accountable while building strong, long-term partnerships
A hands-on leader equally comfortable on a supplier’s shop floor and in a leadership meeting
Presents risks and recommendations confidently to senior leaders
Data-driven, detail-oriented, and persistent under pressure

Travel and Work Requirements

Travel up to 50% to Americase locations, outsource manufacturers, vendors, meetings, and conferences, including Mexico and occasional international travel
Valid passport or the ability to obtain one
Ability to walk plant, warehouse, and supplier floors, handle parts and materials, and wear required PPE
Willingness to work nights and weekends as needed

Pre-Employment Requirements: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check prior to the start date, conducted in accordance with applicable law, and a pre-employment drug screen. Employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with company policy for the duration of employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Americase is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Reasonable Accommodations: Americase is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and hiring process. Applicants who need an accommodation may contact Human Resources.

E-Verify: Americase participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. For more information, visit www.e-verify.gov.

This posting describes the general nature and level of work for this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications, and duties may change at any time with or without notice.

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