North Asia Supplier Quality Lead

The North Asia Supplier Quality Lead oversees the technical performance and strategic growth of our supplier base for our local Carrier production facilities in the Greater China region. This role focuses on maximizing customer satisfaction and pivoting from reactive to preventive quality standards by: 

• Supply Chain Integrity: Ensures that our suppliers are aligned with our Carrier quality standards to guarantee superior raw material and component performance. 

• Operational Resilience: Builds trust through consistent high-quality material delivery, which strengthens our production stability and overall brand competitiveness. 

• Efficiency & Growth: Reduces cost by minimizing incoming defects and production line stoppages, freeing resources to scale output. 

• Preventive Supplier Management: Shifts the focus from "reject and return" to "source and secure" by developing suppliers to stop quality issues before they reach our facility. 

Reporting Structure 

• Direct Reporting: This position reports directly to the N.Asia Quality Lead. 

• Functional Reporting: This position maintains a functional reporting line to the N.Asia Quality Lead. 

• Subordinate Structure: This role acts as the functional lead for all N.Asia Supplier Quality Site Leads. You will provide technical direction, standardize audit processes, and oversee the performance of SQE leaders at individual manufacturing sites across the region. 

Key Responsibilities 

Primary quality contact for escalated supplier non-conformances and development, serving as the bridge between Supply Chain and Operations teams. This role serves as the functional lead for the "Site Supplier Quality Lead". 

• Functional Leadership: Develops and executes supplier quality strategies to ensure Carrier standards and operational BU consistency. 

• Scope: Driving quality excellence across a localized supply base within North Asia to support domestic operational requirements. (BU regional focus "Parts/Components manufactured in North Asia for North Asia") 

• Supplier Advocacy & Development: Ensures supplier capabilities drive operational excellence and continuous material improvements. 

• Governance: Establishes and enforces Business Unit supplier policies to guarantee compliance and excellence. 

• Data Intelligence: Performs supplier performance data analysis to identify potential material failures early and proactively mitigate supply chain risks. 

• Technical Authority: Provides technical guidance and serves as the escalation partner for complex material failures or critical supplier-related risks. 

• Audit Support: Performs supplier audits to support site level supplier quality. 

• Corrective Action Strategy: Governs the Supplier Corrective Action Request (SCAR) process and ensures resolution strategies are aligned with engineering and production teams. 

• Quality Gatekeeper: Defines and oversees Incoming Inspection standards, ensuring global material specifications are strictly met before production begins. 

Qualifications & Requirements 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or above in Mechanical, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering. 

• Experience: 

• Minimum 5 years of relevant quality management experience. 

• Proven track record in team leadership and managing supplier networks in China. 

• Technical Skills:  

• Deep knowledge of ISO 9001 and certification standards (e.g., IATF 16949, VDA6.3). 

• Proficiency in quality tools (SPC, FMEA, root cause analysis) 

• Language: Fluency in English and Chinese (written and oral). 

• Personal Traits: Strong analytical skills, high pressure resistance, and a meticulous, results-oriented mindset. 

• Travel: High mobility required: up to 50% travel across North Asia. 

Safety & Compliance 

• Responsible for the safe production of the department and ensuring all products meet safety certification requirements. 

• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding sensitive company information and data. 

Key Performance Indicators (for reference only) 

• Defect Rate Reduction: A percentage decrease in technical failures or out-of-spec incidents reported within the region. 

• Warranty Cost Reduction: Achieve a year-over-year reduction in warranty-related payouts for the North Asia region.   

• 8D Closure Timeliness: Target of completing a full 8D report within given timeframe of complaint confirmation. 

• Audit Action Closure: Target for suppliers to provide evidence and complete all improvement actions within given timeframe of an on-site audit. 

• Quality Audit Coverage: Measured as the percentage of spend associated with suppliers audited within the last three years compared to total production material spend. 

• Supplier ProCert Achievement: A target for suppliers reaching Milestone 4 (MS 4) as defined by the ProCert Procedure. 

• Supplier Parts Per Million (SPPM): Calculated as the count of Supplier Parts Rejected (SPR) divided by the Total Supplier Parts Received (TSPR). 

• Supplier Responsible Escapes (SRE) in Field: Tracking significant field issues including recalls, regulatory non-compliance, or epidemic issues caused by the supplier. 

• Quality Events in Factory: Counting supplier quality issues that cause operational disruptions, such as downtime, factory containment, or rework of finished goods.