Supplier Quality Specialist - Suits Value Stream

Job Title: Supplier Quality Specialist – Suits Value Stream Location: Cadillac, Michigan Purpose of Position The Supplier Quality Specialist is responsible for executing quality assurance and compliance activities across the Suit Value Stream's supplier network, including Cut-Make-Trim (CMT) manufacturers, raw material suppliers, trim suppliers, and related business partners. This position serves as the primary field-based quality representative, ensuring suppliers are meeting contractual, technical, regulatory, quality, and operational requirements. The Quality Specialist performs supplier audits, product inspections, compliance verifications, documentation reviews, and quality surveillance activities to ensure products consistently meet customer expectations and company standards. The role requires extensive travel and frequent supplier engagement to verify that manufacturing processes, quality controls, inspection activities, and documentation are being properly executed. The Quality Specialist acts as the eyes and ears of the value stream, identifying risks, reporting non-conformances, and supporting corrective actions before issues impact production, delivery, or customer satisfaction. Responsibilities Supplier Audits and Compliance Verification (40%) Conduct scheduled and unscheduled audits at CMT suppliers, material suppliers, and subcontractors. Verify compliance with company requirements, customer requirements, and contractual obligations. Assess supplier adherence to documented manufacturing and inspection processes. Evaluate effectiveness of supplier quality systems and controls. Identify process gaps, quality concerns, and compliance risks. Document audit findings and communicate results to Quality and Value Stream leadership. Verify implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions. Supplier Quality Surveillance (15%) Conduct ongoing surveillance of supplier operations to ensure consistent execution of approved manufacturing processes. Monitor cutting, sewing, assembly, packaging, labeling, and shipping processes. Verify suppliers are utilizing approved materials, specifications, and production methods. Observe manufacturing operations and report quality concerns or deviations. Support supplier performance monitoring initiatives. Assist with containment activities when quality issues are identified. Product Inspection and Verification (15%) Perform incoming, in-process, and final product inspections as required. Verify raw materials, fabrics, trims, hardware, and finished goods meet specifications. Identify, document, and report nonconformances. Support disposition activities for rejected materials and products. Verify execution of inspection plans and quality control requirements. Review supplier inspection records and quality documentation. Documentation and Administrative Support (25%) Prepare audit reports, inspection reports, supplier assessments, and compliance documentation. Maintain accurate quality records and supplier files. Track audit findings, corrective actions, and closure activities. Assist in development and maintenance of inspection criteria, checklists, and audit forms. Support quality metric collection and reporting activities. Ensure quality documentation is complete, accurate, and properly maintained. Corrective Action Support (5%) Assist Quality Engineers with investigations of supplier-related defects and nonconformances. Gather evidence and documentation to support root cause analysis activities. Verify implementation of supplier corrective actions. Monitor corrective action completion and effectiveness. Escalate unresolved quality issues when necessary. Qualifications and Experience Education – associate's degree in one of the following Quality Manufacturing Engineering Technology Industrial Technology Business or a related technical discipline preferred. Equivalent combination of education, military experience, manufacturing experience, quality experience, or technical t…

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