Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

The Associate Supplier Quality & Performance Engineer will support the evaluation, qualification and continuous improvement of suppliers to ensure they meet company requirements for quality, compliance, and innovation. The Associate Supplier Quality & Performance Engineer will work cross-functionally with Quality, Engineering, Operations, and Strategic Sourcing to build strong, capable and compliant supplier partnerships This entry-level position is ideal for a technically minded professional who wants to develop expertise in supplier quality, manufacturing processes, and strategic sourcing.

What You Will Do at Graco:

Supplier and Part Qualification & Onboarding

• Assist in supplier qualification activities, including review of technical capability, capacity and certifications
• Perform on-site supplier audits for new and existing suppliers
• Help develop proactive quality plans with New Product Development teams using APQP methodologies

• Lead design review meetings and ensure supplier capability to product specifications
• Support part approval and qualification processes by assisting with PPAP/FAI (or equivalent) requirements including coordinating documentation, communicating requirements, reviewing submitted documentation, ensuring disposition of results, and resolving any discrepancies in measurement results between the supplier and Graco
• Partner with engineers to verify suppliers meet product and process requirements before production release

Quality Resolution and Monitoring

• Collect, analyze and report on supplier quality performance metrics
• Conduct trend analysis to identify recurring quality issues and opportunities for improvement
• Create and review supplier corrective action requests (SCARs) for effectiveness
• Attend divisional quality meetings and present on supplier quality and development activities
• Review Non-Conformance Reports and take action to resolve quality issues as needed
• Provide assistance to product service regarding warranty issues and customer complaints (CC) for purchased product

Supplier Development and Continuous Improvement

• Participate in supplier business reviews and lead quality discussions
• Participate in supplier capability analysis  and recommend improvements to supplier
• Create and monitor supplier development plans and ensure effectiveness of solutions
• Partner with Sourcing Commodity teams to identify suppliers with development potential and track progress against agreed-upon improvement plans
• Provide training and assistance to suppliers and purchasing personnel on Graco supplier quality requirements, including print and Graco/Industry standard interpretation
• Adhere to the established supplier quality related procedures and work instructions
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Ability to travel 15-20%

What You Will Bring to Graco:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field with 3+ years quality, manufacturing, engineering, or supplier quality/development support position
• 0-3 years of experience in manufacturing, quality or supply chain
• Knowledge of supplier and regulatory compliance standards (ISO, AS, ITAR, REACH, RoHS, PFAS, etc.)
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to track multiple deadlines and follow up proactively
• Excellent communication skills for professional interaction with suppliers and internal stakeholders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with ERP or supplier management systems preferred
• Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management systems, such as Teamcenter
• Knowledge of quality tools; i.e. Assessments, First Article, FMEA, Problem solving, Root-Cause Analysis, Corrective Action, Mistake Proofing and Process Control
• Ability to understand and interpret detailed documents and engineering drawings
• Collaborative, team-oriented approach with curiosity to learn and develop technical expertise
• Ability to balance day-to-day execution with longer-term development initiatives

Accelerators:

• Manufacturing experience
• Knowledge of casting and injection molding processes
• Strong mechanical aptitude
• Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing knowledge

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Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent and unrestricted basis. This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, L-1, or employment-based permanent residence sponsorship). Candidates working under temporary employment authorization, including F-1 OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, or similar programs, are not eligible for this position. 

At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

The base pay range for this position is listed below, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation.  If you are hired, your final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience.  In addition to those factors, we will also consider internal equity of our current employees.  Please keep in mind that the range provided is the full base salary range for the role.  Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.