What to Expect Tesla’s Supplier Industrialization team is responsible for component development, part and process qualification activities, quality management, and continuous improvement activities at suppliers. The job requires effective communication at all levels both with internal and external teams, traveling to suppliers in different regions, and on-the-spot critical decision making. The goal: developing suppliers by teaching best practices for manufacturing, quality, and engineering, delivering on time quantities of high quality component parts into Tesla’s production processes to enable extremely rapid development cycles and product launches, driving lean manufacturing principals to reduce waste and improve quality.
What You’ll Do - Plan, organize, direct and conduct industrialization related activities within the supply chain team.
- Develop, Manage, Audit, Improve and Correct supplier planning and execution of component manufacturing and assembly techniques and quality control processes from the advanced development phase to mass production qualification.
- Provide leadership for New Product Introduction (NPI) at Suppliers.
- Lead supplier improvements in scalability, cost, and quality.
- Facilitate communication and clarification of technical requirements between Suppliers and Tesla Purchasing, Quality, and Design teams.
- Accountable for supplier audits to ensure their ability to meet part performance, delivery, and reliability expectations.
- Collaborate with Tesla Design, Quality, and Manufacturing to determine the ideal performance specifications and supplier metrics.
- Accountable for leading, tracking and improving supplier manufacturing process development, launch readiness for new products and design changes, and driving continuous improvement activities utilizing Lean Manufacturing and First Principals methods.
- Guide suppliers in developing exceptionally robust processes and procedures to promote efficient and seamless production of high-quality products.
- Validate supplier corrective actions involving design and/or process changes to ensure they are robust, sustainable, and implemented for similar potential concerns across manufacturing lines and/or suppliers.
- Provide input on new or alternative materials for improved design, manufacturability, or cost reduction.
- Participate in supplier DFM Review, guide suppliers in efficient use of poke-yokes, best methods of manufacturing, testing, and gauging, and correct tools or assembly equipment to use.
- Participate on AAR process, leading supplier process improvements to achieve Appearance approval. Support suppliers to understand Appearance requirements and help them to set boundary samples.
- Administrate Tesla’s suplier quality systems and processes.
What You’ll Bring - Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics or evidence of experience and exceptional ability.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in manufacturing, research, or quality engineering, with demonstrated evidence of excellence.
- Experience in Quality Systems a plus: PPAP/APQP processes.
- Display an advanced working knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC), Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and Lean Manufacturing, and how to apply these skills to improve quality, capacity, and reduce cost.
- Advanced working knowledge of production processes, material flow, lean manufacturing principals, automation, gauging, tooling, and manufacturing engineering.
- Possess demonstrable leadership abilities.
- Previous experience managing safety critical parts.
- Ability to communicate and direct supplier activities at the management level.
- Ability to define and execute a project using project management techniques.
- Ability to thrive in a fast paced, dynamic environment. Excellent team building skills in dealing with suppliers, peers and other functional areas.
- Ability to support on problem resolution at different stages of the manufacturing processes (raw materials, lamination, etc. - including Tier2 discussion).
- Experience in the design, development, manufacture of interior surface materials ie textiles, leathers etc
- Process experience of interior parts such as sewing, lamination, backfolding, back injection moulding, glue & welding application.
- Working level understanding of injection moulding for grained, ungrained, painted plastic interior parts.
- Ability to escalate when required to the right stakeholders.
- Strong technical writing ability and an ability to explain complex issues in a concise and plain manner. Must be familiar with SPC and data analysis.
- An average of 40-50% travel, possibly on short notice.