What does a supplier quality manager do?
Supplier quality managers are professionals who are responsible for managing the day-to-day activities and operations of the supplier quality department. These managers are required to monitor the performance of suppliers while identifying potential issues to improve quality and efficiency. They must implement product and process improvement strategies so that they can increase customer satisfaction, employee morale, and organization value. Supplier quality managers must also develop and maintain a supplier quality system by certifying their suppliers to ensure continuous product flow.
Supplier quality manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real supplier quality manager resumes:
- Manage quality functions for each tolling account at a contract manufacturing API & cosmetic manufacturing facility.
- Participate in the development of a new quality system by combining ISO guidelines and process control aspects.
- Use of FMEA and PFMEA analysis.
- Audit suppliers in accordance with ISO9001, [] and FDA regulations 21 CFR part 820
- Conduct APQP meeting with suppliers.
- Lead suppliers through AS9100 implementation and certification.
- Serve as a key member to 2001 GMP certification.
- Serve as a representative for ITC during FDA investigations.
- Track high-risk APQP items and remove roadblocks during launch phase.
- Process requests for ad hoc / for cause GMP audits.
- Lead multiple internal audits throughout the company for AS9100 and ISO9001.
- Debug TrackWise and run CAPA system simultaneously with old paper system.
- Evaluate and approve corrective and preventative action (CAPA) plans.
- Develop new QC test procedures and train technicians to perform test.
- Participate in meetings and validate the changes in the QMS and HACCP.
Supplier quality manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Supplier Quality Managers are proficient in Continuous Improvement, Supply Chain, and Sigma. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Supplier Quality Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Continuous Improvement, 9%
Hit internal goals of zero quality incidents by successfully leading supplier audits to identify gaps and drive continuous improvement.
- Supply Chain, 7%
Developed and led highly successful external customer supply chain relationships to align quality performance to customer needs.
- Sigma, 6%
Utilized Six Sigma principles with worldwide teams, developing total customer value product specifications and achieving exemplary process capability results.
- Supplier Performance, 5%
Increased efficiency in SCQI process by collaborating with suppliers, account managers and commodity managers to monitor supplier performance.
- ISO, 4%
Performed quarterly internal audits based on Control Plans to prepare for yearly ISO audit 4.
- Lean Six Sigma, 4%
Execute engineering and Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques to analyze process improvements, best practices and organizational effectiveness.
"continuous improvement," "supply chain," and "sigma" are among the most common skills that supplier quality managers use at work. You can find even more supplier quality manager responsibilities below, including:
Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for a supplier quality manager to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what supplier quality managers do because "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." Additionally, a supplier quality manager resume shows how supplier quality managers use interpersonal skills: "demonstrate proven leadership ability and excellent interpersonal skills while mentoring and teaching the team effective problem solving. "
Leadership skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling supplier quality manager duties is leadership skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." According to a supplier quality manager resume, here's how supplier quality managers can utilize leadership skills in their job responsibilities: "drive continuous improvement by mentoring supplier quality leadership and internal teammates. "
Problem-solving skills. A big part of what supplier quality managers do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to supplier quality manager responsibilities because "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical supplier quality manager tasks: "negotiated competitive solutions to sustain quality throughput to optimize bottom-line profitability and budgetary requirements throughout the supply chain to oem customer. "
The three companies that hire the most supplier quality managers are:
- Siemens5 supplier quality managers jobs
- Northrop Grumman4 supplier quality managers jobs
- Martin Technologies - Martin Motorsports4 supplier quality managers jobs
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Compare different supplier quality managers
Supplier quality manager vs. Quality improvement coordinator
In the medical industry, a quality improvement coordinator is in charge of developing programs and projects designed to improve medical services and employee performance. Their responsibilities typically include gathering and analyzing data to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current procedures, performing research and analysis to determine the ideal care practices, studying feedback from different parties, conducting inspections and assessments, and implementing solutions against problem areas. Moreover, a quality improvement coordinator must develop programs while enforcing and promoting the facility's policies and regulations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, supplier quality manager responsibilities require skills like "continuous improvement," "supply chain," "supplier performance," and "lean six sigma." Meanwhile a typical quality improvement coordinator has skills in areas such as "performance improvement," "patients," "patient care," and "data collection." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Quality improvement coordinators tend to make the most money working in the insurance industry, where they earn an average salary of $77,330. In contrast, supplier quality managers make the biggest average salary, $107,192, in the manufacturing industry.quality improvement coordinators tend to reach similar levels of education than supplier quality managers. In fact, quality improvement coordinators are 3.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.7% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Supplier quality manager vs. Quality assurance administrator
A quality assurance administrator oversees the daily operations of the QA branch of a company. The QA team's main task is to ensure all products or services provided by the company meet the standards prescribed by management and customer feedback. Aside from this, the QA team makes sure that all company output meets government standards, policies, and regulations. The quality assurance administrator must handle all personnel under the department effectively and accomplish each daily task consistently.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real supplier quality manager resumes. While supplier quality manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "supply chain," "sigma," "supplier performance," and "lean six sigma," quality assurance administrators use skills like "data entry," "corrective action," "quality audits," and "access database."
Quality assurance administrators may earn a lower salary than supplier quality managers, but quality assurance administrators earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $57,225. On the other hand, supplier quality managers receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $107,192.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Quality assurance administrators tend to reach lower levels of education than supplier quality managers. In fact, they're 9.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Supplier quality manager vs. Vice-president of quality
A vice president of quality is responsible for monitoring the quality performance and delivery of the company outputs and deliverables to serve customers and clients. Vice presidents of quality analyze the production and operational processes to ensure that everything adheres to the internal guidelines and regulations. They also coordinate with the stakeholders for project updates and identify opportunities for revenue resources to increase the company's profits. A vice president of quality must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in minimizing loss from operational failures and increasing productivity results.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a supplier quality manager is likely to be skilled in "supply chain," "supplier performance," "management system," and "quality system," while a typical vice-president of quality is skilled in "oversight," "risk management," "patient safety," and "performance improvement."
Vice-president of qualities earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $122,006. Comparatively, supplier quality managers have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $107,192.When it comes to education, vice-president of qualities tend to earn similar degree levels compared to supplier quality managers. In fact, they're 2.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Supplier quality manager vs. Quality assurance supervisor
A quality assurance supervisor oversees and leads the quality control operations within a manufacturing plant or similar establishment. They are primarily responsible for crafting and implementing policies that prioritize the efficiency of products or services, supervising and evaluating the performances of the workforce, and setting standards and procedures that align not just with the goals of the company, but the national and international level of production standards. Furthermore, as a supervisor in the field, it is crucial to encourage and shape quality assurance workers into valuable members of the company.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between supplier quality managers and quality assurance supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a supplier quality manager might have more use for skills like "supply chain," "supplier performance," "lean six sigma," and "aerospace." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of quality assurance supervisors require skills like "food safety," "corrective action," "customer service," and "patients. "
The health care industry tends to pay the highest salaries for quality assurance supervisors, with average annual pay of $80,377. Comparatively, the highest supplier quality manager annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.The average resume of quality assurance supervisors showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to supplier quality managers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 11.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.Types of supplier quality manager
Updated January 8, 2025
