Soft Goods Materials Manufacturing Quality Engineer / Manufacturing Design Engineer (MQE/MDE) Primary work location: Dongguan In this highly visible role, you will have process (MDE) and quality engineering (MQE) responsibility for next generation Apple products. This will require you to handle selection, implementation & optimization of manufacturing processes and quality planning and deployment. In the MDE responsibility, you will utilize your Mechanical Engineering experience and work cross functionally with Product Design Engineering and Industrial Design to assess product features for manufacturability, and recommend capable processes and equipment. You work in tandem with Apple's renowned designers to develop measurement & metrology technologies, quality control plans, information systems, and manufacturing methods that achieve industry-leading specifications at massive production scale. Lead a network of supplier factories worldwide, with responsibility for our partners to deliver to aggressive schedules. Our focus is on elegant execution of extraordinary industrial designs, resulting in products that thrill our customers. Key Qualifications Experience supporting new product launches from a quality planning, quality engineering, or product development perspective. Experience with soft materials (mainly PU/textiles) is strongly preferred. Experience with mechanical fabricated parts, or adhesives, glues, jigs, fixtures, tooling, injection molding, plastics experience may be acceptable. Experience developing process quality plans, supplier quality audits, and driving corrective actions and failure analysis efforts. Extensive knowledge of mechanical quality and reliability concepts, supplier management, and general manufacturing operations. Project management experience and an understanding of DFx principles is a plus. Deep understanding of DOE, GD&T, SPC theory and practical application experience is preferred. Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills. Domestic travel required. Experience with highly cosmetic parts a plus. Description You will utilize your Mechanical Manufacturing background in the following areas: Process Development: 85 Planning, proposing, and leading experiments to produce timely and accurate analyses used to drive design, development, and supply chain decisions. 85 Assessing the suitability of a fabrication technology for a given part design. Planning validation exercises to demonstrate initial feasibility as well as manufacturing capability. Analyzing results of validation exercises and provide technical recommendations. 85 Reviewing progress of development activities at supplier locations and serve as point of escalation for critical process related issues. New Product Introduction: 85 Acts as lead engineer to drive process development and capability assessment activities, reviewing part design documentation to ensure alignment with process capability. Assigns specific tasks and work with Apple suppliers to support process development and/or data gathering activities. Set clear goals for results and provide timely reviews of performance throughout program. 85 Establish validation procedures to determine acceptance of tooling into development builds as well as mass production. Supplier Execution: 85 Review supplier process flow, equipment selection, DFM, and DOE proposals. Identify shortfalls and corrective actions to ensure design compliance. 85 Work with supplier engineering teams to map out process development exercises, secure resources, and commit to schedules in line with program goals. 85 Assess supplier readiness to support build events and production ramp. Identify potential execution issues and provide recommendations to mitigate risk. 85 You will utilize your Quality Engineering background in the following areas: Quality Planning 85 Apply solid understanding of quality control and manufacturing concepts to develop specific Product Quality Plan (PQP) appropriate to program and commodity. 85 Coordinate all Quality Engineering functions for a program, serving as project manager to lead efforts at supplier locations. 85 Actively participate in the program planning and monitoring process assuming responsibility for key deliverables at all milestones. 85 Provide technical direction and guidance to other Quality Engineers supporting the implementation of the PQP. 85 Assess measurability and creatively address concerns directly with stakeholders. Identify and direct studies to implement improvements in measuring method where appropriate. 85 Establish audit procedures appropriate to program and supplier to ensure adherence to Apple quality standards. Implement FAI and Cp/Cpk reviews of mechanical parts. Supplier Quality Management 85 Assists supplier selection process for new products and second sourcing activities supporting qualification/disqualification decisions. 85 Review PQP with supplier and other Apple functional groups to optimize supplier quality programs. Evaluates supplier readiness and adherence to PQP at all development and qualification stages. 85 Monitor each supplier's performance through measurement of production line statistics, company inspections, and audits. 85 Prepare summary of performance and communicate to appropriate management to ensure effective corrective action plans can be promptly executed. Education BS or above in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Sciences/Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering management is prefer. At Apple, a Supplier Quality Engineer defines product cosmetic specifications and manufacturing quality control methods. Reviews processing techniques and methods applied in the manufacture, fabrication, and evaluation of products. Involvement may begin at any step from product concept to full-scale manufacturing. Coordinates design requirement review with appropriate engineering/scientific personnel to ensure capability of manufacturing processes. Compiles and evaluates data to figure out appropriate limits and variables for process, material, and part specifications. May conceive and plan projects involving definition and selection of new concepts, product inspection technology, and approaches in the processing or development of new or improved processes. Recommends and implements equipment and process modifications to improve production efficiencies, manufacturing techniques and production yields for existing products. Develops and conducts statistical analysis such as Design of Experiments (DOE) and Statistical Process Control (SPC) targeting cause of failure for yield loss and improving quality.
