Supplier Quality Assurance Specialist

About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world's leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation - always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

Supplier Quality Assurance Specialist 

Purpose of the role

Ensure the operational execution of supplier quality assurance activities by managing supplier complaints, returns and special approvals. This role ensures effective communication with suppliers, proper documentation of quality issues and supports continuous improvement of supplier quality performance to maintain uninterrupted production.

Responsibilities:

Supplier Complaint Management

• Review and evaluate supplier complaints based on internal nonconformities
• Ensure accurate and complete defect descriptions including quantities and technical documentation
• Coordinate communication with suppliers regarding corrective actions and deadlines
• Monitor supplier responses and ensure timely processing of complaints and sorting activities

Return Management

• Evaluate and decide on the necessity of returning defective material to suppliers
• Coordinate documentation of returned / reworked material
• Ensure correct documentation including return forms and defect reports
• Track supplier analysis and corrective actions

Monitoring of Corrective Actions

• Track the implementation status of actions related to complaints, returns and rework
• Maintain transparency on supplier corrective actions and follow up on implementation
• Support reporting on complaint statistics and supplier quality performance

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Act as interface between suppliers and internal stakeholders
• Support production, engineering and quality departments in supplier-related quality issues
• Ensure proper communication and alignment regarding supplier complaints and actions

Qualifications:

• Min. 3 years of experience in supplier quality assurance, complaint management or operational quality roles
• Experience in supplier communication and coordination of corrective actions
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and failure analysis methods
• Experience in data analysis and quality reporting is beneficial
• Technical background (engineering, quality management or comparable experience)
• Good knowledge of key quality tools such as 8D-Reports, 3-legged 5 Why, SPC, Ishikawa
• Strong communication and coordination skills
• Ability to work independently and in cross functional teams
• Fluent German and English skills (written and spoken)