Supplier Quality Representative

Talascend is currently seeking a Supplier Quality Representative for a contract opportunity with our client in West Coast, Texas.

Overview

The Supplier Quality Representative visits supplier and vendor facilities to perform quality surveillance, inspection, document review, and testing activities. This role verifies that supplier-furnished materials and equipment meet procurement, technical, code, and quality requirements; documents nonconformances; releases conforming materials for shipment; and reports surveillance results to project personnel and the customer.

Responsibilities

• Travel approximately 75–80% to supplier facilities, primarily across the West Coast and Western states, with occasional travel to East Coast locations as needed.
• Review procurement requirements with supplier representatives to confirm that client-specific and code-driven requirements are understood and implemented.
• Participate in kickoff and pre-fabrication meetings and confirm witness points, hold points, inspection and test planning, documentation deliverables, and traceability expectations.
• Verify that qualified procedures and personnel, calibrated equipment, current approved drawings and revisions, and released materials are in place before work begins.
• Perform surveillance activities defined by the assignment scope and quality surveillance plan.
• Monitor supplier operations, inspections, examinations, and tests, including nondestructive examinations, welding, fit-up and dimensional verification, blasting and coating, pressure and functional testing, final inspection, factory acceptance testing, and pre-shipment verification.
• Review supplier quality documentation, including material test reports, traceability and heat records, nondestructive examination reports, personnel and procedure qualifications, calibration records, coating records, and data books.
• Verify that sub-suppliers and subcontracted operations are disclosed, qualified, and controlled, and that related findings and records are included in supplier reporting.
• Review supplier documents without signing, initialing, stamping, or otherwise endorsing supplier inspection and test plans or other supplier documents.
• Reject nonconforming material and document conditions objectively with references to governing requirements and supporting photographic evidence.
• Collaborate with suppliers and project quality personnel to establish dispositions for nonconformances and refer design-related items for technical disposition.
• Verify corrective actions using supplier evidence and firsthand observation, and ensure that open actions include an owner, due date, closure evidence, and follow-up verification.
• Report repeat findings, adverse trends, quality risks, and fabrication progress risks to appropriate project personnel.
• Release conforming material for shipment and coordinate with other functional organizations and expediting personnel.
• Prepare timely and accurate surveillance reports documenting attendance, observations, findings, and actions.
• Support remote and technology-enabled surveillance, including hands-free video collaboration, three-dimensional scanning, and model overlay tools.
• Maintain assignment, inspection notice, finding, certification, and photographic records in applicable systems.

Qualifications

• Two years of related experience involving 2,000 hours of in-shop surveillance, examination, or testing activities; or
• High school diploma or equivalent and 1,000 hours of in-shop surveillance, examination, or testing activities; or
• Associate degree, or the equivalent of two years of full-time college coursework in a related discipline, plus 500 hours of related in-shop inspection, examination, or testing experience.
• At least 4–5 years of quality assurance, quality control, supplier quality, or shop-surveillance experience is preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel routinely to supplier facilities.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any client, facility, or export-control access required for assigned suppliers.
• Ability to work under moderate supervision and reach defensible conclusions independently at supplier facilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and factual surveillance reports.
• Working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications, electronic report submission and assignment tracking, and digital camera use.
• Ability to review drawings, specifications, purchase order requirements, inspection and test requirements, supplier documentation, and nonconformances.
• Ability to work safely in an industrial fabrication environment with exposure to noise, heat, cold, dust, fumes, and moving equipment while wearing required personal protective equipment.
• Ability to climb ladders and stairs, work at elevation, enter confined or restricted spaces when authorized, stand and walk for extended periods, and lift and carry inspection equipment weighing approximately 25 pounds.
• Vision and hearing, with correction as needed, sufficient to perform visual examinations and witness testing.
• Willingness and ability to complete required qualification, training, and on-the-job training requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in nuclear or another highly regulated industry.
• Additional in-shop quality surveillance or related experience with common industrial equipment or materials.
• Experience with structural steel and plate work; piping, spools, valves, and supports; pressure vessels, exchangers, tanks, skids, or modules; rotating equipment and packaged units; electrical and instrumentation equipment; protective coatings and linings; or precast and prestressed concrete products.
• Working familiarity with applicable codes and standards, such as the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, ASME B31.1 and B31.3, AWS D1.1, API standards, and AMPP/SSPC coating standards.
• Industry certifications such as ASNT Level II in one or more nondestructive examination methods, AWS Certified Welding Inspector, AMPP/NACE coating inspector, or NPCA Production and Quality School certification.
• Experience with quality programs such as ISO 9001, 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, or NQA-1.
• Experience on engineering, procurement, and construction projects in energy, nuclear, liquefied natural gas, mining and metals, or major infrastructure.
• Experience with supplier assessment, surveillance level determination, supplier requalification, or supplier document and certification data book control.
• Experience with international suppliers and translated documentation.
• A second language relevant to the assigned region.