Supplier Quality Representative

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

Overview

The Supplier Quality Representative performs quality surveillance activities at supplier and vendor facilities to verify that materials and equipment conform to applicable codes, standards, and procurement requirements. This role supports daily surveillance and document review for air-cooled heat exchangers and collaborates with suppliers and project quality personnel to address nonconformances and release conforming materials for shipment.

Responsibilities

• Review procurement requirements with supplier representatives to ensure they are understood and implemented.
• Participate in kickoff and pre-fabrication meetings, confirming witness and hold points, inspection and test planning, documentation deliverables, and traceability expectations.
• Verify that qualified procedures, qualified personnel, calibrated equipment, current approved drawings and revisions, and released materials are in place before work begins.
• Perform assigned quality surveillance activities, including witnessing operations, inspections, examinations, and tests.
• Monitor welding, fit-up and dimensional verification, nondestructive examinations, blasting and coating, pressure and functional testing, final inspection, factory acceptance testing, and pre-shipment verification.
• Review 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 for conformance 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 photographic evidence.
• Collaborate with suppliers and project quality personnel to determine satisfactory dispositions for nonconformances.
• Verify corrective actions in the shop and ensure open actions have an owner, due date, closure evidence, and follow-up verification.
• Report repeat findings, adverse trends, quality risks, and fabrication progress risks.
• Release conforming material for shipment and coordinate quality and progress activities with other project functions.
• Prepare timely and accurate surveillance reports documenting attendance, observations, 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 equivalent completion of two years of full-time college coursework in a related discipline, plus 500 hours of related in-shop inspection, examination, or testing experience.
• Experience in welding and fabrication, hydrostatic testing, pneumatic testing, nondestructive examination surveillance, coating surveillance, final inspections, material test reports, and document review.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to routinely travel to supplier facilities within the assigned area.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any required client, facility, or export-control access.
• Ability to work under moderate supervision and reach defensible conclusions independently while at supplier facilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including clear and factual surveillance report writing.
• Working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications, electronic report submission and assignment tracking, and digital camera use.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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 certification 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 applicable to the assignment, including 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 is an advantage.
• Include all industry certifications with the resume, including issue and expiration dates.