Supplier Quality Manager to KONE Hyvinkää

Position: SQM Manager

Location: Hyvinkää, Finland

Reports to: Area Tribe SQM Manager, Europe

KONE is a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry — our mission is to improve the flow of urban life. We provide elevators, escalators, and automatic building doors, as well as maintenance and modernization solutions that add value throughout the lifecycle of any building.

The KONE Purchasing Organization is responsible for a resilient, industry‑leading supply chain network, enabling us to meet and exceed customer expectations. We are working towards a locally accountable, globally harmonized operating model for our supply chain operations. We work in an agile manner, navigating changing market needs together with our customers and partners.

Supplier Quality Management (SQM) is a global organization within KONE Purchasing, responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality materials and services by managing supplier relationships and enforcing KONE’s stringent quality and sustainability standards.

We are now looking for a Supplier Quality Manager to join our European SQM team in Hyvinkää, Finland. Supplier Quality Manager is a techno-managerial role (no direct reports) responsible for both strategic and operational aspects of supplier quality management and driving supplier quality excellence across the supply chain. This involves managing supplier selection, qualification, development, and ongoing performance to ensure that all suppliers are capable and comply with KONE’s quality, safety and sustainability requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Supplier Performance Management: Oversee supplier qualification, development, and auditing processes, ensuring adherence to KONE’s quality standards and sustainability criteria.
• Technical & Process Oversight: Collaborate with technical and business teams to define and implement product and process quality requirements for supplier categories.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive supplier development and risk mitigation projects, utilizing Lean Six Sigma methodologies to enhance supplier performance and reduce defects.
• Strategic Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with purchasing, R&D, and other key stakeholders to align supplier quality processes with broader business objectives.
• Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis: Lead root cause analysis for quality issues, driving the implementation of corrective and preventive actions with suppliers.
• Compliance & Auditing: Ensure that suppliers comply with ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 standards, and conduct regular audits to assess their quality management systems.
• Upstream Supply Chain Optimization: Act as a key driver in optimizing the upstream supply chain by ensuring supplier quality readiness for new product launches and engineering changes through robust PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) management.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Education: B.Sc. degree in engineering or a related technical field (M.Sc. preferred)
• Experience: 5–8 years of experience in supplier quality management, ideally in casting, machining, electronics, or a similar manufacturing environment.
• Language skills: Fluency both in Finnish and English (spoken and written).
• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of product and process quality auditing practices (ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001) and experience with supplier qualification processes.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Strong ability to analyze complex quality issues, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Project Management: Excellent organizational and project management skills, with experience in working with cross-functional teams.
• Additional Certifications: Lean Six Sigma certification is a plus.
• Willingness to travel: Flexibility to travel up to 25%, both domestically and internationally.

Preferred Competencies:

• Fluency in additional European languages (e.g., German, Italian, Polish).
• Ability to navigate complex, technical discussions and engage with stakeholders across different functions.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to influence suppliers and internal teams in matrix environment.
• A proactive, result-driven attitude with a focus on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Willingness to go beyond regular expectations when required to ensure high-quality results.

How to Apply

Please submit your application, including both a CV and cover letter, no later than May 3.

Interviews may be conducted on an ongoing basis, and the position may be filled before the application deadline.

This role follows a hybrid working model, requiring three days per week in the office.

For more information, please contact:
Marjo Vormisto, Hiring Manager at marjo.vormisto@kone.com
or
Sara Kinell, Recruitment Specialist, KONE Nordics at sara.kinell@kone.com

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At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.

Read more on https://careers.kone.com/en/