Quality Engineer Product Development

ROB SIKOLE

*******@*****.*** Loveland, CO ***** 970-***-**** linkedin.com/in/robert-sikole-50a4115

QUALITY ENGINEER

Quality-oriented professional with deep expertise in domestic and international engineering across various industries. Unwavering commitment to quality, a strong work ethic, and exceptional communication skills. Expertise spans supplier quality management, ISO 9001, manufacturing process and product development, quality control, yield improvement, and failure analysis. Results-driven continuous learner and certified Six Sigma Black Belt, consistently delivering tangible improvements to processes and operations. Equally qualified in both team member and leadership roles, leveraging skills to collaboratively identify and resolve critical or chronic issues. Track record of achieving measurable results and poised to drive excellence and innovation in any organization.

SKILLS

Supplier Development Process/Product Development Minitab Calibration

Quality Systems Deployment Metrology Development Design for Manufacturing (DFM)

Statistical Process Control (SPC) Tooling development FMEA GR & R APQP/PPAP

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Seagate, Longmont, CO Jan 2022 – June 2023

Worldwide leader is mass storage solutions.

Staff Mechanical/Materials Supplier Engineer

Qualified internal disk drive components for disk drive production.

Managed suppliers’ engineering resources, process/program development and qualification for new products. Interfaced with design engineers, supplier engineers, incoming quality control, material scientists, procurement, document control, and product development teams through the entire product lifecycle from concept/feasibility, DFM, new product introduction (NPI) and the production ramp to end of life.

Broan–Nu Tone, Hartford, WI Nov 2017 - May 2021

North America’s largest producer of residential ventilation and air quality products.

Senior Supplier Quality Engineer

Executed review and disposition of supplier production part approval process (PPAPs) and facilitated development of global standards for supplier PPAPs.

Resolved customer complaints, non-conforming material reports, including containment of suspect and defective material in accordance with standard 8D process. Resolved quality issues including driving supply base to 8D report completion, specification validation, initiating drawing/design updates, and measurement system GR & R and correlation.

Performed quality management systems audits at supply base and drove resultant corrective actions and supplier development.

Participated in supplier scorecard development/implementation with commodity management team. Performed advanced quality engineer function qualifying and launching new products and suppliers.

RGBSI – Contract Engineer for Oshkosh Defense, Appleton, WI Dec 2016 - Nov 2017

Advanced Quality Engineer

Evaluated PPAP submission packages according to customers’ requirements on first run parts.

Conducted QMS audits, supplier training sessions on quality issues, continuous improvement, APQP/PPAP customer requirements including Process Flow diagram, PFMEA, Control Plan, GR & R, and Process Capability. Communicated defects to supply base, drove root cause/corrective actions/rework to resolution.

Rob Sikole *******@*****.*** Page 2

Worked with DCMA (Defense Contract Management Association) to define and validate PPAPs beyond AIAG PPAP requirements for JLTV platform.

Milsco Manufacturing, Seating Solutions Division of Jason, Inc., Brown Deer, WI Aug 2015 - Sep 2016

Supplier Quality Development Engineer

Implemented Supplier Development/Improvement program for selected suppliers, including DPPM reduction, PPAP approval, 8D verification and closure, warranty return analysis and corrective action.

Provided Milsco factory support and on-site customer support to manage containment/rework activities.

Approved supplier Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), RMAs, change requests, deviations, and validated process/product changes according to AIAG requirements.

ThyssenKrupp Presta AG, Steering Systems Division, Terre Haute, IN Mar 2014 - Aug 2015

Supplier Development Engineer Supervisor

Supervised SQE group, including supplier complaint management, supplier charge backs, 8D verification and closure (CAPA), MRB disposition, supplier deviations and material disposition.

Partnered with suppliers in development and escalation management for supplier improvement, including process capability improvement, defect reduction (PPM), 8D verification and closure, SPC implementation and continuous improvement.

Shoals Technologies Group, Portland, TN Mar 2013 - Mar 2014

North American leading manufacturer of PV Balance of Systems solutions.

Quality Manager

Managed customer quality, incoming inspection, internal corrective action (CAPA), supplier quality, continuous improvement and drove warranty return failure analysis and corrective action. Managed and mentored a group of 12 quality inspectors.

First Solar, Perrysburg, OH Jul 2008 - Jan 2013

Thin film solar panel manufacturing.

Supplier Quality and Development Engineer

Managed non-conforming material, including disposition of material, driving suppliers to root cause of failure and corrective action. Performed supplier quality audits per ISO standards, including annual re-validation.

Qualified multiple suppliers on multiple commodities for high volume production of thin film solar panels. Qualification requirements included site audits, FMEA, DFM, UL certification, process control plan development and implementation of SPC. Drove additional activities such as GR&R studies, yield improvement, cost reduction and specification validation resulting in two key suppliers obtaining zero DPPM for a period of 18 months.

Implemented new priming process with an overseas supplier for a PV solar module assembly component. Worked with development engineering, materials engineering, factory quality, multiple suppliers, and purchasing to develop the process, refine the specification, and deploy the process for global production. Deployment included repeatability and reproducibility (GR & R) studies, SPC implementation and continuous improvement efforts improving quality and reducing cost.

EDUCATION CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering (BSME), University of Colorado, Colorado Springs/Denver, CO

Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, Villanova University (August 2005)

Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, American Society for Quality (March 2006)

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