Opportunity Overview

If you pride yourself on your generalist supplier QA background and know your way around diverse manufacturing processes ranging from machine parts and injection molding to electronics and cable harnesses, step up to this high visibility role at a world-class manufacturer of biomedical testing systems. . .

Spanning the biomedical testing continuum -- from pioneering medical research and clinical trials to laboratory diagnostics and point-of-care testing -- Beckman Coulter's 200,000 installed systems provide essential biomedical information to enhance health care around the world. We know that a key element to our success is our continuous commitment to quality; in fact improving supplier performance is a key initiative with 75% of our spend going towards materials in our instrumentation products.

We design roles & responsibilities around the skills you bring to the table, so depending on your strengths, you'll take ownership of an assigned supplier base from a total of 300 active suppliers. Your mission will be to challenge your suppliers to be even better as you proactively monitor supplier performance, drive QMS/process audits, and tailor specific improvement plans which implement Lean/Six Sigma methodologies to push supplier quality to a whole new level.

Your Opportunity

If you have what it takes to position yourself as a positive catalyst for change, you'll find that our environment is replete with a variety of rewards including:

• High impact -- rather than simply enforcing our supplier requirements, you'll help enrich our relationships with suppliers in ways that are beneficial to Beckman and to the suppliers. Not to mention that you'll be able to "make your mark" on our organization by implementing supplier quality improvements. The quality programs you'll help drive today will become the way we do business tomorrow.
• Skills development -- you'll showcase your creativity in an environment that is open to new ideas, take advantage of state-of-the-art facilities and tools, and further develop your technical skills.
• Career growth -- advancement opportunities and diverse career paths are trademarks of the Beckman Coulter experience, and as you master your accountabilities, you'll be ideally positioned to evolve along multiple career paths.
• Pride -- you'll join an established, profitable and highly successful global leader that has proven itself capable of evolving to meet the needs of the marketplace and maintaining a healthy growth rate throughout.
• Excellent compensation -- in addition to a very competitive salary and bonus opportunity, we offer a robust benefits package that includes low-cost health insurance coverage for you and your family; matching 401(k) as well as a retirement account plan; stock purchase options; paid vacation and holidays; tuition assistance; and more.

Our Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 7 years of relevant experience OR advanced degree and 5 years of relevant experience; must have broad background in a variety of manufacturing processes including machine shop, injection molding, electronics, pumps, syringes etc.
• A demonstrated ability to inspire, motivate, lead and get results through others.
• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.
• The ability to organize and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to function independently as well as a team player.

Preferred, but not required:

• Experience in an ISO 13485 medical devices industry.
• Experience with LEAN/Six Sigma methodologies.

More About Your Role

If you're a good fit for this position, you already know most of what this job entails. However, to be sure we're providing a complete picture, here are some details.

Reporting directly to the Group Manager of Manufacturing Quality, you will join four other Engineers within the Supplier Quality Group at our Brea office. As you come on board, your initial challenge will be to quickly scale the learning curve, gaining a deep understanding of the "nuts and bolts" of our products and systems and then developing and implementing QA systems that meet our specific needs.

At a high level, you'll spend about 60% of your time staying on top of day-to-day supplier issues; and the remaining 40% driving improvements in supplier performance. Specifically, your responsibilities are to:

• Ensure integration of suppliers' products and services into Beckman Coulter's manufacturing processes; drive supplier corrective action programs as required.
• Conduct Quality System and Process Audits; exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Participate in Process FMEA for Suppliers' manufacturing processes.
• Develop and implement supplier improvement strategies.
• Develop and track project plans.
• Collaborate with Development and Technical Operations to facilitate the introduction of new products and processes.
• Engineer the selection and approval of new suppliers for new applications; serve as a communication bridge between the Development Project Team and the supplier, so that the supplier becomes a virtual part of Beckman Coulter by participating in design reviews and other relevant project development activities throughout the entire development process.
• Monitor policies, procedures and standards relating to Supplier Quality Engineering.

Keys to Success

Your success in this role will depend upon your ability to drive our relationships with suppliers from a reactive to proactive mode. This will require excellent interpersonal skills to motivate buy-in and contributions from people over whom you have no direct authority; from time to time it may also require a certain degree of assertiveness. Other facets of success are to:

• Strike an appropriate balance between taking care of day-to-day quality activities and bringing forward new ideas and concepts.
• Assume ownership of your assigned suppliers and convey to them your commitment to quality and aggressive approach to continuous improvement.
• Maintain a high energy level to manage multiple issues and drive them each to resolution.
• Remain flexible and ready to shift priorities as the need arises.
• Motivate yourself to achieve your goals independently while keeping your supervisor in the loop.
• Be sensitive to cultural differences.

If this sounds like the right mix of challenge and opportunity for you, and you meet the minimum qualifications, we want to hear from you!

Who We Are

Beckman Coulter, Inc. (NYSE:BEC) is a leading manufacturer of biomedical testing instrument systems, tests and supplies that simplify and automate laboratory processes. From complex DNA sequencing to simple diagnostic screening kits, we are one of the world's largest companies devoted to biomedical testing. The company, based in Fullerton, California, reported 2007 annual sales of $2.76 billion with 75 percent of this amount generated by recurring revenue from supplies, test kits and services.

With operations in more than 130 countries, we employ over 11,000 employees including research scientists, engineers, manufacturing associates and other professional and technical staffs. We offer opportunities for every employee to make an impact at Beckman Coulter -- and on the health of people worldwide through our products which support advances in patient care. For additional information, please visit www.beckman.com.