Quality Assurance Engineer

STEVEN L. VAHLE

***** *. ******** ***** *****: 313-***-****

Dearborn Heights, Michigan 48127-0167 Email: abijeb@r.postjobfree.com

CAREER SUMMARY

Quality Assurance Manager with extensive experience with five global Tier

one automotive suppliers.

Broad expertise ranging from new vehicle program through warranty systems

management. Strong knowledge in problem solving methodologies,

customer/vendor relationship development and cost negotiations.

Collaborative, results oriented leader able to develop and manage customer

focused teams that consistently meet or exceed quality and financial

objectives. Recognized for ability to acquire and utilize new product

information new quickly.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BEHR AMERICA INC., Troy, Michigan 2004 - 2009

Tier one automotive/truck supplier of engine cooling and HVAC systems: $98

Million sales.

Manager, Warranty 2007 - 2009

Managed three warranty engineers, two laboratory technicians and one data

specialist. Responsible for 100% of warranty claims, parts, problem

solving, tier one and customer cost recovery activities in North America.

. Centralized warranty activity for automotive HVAC/engine cooling and

Truck HVAC customers which improved customer satisfaction and

departmental efficiency by over 50%.

. Proposed relational database to create a proactive structure, as well

as improve data accuracy, departmental efficiency and

management/engineering reporting.

. Exceeded corporate quality goals by reducing warranty costs by over

50% within two years.

. Promoted financial responsibility by developing risk management,

accrual and reserve reports.

Supervisor Warranty Lab 2005 - 2007

Sr. Warranty Engineer 2004 - 2007

Responsible for the investigation of warranty concerns based on claim

data, customer matrix information and return parts analysis using various

problem solving methodologies to determine root cause.

. Accomplished the implementation and subsequent management of the

warranty lab, including budgeting, equipment requisition, staffing and

process flows.

. Implemented warranty systems that expedited Behr's completion and

removal from Chrysler's Supplier Improvement Program.

. Created and implemented an improved top issues tracking report.

o Chrysler considers this document "Best in Class" and requires

all other HVAC suppliers to use.

DURA CONVERTIBLE SYSTEMS DIVISION, Adrian, Michigan 2002 - 2004

(division of Collins & Aikman Corporation)

Tier one supplier of automotive convertible soft top systems: $110 million

sales.

Warranty Specialist 2002 - 2004

Charged with creating and implementing a warranty process.

. Created processes for reporting warranty data, parts analysis and

customer score cards to core program teams and to the Executive

Steering Committee.

DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, Inc., Southfield, Michigan 1991 - 2002

Global Tier one automotive/truck supplier of various electrical and A/C

related components:

$8.3 billion sales

Supervisor Field Warranty and Service Activities 1999 - 2002

Developed and implemented the "Field Service Group" to centralize all

U.S. customer based warranty requirements and activities.

. Established 100% compliance to QS-9000 standard allowing for the

continued certification for DENSO International America Inc..

. Negotiated a 95% year over year reduction on warranty cost recovery

activities initiated by Chrysler.

DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA

Supervisor Field Warranty and Service Activities, continued

. Created and operated the GM Cadillac Technical Assistance Help Line

for DENSO's Navigation System used in the 2001 Seville/Deville

vehicles.

Supervisor Chrysler and Off-Highway Accounts 1994 - 1999

Managed a team of four associates responsible for customer satisfaction

and quality assurance for 32 Chrysler/Tier one assembly plants and 12 Off-

Highway accounts.

. Developed and implemented monthly/quarterly cost of quality reports

pertaining to the North American market.

. Negotiated long term field warranty agreements effecting 100% of all

new programs with Chrysler Corporation.

Quality Assurance Engineer 1993 - 1994

Maintained quality assurance activities at customer's vehicle assembly

plants while negotiating difficult quality targets.

. Established and implemented a team of four associates to parallel

each of the four Chrysler platform groups.

o Improved customer satisfaction and departmental efficiency.

Quality Patrol Engineer 1991 - 1993

Served as internal plant quality assurance liaison to the Toyota

Georgetown KY manufacturing facility and the Diamond Star Motors

(Mitsubishi/Chrysler joint venture) in Normal IL.

. Scheduled and coordinated pre-production vehicle evaluations.

Presented engineering changes, inspection standards, quality

control plans, tooling progress reports, master quality charts and

countermeasure action plans to the plant quality departments.

ROBERT BOSCH CORPORATION, Farmington Hills, Michigan 1984 - 1991

Global Tier one automotive/truck supplier of various electrical, engine

cooling and A/C related components: $717 million sales.

Associate Quality Engineer 1987 - 1991

Developed and maintained quality assurance activities at Chrysler's

vehicle assembly plants while negotiating quality targets in hostile

environments.

Senior Technician 1984 - 1987

Supervised a team of four technicians responsible for the testing and

evaluation of suspect defective components from customer plants and field

warranty.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Service 1981

Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan

Company Sponsored Training

Japanese middle management training

Certified QS-9000 internal auditor

Problem Solving Methodologies

Time Management

Introduction to Quality Engineering (ASQ)

APQP/FMEA/PPAP

Statistical Process Control

Statistics

MS WORD, EXCEL, ACCESS, POWERPOINT and VISIO

MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS

ASQ, Active Member 2004 - Present

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