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 safe and reliable People Flow™.
We are now looking for a Senior Supplier Quality Engineer to join our European SQM team in Hyvinkää, Finland.
SQM Engineers ensure that suppliers are capable and comply with KONE’s quality, safety, and sustainability requirements. The role applies supplier quality management processes, tools, and resources to drive supplier excellence.
Responsibilities:
Lead and perform day‑to‑day Supplier Quality Management (SQM) activities with KONE suppliers, working closely with internal stakeholders such as sourcing, factories, engineering, modernization, spare parts, major projects, logistics, and installation teams.
Plan and carry out supplier audits in line with the annual audit program.
Prepare, update, and negotiate supplier quality agreements (Quality Annex) together with the KONE Contract Owner.
Participate in product development and change projects by ensuring suppliers are ready for production launch. This includes risk analysis, defining critical quality requirements, supporting suppliers in implementing changes, and managing part approval processes (for new product development projects, this responsibility may be handled by a dedicated project quality role).
Monitor, analyze, and report supplier performance using defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Support the supplier scorecard process and participate in performance discussions together with the Contract Owner.
Identify quality issues and drive corrective, preventive, and recovery actions together with suppliers.
Take part in supplier certification and approval processes.
Contribute to supplier development and continuous improvement initiatives.
Support supplier negotiations when quality commitments or improvements are required.
Ensure suppliers follow KONE sourcing principles, policies, processes, and procedures.
Ensure supplier compliance with quality, safety, and environmental requirements and standards.
Requirements
Minimum B.Sc. degree in a technical field.
3–7 years of experience in industrial engineering, manufacturing processes, supplier quality management, quality engineering, supply chain, sourcing, or similar.
Fluency in Finnish and English (spoken and written).
Experience in product and process auditing; experience with VDA 6.3, ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 or similar standards.
Experience with PPAP methodology and VDA 2 requirements for supplier part approval processes.
Understanding of manufacturing processes and technologies in relevant categories.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work across levels and cultures.
Excellent project management and problem‑solving skills, with strong analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management capabilities.
Good knowledge of supplier quality management methods and tools (Control Plans, CTQ, SPC, FMEA, Six Sigma, Lean, DMAIC, Poka‑Yoke).
Strong solution‑oriented mindset and ability to follow through to ensure quality and sustainability.
Self‑driven and motivated to learn and coach others.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to 30%).
Preferred Qualifications
M.Sc. degree in a relevant technical field.
Fluency in additional European languages
Lean and/or Six Sigma certification.
Understanding of automotive industry quality practices such as IATF.
Electronics or/and iron casting / machining
Manufacturing: Assembling
How to Apply
Please submit your application, including both a CV and cover letter, no later than July 19th.
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 presence in the office three days per week.
For more information, please contact:
Sara Kinell, Recruitment Specialist, KONE Nordics at [email protected]
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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/
Skills Required
- Minimum B.Sc. degree in a technical field
- 3-7 years experience in industrial engineering, manufacturing processes, supplier quality management, quality engineering, supply chain, or sourcing
- Fluency in Finnish and English (spoken and written)
- Experience in product and process auditing; experience with VDA 6.3, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001
- Experience with PPAP methodology and VDA 2 requirements for supplier part approval processes
- Understanding of manufacturing processes and technologies in relevant categories
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, ability to work across levels and cultures
- Excellent project management and problem-solving skills; analytical, negotiation, and stakeholder management capabilities
- Good knowledge of supplier quality management methods and tools (Control Plans, CTQ, SPC, FMEA, Six Sigma, Lean, DMAIC, Poka-Yoke)
- Strong solution-oriented mindset; self-driven and motivated to learn and coach others
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to 30%)
- M.Sc. degree in a relevant technical field
- Fluency in additional European languages
- Lean and/or Six Sigma certification
- Understanding of automotive industry quality practices such as IATF
- Experience with electronics and/or iron casting/machining
- Manufacturing assembling experience
Kone Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Kone and has not been reviewed or approved by Kone.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered competitive across many roles and markets, with field positions sometimes benefiting from overtime and strong union scales. Feedback suggests base compensation is often a relative positive even when other factors vary.
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Retirement Support — Retirement programs, including 401(k) and in some regions pension or annuity structures, are consistently highlighted as strong. Feedback suggests these elements meaningfully enhance the overall package.
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Healthcare Strength — Core health coverage is viewed as comprehensive, commonly including medical, dental, and vision options. Feedback suggests a global well‑being framework and EAP resources further reinforce health-related support.
Kone Insights
What We Do
At KONE, our mission is to improve the flow of urban life. This means understanding urbanization and, together with our partners and customers, helping cities to become better and more sustainable places to live. As a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, KONE provides elevators, escalators and automatic building doors, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernization to add value to buildings throughout their life cycle. Through more effective People Flow®, we make people's journeys safe, convenient and reliable, in taller, smarter buildings. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, we operate in more than 60 countries around the world, employ over 60,000 people and serve 550,000 customers. In 2022, KONE had annual sales of EUR 10.9 billion. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.







