Senior Engineer – Customer Quality -Sharda Motor

Sharda Motor is Hiring Senior Engineer – Customer Quality | Irungattukottai

Sharda Motor Industries Ltd., a leading automotive component manufacturer in India, is inviting applications for the position of Senior Engineer – Customer Quality at its Irungattukottai plant. This opportunity is ideal for quality professionals who are passionate about customer satisfaction, process improvement, and OEM quality standards.

Position Details:

• Job Title: Senior Engineer – Customer Quality
• Company: Sharda Motor Industries Ltd.
• Location: Irungattukottai, Tamil Nadu
• Department: Quality
• Employment Type: Full-Time

Key Responsibilities:

• Handle customer quality concerns, complaints, and warranty issues
• Coordinate with OEM customers for quality improvement actions
• Lead root cause analysis (8D, 5 Why, Fishbone) and corrective actions
• Ensure compliance with customer-specific requirements and quality standards
• Support internal teams for PPAP, audits, and continuous improvement
• Monitor quality KPIs and ensure customer satisfaction metrics are met

Desired Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of automotive quality systems
• Experience in customer complaint handling & OEM coordination
• Hands-on experience with problem-solving tools
• Good communication and documentation skills
• Customer-focused mindset with analytical thinking

Why Join Sharda Motor?

• Work with a reputed automotive OEM supplier
• Opportunity to handle direct customer interactions
• Career growth in quality leadership roles
• Exposure to advanced manufacturing and quality practices

How to Apply:

📧 Interested candidates may send their updated CV to:
arun.prasad@shardamotor.com

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further process.

Senior Engineer – Customer Quality

Interview Questions & Model Answers

1. What is the role of Customer Quality in an automotive company?

Answer:
Customer Quality ensures that products supplied to OEMs meet all quality standards and customer-specific requirements. It involves handling customer complaints, coordinating corrective actions, ensuring timely responses like 8D reports, monitoring quality KPIs, and maintaining strong customer relationships.

2. How do you handle a customer complaint?

Answer:
First, I acknowledge the complaint immediately and contain the issue to avoid further impact. Then I perform root cause analysis using tools like 5 Why and Fishbone. I prepare and submit an 8D report, implement corrective and preventive actions, and ensure effectiveness validation before closure with the customer.

3. What is an 8D report and when is it used?

Answer:
An 8D (Eight Disciplines) report is a structured problem-solving methodology used to identify, correct, and eliminate recurring problems. It is mainly used for customer complaints, field failures, and major quality issues requiring systematic corrective action.

4. Explain the difference between corrective action and preventive action.

Answer:
Corrective action addresses the root cause of an existing problem, while preventive action eliminates potential causes of problems before they occur. Both are critical for continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

5. How do you coordinate with OEM customers?

Answer:
I maintain regular communication through emails, review meetings, and quality discussions. I ensure timely submission of reports, transparency in problem-solving, and quick response to customer feedback. Building trust and professionalism is key while dealing with OEMs.

6. What quality KPIs do you monitor in customer quality?

Answer:
Key KPIs include PPM, customer complaints count, response time, closure time, rejection rate, warranty claims, and audit scores. These indicators help track customer satisfaction and process effectiveness.

7. What tools do you use for root cause analysis?

Answer:
I use 5 Why analysis, Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram, Pareto analysis, SPC data, and sometimes FMEA review to identify the real root cause and prevent recurrence.

8. What is PPM and why is it important?

Answer:
PPM (Parts Per Million) measures defect levels. It is critical because OEMs closely monitor supplier PPM to evaluate quality performance. Lower PPM indicates better process control and customer satisfaction.

9. How do you ensure effectiveness of corrective actions?

Answer:
I verify effectiveness through data monitoring, audits, control plan updates, SPC analysis, and follow-up inspections. Only after stable results and zero recurrence do I close the action.

10. Explain your experience with PPAP.

Answer:
PPAP ensures that the manufacturing process consistently produces parts meeting specifications. I have experience in preparing PPAP documents, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and submitting them to customers for approval.

11. How do you handle pressure from customers during critical quality issues?

Answer:
I stay calm, focus on facts and data, communicate transparently, and prioritize containment. Clear timelines and regular updates help manage customer expectations during critical situations.

12. What is your experience with customer audits?

Answer:
I have supported customer audits by preparing documents, coordinating departments, ensuring compliance with standards, and closing audit findings through corrective actions.

13. What quality standards are you familiar with?

Answer:
I am familiar with IATF 16949, ISO 9001, customer-specific requirements, and core tools like APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, and MSA.

14. How do you reduce repeat customer complaints?

Answer:
By focusing on robust root cause analysis, updating PFMEA and control plans, training operators, and implementing poka-yoke solutions to prevent human error.

15. Why should we hire you for this role?

Answer:
I bring strong automotive quality knowledge, hands-on customer handling experience, structured problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach toward customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.

🔹 Quick Tip for Interview:

Always answer with real examples, mention OEM exposure, and highlight PPM reduction, complaint closure, and audit success.