ZF Steering Gear India Ltd.
ZF Steering Gear India Supplier Quality Manager Jobs in Pune
Are you an experienced Supplier Quality Manager looking for an opportunity with a global automotive technology leader? ZF Steering Gear India Ltd. is hiring a Supplier Quality Manager for its Vadu Plant, Pune. This role is ideal for professionals with strong experience in Supplier Quality Management, Supplier Development, APQP, PPAP, IATF 16949, supplier audits, and automotive manufacturing.
Candidates with expertise in casting, machining, forging components, process audits, root cause analysis, and automotive quality systems will be highly preferred. If you are passionate about building a robust supplier quality network and driving continuous improvement, this is an excellent career opportunity.
About ZF Steering Gear India Ltd.
ZF Steering Gear India Ltd. is a part of the globally renowned ZF Group, a leading supplier of advanced mobility technologies for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and industrial applications. The company manufactures high-quality steering systems and automotive components while maintaining global standards for quality, safety, and innovation.
Working at ZF provides professionals with exposure to international quality systems, supplier development programs, advanced manufacturing technologies, and world-class automotive engineering practices.
Supplier Quality Manager Job Overview
Company
ZF Steering Gear India Ltd.
Job Title
Supplier Quality Manager
Department
Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA)
Industry
Automotive Manufacturing
Job Location
Vadu, Pune, Maharashtra
Experience Required
Experienced Automotive Supplier Quality Professionals
Educational Qualification
- B.E./B.Tech (Mechanical, Automobile, Production, Metallurgy, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline)
- Diploma with relevant automotive supplier quality experience may also be considered.
Key Responsibilities
The selected candidate will lead supplier quality initiatives and ensure purchased components consistently meet customer and organizational quality requirements.
Key responsibilities include:
- Develop and strengthen supplier quality systems across the supply base.
- Evaluate and approve suppliers through process and system audits.
- Lead supplier development activities to improve quality, delivery, and manufacturing capability.
- Drive APQP activities for new product development and supplier readiness.
- Review and approve PPAP submissions before production approval.
- Conduct process audits based on IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements.
- Analyze supplier quality issues using structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Lead root cause analysis using 8D, 5 Why Analysis, Fishbone Diagram, and other quality tools.
- Monitor supplier quality KPIs and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support customer quality requirements through supplier quality assurance activities.
- Coordinate with Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supplier teams for quality improvements.
- Drive defect prevention initiatives for casting, machining, and forging components.
- Ensure supplier compliance with quality standards, documentation, and process capability requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates should possess:
- Experience in Supplier Quality Management within the automotive industry.
- Strong exposure to Casting, Machining, or Forging components.
- Excellent understanding of automotive quality standards.
- Experience in supplier audits and supplier development.
- Strong analytical, leadership, and communication skills.
Required Skills
The ideal candidate should have expertise in:
- Supplier Quality Management
- Supplier Development
- Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA)
- Supplier Audits
- APQP
- PPAP
- FMEA
- PFMEA
- DFMEA
- MSA
- SPC
- Control Plans
- 8D Problem Solving
- Root Cause Analysis
- 5 Why Analysis
- Fishbone Diagram
- Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA)
- IATF 16949
- ISO 9001
- VDA Process Audits
- Process Capability Studies
- Customer Complaint Resolution
Preferred Candidate Profile
ZF Steering Gear India is looking for professionals with experience in:
- Automotive OEMs
- Automotive Tier-1 Suppliers
- Steering System Manufacturing
- Suspension Components
- Powertrain Components
- Forging Manufacturing
- Casting Manufacturing
- Precision Machining
- Supplier Development
- Quality Engineering
- Manufacturing Quality
- Customer Quality
Why Join ZF Steering Gear India?
Joining ZF offers professionals an opportunity to work with a globally recognized automotive technology company committed to innovation and manufacturing excellence.
Benefits include:
- Competitive compensation package
- Opportunity to work with global automotive customers
- Exposure to international supplier quality standards
- Career growth within a multinational organization
- Learning and leadership development opportunities
- Collaborative engineering culture
- Long-term career stability
Career Growth Opportunities
Professionals joining as Supplier Quality Manager can advance into positions such as:
- Senior Supplier Quality Manager
- Supplier Development Manager
- Quality Manager
- Customer Quality Manager
- Plant Quality Manager
- Manufacturing Excellence Manager
- Regional Supplier Quality Lead
- Head – Supplier Quality
Building expertise in VDA 6.3, CQI Special Process Audits, AIAG Core Tools, Six Sigma Black Belt, Digital Supplier Quality Systems, Industry 4.0, and Supplier Risk Management can significantly enhance long-term career growth.
Tips Before Applying
To improve your chances of getting shortlisted:
- Update your resume with your Supplier Quality Management experience.
- Highlight projects involving supplier development, APQP, PPAP approvals, supplier audits, or quality improvement initiatives.
- Mention your expertise in casting, machining, forging, IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, and 8D.
- Include measurable achievements such as reduced supplier PPM, improved supplier ratings, successful new supplier development, or audit compliance improvements.
- Clearly mention experience with automotive OEMs or Tier-1 suppliers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which company is hiring?
ZF Steering Gear India Ltd. is hiring for the Supplier Quality Manager position.
2. Where is the job located?
The position is based at Vadu, Pune, Maharashtra.
3. Which industry experience is preferred?
Candidates with automotive industry experience are preferred.
4. What manufacturing process experience is required?
Experience in Casting, Machining, or Forging components is highly preferred.
5. What quality tools should candidates know?
Candidates should have knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, Control Plans, 8D, and Root Cause Analysis.
6. Is supplier audit experience required?
Yes. Experience in supplier process audits, supplier assessments, and supplier development is essential.
7. What quality standards should candidates know?
Knowledge of IATF 16949 and customer-specific automotive quality requirements is expected.
8. What are the main responsibilities?
The role includes supplier quality management, supplier audits, APQP, PPAP approval, supplier development, quality improvement, defect prevention, and cross-functional coordination.
9. What career growth opportunities are available?
Professionals can progress into leadership positions in supplier quality, plant quality, manufacturing excellence, and global supplier development.
10. How can I apply?
Interested candidates should send their updated resume to gagandeep.singh@zfindia.com.
Top 10 Interview Questions with Sample Answers
1. What is Supplier Quality Management?
Answer: Supplier Quality Management is the process of evaluating, developing, monitoring, and improving suppliers to ensure purchased components consistently meet quality, delivery, and customer requirements.
2. What is APQP?
Answer: Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) is a structured methodology used to ensure suppliers and manufacturers plan quality activities effectively from product design through mass production.
3. What is PPAP?
Answer: Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) verifies that suppliers have developed capable manufacturing processes and can consistently produce components that meet customer specifications.
4. What is the purpose of FMEA?
Answer: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) identifies potential risks in product or process design, prioritizes them based on severity, occurrence, and detection, and helps implement preventive actions before failures occur.
5. How do you handle supplier quality issues?
Answer: I analyze the problem, contain affected material, perform root cause analysis using quality tools such as 8D and 5 Why Analysis, implement corrective actions, validate effectiveness, and monitor supplier performance to prevent recurrence.
6. What is the difference between CAPA and 8D?
Answer: CAPA focuses on identifying and eliminating the root cause of non-conformities through corrective and preventive actions, while 8D is a structured team-based methodology used to investigate and permanently resolve quality problems.
7. Why is MSA important?
Answer: Measurement System Analysis (MSA) ensures inspection equipment and measurement methods are accurate, repeatable, and reliable, preventing incorrect quality decisions.
8. How do you improve supplier performance?
Answer: I conduct regular audits, monitor KPIs, provide technical support, implement supplier development programs, review quality trends, and collaborate with suppliers to improve manufacturing capability and reduce defects.
9. Why do you want to join ZF Steering Gear India?
Answer: ZF is a globally respected automotive technology company known for innovation, advanced manufacturing, and world-class quality systems. This role provides an excellent opportunity to contribute to supplier quality excellence while working with global automotive customers.
10. Why should we hire you?
Answer: I have strong experience in supplier quality management, supplier development, APQP, PPAP, process audits, and automotive quality systems. My expertise in casting, machining, forging components, and structured problem-solving enables me to improve supplier performance and support high-quality manufacturing.
Summary
Job Title: Supplier Quality Manager
Job Description: ZF Steering Gear India Ltd. is hiring an experienced Supplier Quality Manager to lead supplier quality assurance, supplier development, APQP, PPAP, supplier audits, process improvement, root cause analysis, quality system compliance, and continuous improvement activities for casting, machining, and forging components in the automotive industry.
Location: Vadu, Pune, Maharashtra
Apply Details: Interested candidates should send their updated resume to gagandeep.singh@zfindia.com
ZF Steering Gear India Supplier Quality Manager Recruitment 2026
To apply for this job email your details to gagandeep.singh@zfindia.com
