What I did and do as a resident engineer at a manufacturer of cars and other products

I work at a manufacturer, but I also represent the suppliers who provide parts for the vehicles. My job is to connect the car manufacturer with the suppliers and make sure the parts are confirmed quality, delivered on time, and ready for production without any issues.

Every day, I face real problems on the production line – from small issues to big ones that could stop production. If there’s a bad part, an assembly issue, or a risk of stopping the line, I’m the first person the car manufacturer calls.

My job includes:

• Respond to quality issues with delivered parts directly on the production line (like poor fitting, damage, or not function),

• Immediately address critical situations, such as threats or actual stop of the production line,

• Organize and manage the sorting of parts, special inspections, or reworks to ensure only compliant pieces go into production,

• Analyze the causes of problems in collaboration with the supplier and oversee the implementation of corrective actions,

• Ensure communication between the car manufacturer and the supplier – relay requirements, explain technical details,

• Participate in regular and special meetings with quality, production, and logistics teams,

• Support the start of production (SOP) for new or modified parts and oversee their proper implementation,

• Check and coordinate the approval of changes to parts or processes (PPAP / PPF, change management),

• Identify potential risks before they affect production and alert both the supplier and the car manufacturer,

• Maintain the relationship between the supplier and the customer by addressing issues factually, quickly, and transparently.

I talk as needed with the quality, production, logistics, and development teams. I take the car manufacturer's needs and turn them into specific tasks for the suppliers, ensuring that the solutions are technically correct, timely, and work well in the long run. My work also involves checking changes to parts, helping during production start-up, and making sure that the approved parts match what’s happening on the line.

It’s not just about fixing problems – I try to stop them before they happen. I keep an eye on trends in issues, point out risks, and help improve processes to avoid making the same mistakes again.

In short:

As a Resident Engineer, I ensure that problems with supplied parts are solved where they happened – directly in the production – and that they do not happen again. It's not just about to be a quality controller, but a coordinator, technical engineer, and kind of a crisis manager, all in one.