Tire Development and release
a. Manage tire development projects for OE customers.
b. Act as a technical liaison between OE customers and Conti.
c. Support design strategy development for running and future OE tire development projects. Develop and execute submission strategies jointly with Tire Development Engineer, Subjective Handling Driver, Technical Account Manager and KAM.
d. Plan, organize, support, and attend joint tests with customers at different stages of OE tire development projects.
e. Manage prototype/sample tire orders of OE customers.
f. Manage OE customer specific requirements (i.e. tire performance, tire testing, testing correlation, tire quality, program specific requirements, tire marking requirements, tire shipping requirements…etc.), ensure all relevant requirements are incorporated in project scope, project deliverables, and Conti internal documents/procedures. Create and update customer specific requirement documents which are released/available in Conti systems for the assigned projects/accounts (e.g. CSR documents in POMS).
g. Support GE in developing OE customer specific test methods when needed.
h. Support/lead PPAP approval process for the assigned projects. Plan/coordinate/execute all internal/external release/approval tests, and administrative activities to get PPAP approval and release an OE tire for assigned customers for mass production. Prepare and collect all required documents/drawings to get OE engineering sign-off and PSW sign-off. Submit all documents to Technical Account Manager and/or KAM for review and approval.
i. Plan/coordinate/execute the activities with all internal and external stakeholders to ensure flawless launch of OE tires.
j. Maintain Conti and customer tools/databases to ensure all Conti and customer requirements are met.
Business Support
a. Support/lead account activities in preparation for technical reviews for running and future OE tire development projects.
b. Build/utilize trust based effective, mutual value creation focused relationships with key decision makers at OE customers.
c. Support RFQ and 5 Year Plan activities as required by KAM/Technical Account Manager.
d. Collect marketing intelligence (competitor/customer/market) to support account management to align account activities with OE customers’ needs to sustain and grow the business in line with OE PLT business unit strategy for the region/customers.
e. Support KAM/Technical Account Manager in management of R&D budget by minimizing/avoiding non-value adding tasks, and by continuous implementation of cost efficient best practices and lessons learned across all running functions/activities.
f. Take additional responsibilities as required by KAM or Technical Account Manager based on changing account activities, changing business/customer requirements and changing market conditions.
Quality
a. Lead/support customer complaint handling activities. Analyze, follow-up, and respond to customer complaints with support from account/regional quality manager(s), plant quality, and central quality teams to ensure timely resolution of quality problems through structured problem solving.
b. Maintain internal and external quality management and create CAT entries in complaint handling tools/databases/portals.
c. Share lessons learned with cross-functional team members to prevent repeat quality issues.
d. Support account/regional quality manager(s) and Technical Account Manager to develop and execute preventive actions to continuously improve Continental’s perceived quality performance by OE customers.
e. Monitor customer satisfaction and quality status through customer released data, report status to account management on a regular basis, lead/support action plans to close identified gaps. Support of risk and opportunity evaluation based on customer expectation
f. Support conformity of production testing activities for accounts responsible for, evaluate and report results to account management.
g. Monitor end of line test data (i.e. tire uniformity, tire balance, tire visuals) work with plant and central quality teams for continuous improvement.
h. Collect warranty performance data of the tires responsible for. Review the status with customers and account management regularly.
i. Lead/support account activities to ensure successful customer audits/visits of Continental facilities. Organize, support, and accompany plant audits in cooperation with plant quality manager and account/region quality manager(s). Track and Follow up of Action Plans; Submission of Self Assessment surveys to Customer
Support/perform the site assessment of external warehouses and 3rd party tire and wheel assemblies as required.
j. Support plant quality and central quality organizations to keep customer specific (e.g. BIQS, Q1, VQE…etc.) certifications current.
k. Sharing joint responsibility for account activities in meeting IATF 16949 with PDT group leader, TAM and KAM.
l. Leading APQP process, Coordinate and Submit PPAP Documentation with Customer, Launch Management Coordinator.
m. Support FMEA, 8D, Control Plan, GT POMS documents related activities as a team member.
n. Providing of Customer Documentation to Continental Organization.
o.Translate CSR into Internal Specifications (PoMS), translate PSR into Internal Specifications (PoMS)
p.Key User of relevant customer portal /IT tools
q.Support account specific contract review process
- Native level English & Japanese skills
- Bachelor Degree or Above, mechanical or automotive engineer, or similar technical education
- Tire development experience is preferred, 1 to 3 years experience in tire development testing or manufacturing
- Involved in 1-2 OEM projects
- Applicable Conti System/Process/Tools experience is welcomed
- Intercultural team/organization working experience
* CV (Rirekisho) in Japanese and Work History in Japanese/English are required for application process.
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