Daniel Ruben Rivera

Senior Quality Engineer with 10+ years of automotive manufacturing experience across Supplier Quality, APQP, PPAP, Launch Quality, Customer Quality and Change Management. Proven track record supporting global Tier 1 suppliers, leading supplier development initiatives, approving PPAPs, managing COPQ reduction projects, and driving launch readiness for new product introductions. Strong expertise in IATF 16949, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA and supplier performance improvement.

Supplier Quality Engineer at CONSTELLIUM AUTOMOTIVE MEXICO (2026-06 – 2026-09)

• Evaluate and approve PPAP submissions for new projects and supplier resourcing activities.
• Drive supplier quality improvement, audits, risk assessment and corrective actions.
• Drive supplier Change Request for transfer of location supplier site and new launches.
• Manage supplier claims and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) recovery processes.
• Monitor supplier performance scorecards, including quality rejects, response times, and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) metrics.
• Conduct supplier audits as part of supplier performance improvement and development plans.
• Perform supplier quality audits to assess compliance with internal requirements, customer-specific requirements, and applicable industry standards.
• Manage supplier deviations and process changes, assessing potential risks to product quality and business operations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on defect reduction, process capability enhancement, and overall supplier performance optimization
• Successfully approved 5 PPAPs related to product transfers to a new manufacturing location within a 3-month period.
• Improved supplier process SPC performance, reducing process variation by 39%.

Truck Components Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) at EATON (2023-11 – 2026-05)

• Evaluation and approval of PPAPs for new projects and supplier changes (resourcing).
• Lead quality activities for new product launches, ensuring APQP milestone compliance.
• Lead PPAP approval process and risk assessments using PFMEA, Control Plans and capability studies.
• Definition of critical characteristics for Safe Launch and Incoming Inspection.
• Analysis and approval of 8D reports and corrective actions derived from supplier rejections (DMRs).
• Collaborated with engineering, manufacturing and suppliers during launch readiness and validation activities.
• Management of Supplier Claims and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
• Supported measurement system development and validation through MSA and metrology activities.
• Participation in Supplier Change Requests (SCRs) and Change Orders (COs).
• Release of measurement equipment for critical characteristics (MSA, coordination with EHS and Maintenance).
• Approval of 80+ PPAPs on time for project SOP.
• Release of 1 new measurement systems for critical characteristics. (Load Tester Machine)
• Creation of 40 measurement programs for critical components.

Quality Engineer Customer & Supplier at STARK MANUFACTURING MEXICANA (2023-01 – 2023-11)

• Management of customer and supplier claims using 8D and PDCA methodologies.
• Leadership in the creation and updating of Control Plans and PFMEA.
• Coordination and approval of PPAP with customers and suppliers.
• Development, evaluation, and auditing of suppliers (process and system).
• Management of sorting campaigns, nonconforming product disposition, and debit/credit notes.
• ISO 9001 Internal Auditor.
• Coordination of MSA (Gage R&R) and Process Capability Studies.
• Achieved zero customer quality complaints during the first year of operation.
• Successfully obtained customer approval for 10 PPAPs during the first year of operation.
• Successfully passed customer audits conducted by Navistar and Volvo.
• Audited and approved suppliers for outsourced processes, including plating and painting

Quality Engineer at TI AUTOMOTIVE FLUID SYSTEMS (2019-05 – 2020-07)

• Core Team Member in the transfer and startup of production lines due to the shutdown of a sister plant (USA)
• Release of a new production line for a new product with OEM.
• Development of Control Plans, PFMEA, and PPAP.
• Implementation of containment actions and nonconforming product control.
• SPC analysis and process capability studies (Cp, Cpk).
• Management of customer rejections and 8D reports.
• Monitoring and reduction of scrap.
• Transfer and start-up of production lines from Greenville, TN plant to SLP plant.
• Correlation Analysis of product characteristics to identify potential Quality Issues
• PPAP approved by customer for the transfer product
• Release a new assembly line for a new project
• Successfully launched a new production line and obtained PPAP approval from Nissan for a new product manufactured at the plant.
• Implemented Statistical Process Control (SPC) on a new production line, improving process monitoring and performance stability.
• Identified correlations between critical product characteristics, helping prevent a potential project rejection and ensuring compliance with customer quality requirements.

Quality Engineer at CONTINENTAL CONTITECH (Benecke Hornschuch Surface Group) (2015-04 – 2019-05)

• Control Plan & FMEA
• Inspection Instructions
• Non-conforming product control
• Customer complaint management and review of material at customer plant due to quality issues
• Statistical process control and Process capability Study
• Internal auditor
• Lead improvement projects
• Variables and Attribute R&R studies
• Reduction of Scrap Project
• Start-up of new lines due to plant expansion
• Achieved a significant reduction in customer complaints by negotiating the classification of Line Accumulations for defects inherent to the manufacturing process.
• Led a scrap reduction project, achieving a 40% reduction in scrap costs compared to the baseline cost.

Supplier Quality Intern (SQA) at GRUPO METALSA (2014-02 – 2015-01)

• Follow-up on supplier quality alerts.
• Evaluation of 8D reports and corrective actions.
• Issuance of chargebacks for rejected material.
• Evaluation of supplier performance.
• Designed and developed a Checking Fixture for Incoming Inspection, improving inspection efficiency, measurement consistency, and detection of nonconforming materials at the receiving stage.