Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
Trainings and Certifications
Generic

ALEXANDRA B. RUIZ-COSTAS

Ponce,PR

Summary

Results-driven quality control professional with extensive experience in formulating and implementing comprehensive quality strategies, procedures, and processes. Proven ability to monitor quality performance across the supply chain and throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring adherence to industry standards. Expertise in developing and maintaining Quality Management Systems aligned with AS 9100 and other relevant regulations, effectively addressing business needs. Skilled in executing internal quality audit programs to identify non-conformities and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

Supplier Quality Manager

Collins Aerospace Systems
07.2024 - Current
  • Tracked quality issues and led investigations with over 4 plant operations and 59 suppliers to apply root cause analysis guidance and establish effective corrective action plans.
  • Applied coaching techniques and tools to support managers and team members in improving performance.
  • Identified quality and compliance issues, analyzed information and provided solutions to problems.
  • Established and maintained amiable workings relationships with suppliers through difficult quality control issues, supporting healthy business interactions.
  • Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion. Led 1 project that represented $535K savings in savings from the previous year.
  • Created 4 internal health assessment checklists, conducted 3 assessments to process owners, and documented and presented findings to track compliance to our own procedures.
  • Same as previous job tittle.

Supplier Quality Engineer

Collins Aerospace Systems/United Technologies Aerospace Systems
01.2017 - 2024
  • Drove containment, root cause analyses and corrective actions implementation (RCCA/8D) at external suppliers.
  • Supported compliance during 2nd and 3rd party audits, customer visits, supplier First Article Inspections (FAIs), and Delegated Quality Representative (DQR) related activities.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop and implement corrective actions and quality process improvements.
  • Analyzed data to identify trends in defects and escapes and developed strategies to reduce those trends and improve performance metrics.
  • Visited supplier facilities to verify supplier staff qualifications via multiple modes of inspection and investigation.
  • Analyzed issues with supplier contributions to detect defect trends, reporting findings to appropriate personnel.
  • Aided in Manufacturing Process Reviews (MPR) at focus suppliers to identify and reduce risks (internal quality, escapes, on-time-delivery).
  • Aided supplier focal on Zero Defect Plans (ZDP) activities to improve quality of products and reduce
    escapes.

Operations Support Engineer

United Technologies Aerospace Systems/Hamilton Sundstrand
01.2008 - 01.2017
  • Provided technical assistance such as drawing interpretation, process improvements, engineering change proposals, and material standardization.
  • Performed capability assessments to support the out-of-production spares business during the proposal phase, and New Product Introduction (NPI) during the sourcing phase. Over 200 spares and 50 new part numbers assessed.
  • Coordinate and led Process Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (PFMEA) team activities, to improve production processes, and to comply with Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) requirements. Over 30 PFMEAs completed.
  • Performed capacity analyses for machine and manpower, to support production schedules and eliminate functional bottlenecks. Over 14 manufacturing cells assessed per quarter.
  • Developed and maintained standardized operating procedures for numerous functions and tasks to streamline manufacturing operations.
  • Researched and identified solutions to technical problems.
  • Approved tooling designs for new products, process improvements, and modifications based on engineering changes.

Operations Lead/Project Engineer

Hamilton Sundstrand
01.2010 - 01.2011
  • Worked as a shared resource for New Product Introduction (NPI) and Engineering Departments, focusing on project management for new programs and transitions, as well as lead engineering support. One transition completed and over 5 new programs introduced.
  • Created and managed project plans, timelines and budgets.
  • Developed quality planning for multiple new product launches by verifying customer requirements and implementing in design and production.
  • Monitored and evaluated engineering performance and technical risks (producibility and manufacturability) on new products to recommend improvements.
  • Developed and implemented procedures to manufacture products and verify compliance with engineering standards.

Quality Engineer

Hamilton Sundstrand
01.2005 - 01.2008
  • Supported the transition of mechanical assembly products to our Puerto Rico Mechanical site. This included validation of test equipment, test procedures, inspection methods, and quality criteria for over 70 products.
  • Participated in a Kaizen Event for Root Cause/Corrective Action (RCCA), resulting in 20% reduction of turnaround times (TAT) for 8D completion and corrective actions implementation.
  • Reviewed and approved First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs).
  • Analyzed and interpreted data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
  • Implemented new strategies to reduce costs by reducing scrap incidence on top offenders affecting quality metrics.

Manufacturing and Quality Associate Engineer

Hamilton Sundstrand
01.2004 - 01.2005
  • Led project for the creation of new job instruction templates, which lead to the implementation of the project for renewal of manufacturing work instructions for more than 700 active part numbers.
  • Assisted in the creation of manufacturing work instructions, validation, update, and modification, ensuring quality of product assembly processes. This included redlines to existing documents, engineering changes, First Article Inspections, interpretation of Engineering Prints, etc.

Education

MBA - Management

Universidad Ana G. Mendez
Gurabo, PR
01-2011

Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
Hato Rey, PR
01-2006

Skills

  • Supplier relationship management

  • Documentation review

  • Corrective action implementation

  • Adaptability

  • Leadership

  • Teamwork

  • Peer Mentoring

  • Documentation

  • Analytical Skills

  • Process improvement techniques

  • Quality assurance standards

  • SQM reporting

Languages

Spanish
English

Timeline

Supplier Quality Manager

Collins Aerospace Systems
07.2024 - Current

Supplier Quality Engineer

Collins Aerospace Systems/United Technologies Aerospace Systems
01.2017 - 2024

Operations Lead/Project Engineer

Hamilton Sundstrand
01.2010 - 01.2011

Operations Support Engineer

United Technologies Aerospace Systems/Hamilton Sundstrand
01.2008 - 01.2017

Quality Engineer

Hamilton Sundstrand
01.2005 - 01.2008

Manufacturing and Quality Associate Engineer

Hamilton Sundstrand
01.2004 - 01.2005

MBA - Management

Universidad Ana G. Mendez

Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering

Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico

Trainings and Certifications

  • AS9100:2016 (rev D) Aerospace Lead Auditor certified
  • CAPA – Root Cause Analysis for ISO 9001:2000
  • CORE (Customer Oriented Results and Excellence) Apprentice Certified
  • Kaizen Leadership Certified
  • Potential Failure Mode & Effect Analysis (PFMEA), Process Control Methods, and Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
  • Introduction to Capabilities Studies
  • Process Certification 201: Training and Implementation Guide
  • Project Management Course (PMP); 40hr
  • Coordinate Measurement Machine (CMM)
  • Electrical Tests for Electromagnetic Assemblies, with Safety Considerations
  • Winding Theory Trainer for Winding Process operations certification
  • Basic knowledge in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

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