Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Description

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager serves as the primary architect of factory efficiency and the champion of Lean culture. In this role the Manufacturing Engineering manager will optimize plant layout, streamline product flow, and drive continuous improvement across all manufacturing. In addition to technical leadership, this individual will oversee the 6S program, facilitating Gemba walks, and integrating safety standards into every process. The goal is to transform the production environment into a highly efficient, safe, and cost-effective operation.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Leadership:

• Process Improvement: Develop and implement strategies to improve productivity, reduce waste, and manage lean manufacturing processes.
• Operational Excellence: Lead Gemba walk initiative to identify non-value-added activities and partner with Management and Team Leads to implement real-time solutions.
• Project Management: Oversee capital projects, equipment installation, and plant layout improvements.
• 6S & Safety: Manage the 6S audit system and ensure that all manufacturing processes prioritize operator safety and ergonomic standards.
• Team Leadership: Foster a "Safety First, Quality Always" culture through hands-on leadership, setting clear priorities and performance expectations.

Manufacturing Strategy & Production Support

• Efficiency Optimization: Monitor and improve plant KPIs including Labor Efficiency, OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), and Throughput.
• New Product Integration: Work alongside R&D to ensure "Design for Manufacturability" (DFM) and seamless transition of new products from prototype to full-scale production.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Coordinate with design, production, and supply chain teams to launch new products and resolve technical issues.
• Technical Oversight: Ensure adherence to technical standards, safety regulations, and quality standards, including CNC operations and tooling design.
• Problem Solving: Lead root-cause analysis (RCA) for production issues and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Requirements

Education:

• 4-year degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent experience). MBA or advanced technical degree is a plus.
• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification strongly preferred.

Experience

• 5+ years in a Manufacturing Engineering leadership role.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale plant layout changes and workflow optimization.
• Direct experience leading Lean Manufacturing initiatives (6S, Kaizen, Kanban, VSM).
• Strong background in high-volume assembly or fabrication (machine shop experience is a plus).
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and AutoCAD/SolidWorks for facility layout design.
• Experience with PLC programming or automation systems preferred.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Systems Thinking: Ability to see the "big picture" of how product flows from receiving through shipping.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills; ability to communicate complex technical changes to both executive leadership and shop-floor operators.
• Change Management: Demonstrated ability to lead an organization through cultural and process transformations.
• Analytical Rigor: Proficiency in data-driven decision-making and using KPIs to track the ROI of improvement projects.