MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING MANAGER

Summary

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager is responsible driving efficiency, increasing factory through-put, and stabilizing and optimizing Buck Knives’ manufacturing system. It is a key member of the manufacturing / engineering team, along with new product development, quality control, fabrication, assembly, and maintenance personnel. This position supports operations through refining and standardizing processes and fabrication machine setup procedures, resolving quality related issues, and developing scrap/cost reduction programs through analysis of alternate materials and processes.

This position will be responsible for leading the manufacturing engineering team, initiating and managing Lean and continuous improvement projects, improving fabrication machine operator training, and overseeing the implementation of targeted process automation in the factory. The role provides input to the new product introduction (NPI) process to smoothly transition new products from industrial design, through pre-production pilot runs, and into full production and sustaining engineering needs. The role will lead implementation, training, and integration of new manufacturing equipment as it is acquired.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

The essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Responsible for the on-time development, completion and implementation of manufacturing engineering projects.
• Oversee and develop future state for grinding processes to include machine capability and capacity studies and standardized documented setups.
• Deploy engineering resources to ensure project timelines are being met, while supporting day to day production issues as they arise.
• Provide quotes and cost estimates for improvement efforts including but not limited to fixtures, machinery, handling methods or new materials.
• Communicate with vendors and purchasing to determine product specifications and arrange for purchase of equipment, materials, or parts.
• Oversee lean and continuous improvement projects, such as monthly Kaizen events and employee continuous improvement suggestions.
• Lead continuous improvement analysis and improve manufacturing methods by implementing solutions such as using new or improved fixtures, machinery, equipment or handling methods.
• Standardize, document and reduce time requirements for machine setup.
• Trouble shooting and resolving quality related issues in production.
• Identify process improvements to reduce scrap and rework.
• Review and analyze production, quality, maintenance, and operational reports to determine causes of nonconformity with product specifications, and operating or production issues.
• Developing cost reduction programs through analysis of alternate materials and processes.
• Assisting with the introduction of new products from the design and development phase to production.
• Oversee the implementation of automation in the factory. Includes prioritizing automation opportunities, identifying viable solutions, and managing implementation and training
• Communicate with management, new products, and other staff regarding current manufacturing capabilities and ideas on developing future capabilities.
• Must possess strong problem-solving skills and ability to communicate solutions
• Comply with all standard safety practices, safety rules, and all Company rules and policies.
• Lead and supervise manufacturing engineering staff, assign and direct duties and set priorities for engineers.
• Coach, motivate, train and manage department employees.
• Assess employee performance, provide constructive feedback to employees, and conduct performance reviews. Implement corrective and disciplinary action as warranted. Ensures appropriate training and development of employees.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

Communicates department objectives by giving directions to direct reports, and to other engineers assigned to this department.

Qualifications

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty with a high level of accomplishment. 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.
• Strong communications and leadership skills.
• Strong focus on project management with on time delivery.
• Ability to determine work priorities and delegate work to others.
• Ability to read and interpret work from sketches, specifications, blueprints and job orders.
• Ability to communicate at all levels within the organization.
• Ability to implement change and resolve conflicts.
• Ability to understand technical production processes and problem-solve to resolve issues.
• Ability to schedule and plan short and long-term projects.
• Must be proficient with computers, Microsoft programs.
  
  

Education/Experience

Requires a bachelor degree or equivalent from four-year University or Technical school

• 5 years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience in a lean based manufacturing environment.
• Requires AutoCAD and Solidworks experience.
• Possess at least 5 years of hands on supervisory experience.
  
  

Language Skills

Ability to read, interpret and develop documents such as safety regulations, operating/maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals into visual work instructions for employees.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to calculate the following figures such as
• Discounts
• Consumption rates
• Percentages
• Area
• Circumference
• Volume
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
  

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES and REGISTRATIONS

None required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job operates in a professional office environment, warehouse and production areas. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. . While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in this work environment will range from quiet to very loud noise requiring hearing protection.