Cost Estimator II

This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the Troy Michigan office two times per week, at minimum.

Company Overview

Nippon Seiki is a world-class manufacturer of instruments for vehicles, agricultural, and construction equipment. Established in 1945, Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan, with numerous facilities worldwide. N.S. International, Ltd. ("NSI"), a group company of Nippon Seiki, located in Troy, MI, is a tier one supplier of instrument clusters and head-up display units for FCA US, General Motors, BMW, Honda, Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Polaris, Arctic Cat and other OEM's.

Purpose of Job

The Cost Estimator will be responsible for all cost estimation and cost management activities for assigned OEM customers/business projects. This position is responsible for estimating costs for new business project/product quotations, change management and gate reviews. The Cost Estimator will work together with the Business Development, Purchasing, Engineering and Manufacturing Teams to create North American cost models for all NSNA products and manufacturing locations, and support the creation and execution of a long terms cost management strategy for North America.

Major Duties/Responsibilities

Top duties or activities in a given year. Not all tasks/steps performed are listed.

Cost Model Development and Maintenance:

• Responsible for supporting the North American Costing and Quoting group and utilizing standardized internal cost models for all NSNA products/manufacturing locations which ensure profitability, while sustaining a competitive market position that will be used for all new program/product quotations.
• Works with internal departments as well as manufacturing and headquarters to establish product/manufacturing plant cost models creating a clear cost strategy for company to support the sales group on new business acquisition and long-term growth.
• Work with internal groups to understand long-term plans for capital investment and capacity utilization.
• Support the implementation of a standard method to capture development cost, logistics, packaging, and others.
• Align with organization to plan a pricing schedule for purchased components
• Assist manufacturing locations in creation of common costing processes that will be maintained and updated for all quoting and lifetime cost activities.
• Facilitates in the tracking of lifetime costs, quoting and D&D accuracy by verifying and updating actual spend versus original quoting assumptions.

Cost Estimation:

• Prepares cost calculations to support cross-functional customer teams with the creation of customer quotations for new business acquisition, engineering changes, and gate reviews; assuring internal financial and timing objectives are met (nternal Rate of return, Net Present Value, payback, etc).
• Analyze product drawings and specifications to estimate material costs for components produced at other facilities
• Partner with manufacturing operations to identify labor, capital investment and tooling costs
• Evaluates potential capacity constraints and ensures sufficient capital is planned for capacity increases
• Collaborate and define cost targets for purchased components.
• Support profitability review with cost calculation data and work with cross-functional team to define cost reduction targets to achieve profitability targets, as needed.
• Capture cost structure within internal cost management database.

Cost Management:

• Support company cost benchmarking activities.
• Analyze current costs and identify opportunities for cost reduction.
• Support value analysis value engineering cost reduction activities.
• Plan cost reduction targets in cost management database.
• Supports continuous improvement activities to improve the business processes.

Cost Disclosure:

• Support business units with cost calculation data to satisfy customer cost disclosure requirements.
• Ensure that customer cost disclosure documents adhere to company cost disclosure policy; following appropriate approval protocol when restricted information is requested.
• Support internal teams in customer cost disclosure workshops as needed.

Education, Experience And Knowledge

Required and/or preferred level of education, knowledge and skills that are necessary.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Marketing, Finance, or Business

MBA preferred

Related Experience

• Experience with reading and understanding engineering drawings and specifications.
• Working knowledge of cost calculation methods, manufacturing processes and company budgets/financial forecasts.
• Experience taking a leadership role for all cost-related topics in a cross-functional team environment.
• Experience in the implementation and management of a costing database (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Campfire) preferred

Special Training or Competency

• Observation, understanding, and execution of applicable company ISO/TS/IATF certification standards related to the role and impact on the overall organization.
• Computer skills and experience using MS Office and email/ internet software; including advanced MS Excel functions and database expertise.
• Work requires expertise in preparation of presentation material using MS PowerPoint.

NSI Competencies

• Adaptation/Flexibility: Includes keeping an open mind regarding new ideas and ways of doing things. Willing to consider alternative interpretations or ways of looking at the situation. Demonstrating flexibility.
• Initiative/Results Driven: Includes setting high standards of performance for self and others. Striving to accomplish goals even if it means personal sacrifice. Putting the goals of the organization above own goals.
• Judgment/Decision Making: Includes making decisions and takes actions that have beneficial impact. Effectively evaluating information in order to come up with sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Resource Management: Includes setting clear objectives to guide action for self or others to accomplish goals. Organizing or adjusting information, people and materials to meet those goals.
• Team Work: Includes encouraging and supporting the ideas and effort of others. Finding ways to help the team or group perform effectively.

Additional Information

Work Hours Monday-Friday, 8 am – 5pm. Off-hours as needed.

Travel Requirements

5% to 10% international and/or domestic.

If domestic travel is necessary, valid drivers’ license is required.

If international travel is necessary, valid passport is required.

Additional Information NA

DISCLAIMER

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

N.S. International, Ltd. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.