Process Research Director jobs in Fort Smith, AR

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The role focuses technical leadership for all Non-Wovens coating lines' processes while building and retaining strong, universal technical individuals driving change for our manufacturing and technical teams across the business. This role will be responsible for mechanical process related improvements, escalation mitigation strategies as well as emergency response.

The Coating Process Engineer will work with operations to deepen process understanding, focusing on driving stability and the shift from reactive to proactive problem solving on the Non-Wovens coating lines. Individual will execute the innovation and development of project elements with an emphasis on the manufacturing process, technology and procedures required to manufacture our products. The Process Engineer is a technical professional that provides expert leadership of projects. Individual resolves highly complex technical issues using existing and potentially new techniques/tools.

The Process Engineer is the expert in design, implementation, and optimization of process areas within their technical expertise. The Process Engineer will work with TPM Leaders in manufacturing plants to prioritize top loss reduction projects and be a key member of TPM projects. The individual will analyze performance metrics and statistics to improve production efficiencies & identify potential problems; and react before they result in excessive losses. The Process Engineer develops detailed recommendations for changes, process improvements, and performance standards.

Direct span of control: No direct reports, influential technical process leadership within Blythewood, Aiken Coating Line, Brugen, and Bobcat (Fort Smith Coating Line), indirect support of all global Non-Wovens sites where needed

Reports to: Non-Wovens Engineering Leader

Safety

• Supports the Owens Corning safety culture
• Identifies and implements best practices across the organization
• Embraces company policies and procedures for documenting hazards, near misses and incidents
• Implements a personal safety action plan

Technical Knowledge

• Non-Wovens coating process subject matter expert; continuously builds and improves understanding both for self and the engineers at the Non-Wovens coating sites
• Integrates company experience and deep technical knowledge
• Advanced understanding of select technologies/systems/procedures. Identifies use cases for new technology and develops trials to fully evaluate. Implements successful technology to capture productivity
• Solves non-routine problems based on analysis of multiple factors
• Independently identifies key issues, patterns or deviations from norm and quickly alerts plant teams with a developed reaction plan
• Works on problems requiring judgment and in-depth evaluation of multiple factors
• Analyzes/interprets research to evaluate and recommend solutions
• Drive improved understanding of product/process interactions by system level understanding
• Directly support the development of global process documents - directly partnering with facilities and other departments to capture centerline process understanding in a formal and sustainable manner.

Drive Manufacturing Productivity

• Develop and communicate clear and measurable performance expectations for network
• Partner with Technical Leaders in each plant to develop project plans to close gap between current performance and plant goals
• Work with Technical teams in Non-Wovens mat sites (precursor suppliers) to solve quality issues
• Develop procedures to alert to increases in plant losses and react before escalations.
• When process related escalations occur, key member in RCA team: driving completion and implementation of countermeasures
• Reviews RCA developed by plant teams to ensure all potential causes are identified, and any gaps are addressed and resolved before closure; lowering risk of future failures.
• Support and lead aspects of new line vertical start up

Connections

• Develops strong connections to manufacturing, plant technical resources, Science and Technology and Business Center of Excellence Teams and uses those connections to influence results across Non-Wovens operations

Communication

• Mentors less experienced team members explaining advanced technical information and providing specialized technical guidance and developing documentation to support long term business retention
• Builds productive internal/external relationships

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field with applicable experience
• 7 years of experience in manufacturing process engineering (paper industry, or other continuous manufacturing process highly preferred)
• Ability to travel up to 50%

Knowledge and Skills:

• Problem solving oriented
• General material characterization knowledge and project management knowledge
• Basics of TPM, Quality tools & statistics
• Good computer skills utilizing tools such as Microsoft outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Fluent in English, spoken and written.

Abilities and Capabilities:

• Judgment and Decision Making - Recognizes issues, problems, or opportunities and determines whether action is needed. Chooses appropriate action by formulating clear decision criteria and evaluates options by considering implications and consequences. Implements decisions or initiates action within a reasonable time.
• Customer focus - Committed in bringing the best product & technical service values to customer and insure indefectible trust from customer for OC product.
• Teamwork Oriented - Self-starter who works with minimal supervision that balances multiple assignments; works effectively across technology, marketing, and sales groups to ensure project success.
• Achieves results fast, individually and through teams - can synthesize data and multiple points of view quickly and creatively to arrive at balanced solutions. Has a strong bias for action.
• Ability to travel to Europe
• Work in a multicultural environment
• Ability to communicate in simple, impactful terms
• Intelligent, creative, and analytical. Able to interpret and handle complex matters
• Results oriented, highly motivated, energetic, resourceful with a strong service orientation

#LI-AM1