Director of Automation Engineering - Program Execution

JB Poindexter & Co•Ann Arbor, MI

112d

About The Position

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. (JBPCO), a privately held, diversified manufacturing company with six operating subsidiaries and 60 locations, is seeking a Director of Automation Engineering - Program Execution. The company forecasts over $2.5 billion in annual revenue and employs over 8,000 team members. Its businesses produce commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, ambulances, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, and expandable foam plastic packaging. The Director will help create and execute the automation project portfolio across JBPCO business units. This advanced manufacturing leader will build and lead an internal team of Automation Program Leads and Engineers to deliver projects through production launch, using internal capabilities and/or external automation suppliers. The role partners with business units and corporate functions to design, build, install, and launch equipment at company sites, and contributes to automation roadmaps, concepts, and enterprise-wide deployment strategies. The position also evaluates production processes and opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, cost, labor efficiency, and use of space. It leads system acquisition from vendor evaluation and requests for proposal through system build, acceptance testing, and ramp to rate; supports process standardization across business units; and develops automation skills and training initiatives with manufacturing sites. Travel expectation is 75% or more.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from an accredited college or university.
Excellent mechanical engineering skills, with programming and controls capability and knowledge.
Experience with various types of automation, automation vendors, and automation applications.
Successful implementation of automation in a traditionally manual manufacturing environment.
Ability to communicate and build rapport with personnel at all levels in a manufacturing environment.
Experience in a high-volume, complex manufacturing environment.
Understanding of manufacturing design elements, tools, systems, processes, and regulatory requirements.
Understanding of design principles and methods including data analysis, DOE, GD&T, FMEA, and DFM/DFA.
Excellent mechanical aptitude.
Solid understanding of computer programming and software development.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

Build and lead a team of Automation Program Leads and Engineers to deliver the automation project portfolio across JBPCO sites.
Collaborate with business units and corporate central functions to design, build, install, and launch new equipment at sites.
Support development of the automation roadmap and concepts with business units.
Develop strategies to leverage improvements across the enterprise through the design and deployment of equipment and procedures.
Work cross-functionally and at all organizational levels to gain buy-in and ensure successful implementation of projects at business-unit and corporate levels.
Evaluate production processes and identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost structure.
Conduct studies to identify production efficiency issues and propose and test solutions while maintaining volume and mix flexibility.
Identify and qualify external automation design and build vendors.
Lead system acquisition from vendor evaluation and request for proposal through system build, acceptance testing, and ramp to rate.
Prepare concept layouts and drawings, and document design processes and solutions.
Lead complex system tests and prepare reports.
Improve labor and space efficiency and cost effectiveness while continually addressing safety, including ergonomics.
Identify opportunities to standardize processes across business units to achieve economies of scale.
Develop automation organizational skill requirements and gap analyses with business-unit manufacturing sites.
Support skill-gap closure through training and critical production support, leveraging Automation Engineers' knowledge.