Industrial Engineer - Factory Relocation_Plant Move Specialist

LHP Engineering Solutions•Pontiac, MI

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Industrial Engineer is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing factory relocation, plant consolidation, manufacturing line transfers, and facility expansion projects. This role focuses on minimizing production downtime, ensuring safe equipment movement, optimizing manufacturing layouts, and maintaining operational continuity throughout plant relocation activities. The engineer works cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Facilities, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, EHS, Contractors, and Executive Management to successfully relocate production assets while improving productivity, material flow, and overall plant efficiency.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in: Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Engineering, or Related Engineering Discipline
5+ years of Industrial Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering experience.
3+ years leading factory relocation, plant transfer, or major equipment move projects.
Experience supporting manufacturing startup and commissioning activities.
Experience with facility layout design and process optimization.
Experience managing external contractors and equipment movers.
Facility Layout Design
Manufacturing Flow Analysis
Capacity Planning
Time Studies
Equipment Installation Coordination
Lean Manufacturing
Six Sigma Methodologies
Root Cause Analysis
Project Management
Cost Analysis
AutoCAD
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Excel
Power BI
ERP/MRP Systems
Visio

Nice To Haves

SolidWorks (preferred)
PMP Certification
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
APICS Certification
Experience with factory consolidation projects exceeding $1M
Experience in automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical device, or industrial manufacturing environments
Knowledge of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or ISO 13485 standards

Responsibilities

Develop comprehensive factory relocation plans, schedules, and execution strategies.
Coordinate equipment decommissioning, transportation, installation, and commissioning activities.
Conduct plant move feasibility studies and risk assessments.
Develop detailed move sequencing plans to minimize production disruption.
Create contingency plans to support business continuity during site transitions.
Monitor project milestones, budgets, and resource utilization.
Design and optimize plant layouts using Lean Manufacturing principles.
Analyze workflow, material movement, and production capacity requirements.
Develop future-state manufacturing floor plans.
Ensure efficient utilization of production space, utilities, and support areas.
Improve material flow and reduce transportation waste during relocation projects.
Create machine relocation work instructions and move procedures.
Coordinate rigging, lifting, transportation, and installation contractors.
Verify equipment preservation requirements during transportation.
Oversee equipment startup, qualification, and validation processes.
Ensure machinery is operational within defined performance specifications after relocation.
Identify opportunities to improve productivity during plant transition activities.
Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
Reduce production downtime associated with factory relocation.
Optimize labor utilization and workflow efficiency.
Establish performance metrics and post-move improvement plans.
Manage multiple relocation and facility improvement projects simultaneously.
Develop project schedules using Microsoft Project or equivalent tools.
Coordinate internal and external project stakeholders.
Track costs, timelines, risks, and deliverables.
Present project status updates to management teams.
Support facility readiness reviews.
Coordinate utility requirements including: Electrical, Pneumatic, Hydraulic, Process gases, HVAC, Water systems.
Ensure infrastructure supports manufacturing requirements prior to equipment installation.
Collaborate with facilities engineers and contractors during site preparation.
Ensure compliance with ISO, OSHA, EPA, and company standards.
Support validation and qualification activities for relocated equipment.
Participate in PFMEA, risk assessments, and quality audits.
Maintain accurate project documentation.
Ensure production processes meet quality and regulatory requirements after relocation.
Develop safe work procedures for equipment movement activities.
Conduct job hazard analyses and risk assessments.
Ensure contractor compliance with safety requirements.
Support lockout/tagout procedures during equipment relocation.
Promote a strong safety culture throughout relocation projects.