Manufacturing Cost Optimization Engineer — Window & Door Screens
About The Position
RiteScreen is reshaping how window and door screens are built and delivered. As the largest producer in North America, we move quickly, innovate constantly, and scale smartly—because continuous improvement is how we win. A day in the role You start with a walk on the production floor, observing metal forming and assembly. By mid-morning, you’re dissecting aluminum extrusion costs and fiberglass mesh usage, tuning cost models to flag waste. After lunch, you’re in a Design-for-Manufacturability (DFM) review simplifying hardware and reducing SKUs. You close the day with procurement, using should-cost analysis to challenge quotes and explore alternate sourcing and packaging optimizations. Tomorrow, you’ll be at another facility to roll out a cycle-time reduction and update PFMEAs and control plans. How you’ll reduce cost Program roadmapping : Build a value engineering charter and a prioritized portfolio of initiatives across materials, manufacturing, logistics, and product design—with savings targets, timelines, and ROI. Product & material value engineering : Lead DFM and Design-to-Cost (DTC) studies. Drive material optimization (aluminum, mesh, components, spline), simplify hardware, improve packaging, and standardize SKUs. Collaborate with suppliers on substitutions or specification changes. Process optimization : Analyze metal forming, assembly, and packaging to cut labor content, scrap/rework, cycle time, and material waste; recommend automation and tooling enhancements where beneficial. Cross-functional leadership : Orchestrate cost-reduction projects with engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain; coordinate multi-plant implementation and ensure PFMEA, control plans, and work instructions are current. Supplier cost reduction : Partner with procurement and vendors to build transparency, create should-cost models, support negotiations, consolidate suppliers, pursue alternate sources, and drive value-engineered redesigns. Analytics & reporting : Develop cost models for products, components, and processes; perform should-cost analysis on aluminum extrusions, fiberglass mesh, hardware, and packaging; track pipeline, realized savings, implementation status, and ROI.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related field (required)
- 5–10 years in manufacturing engineering, value engineering, cost reduction, or lean environments
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving ability; skilled in cost modeling and should-cost analysis
- Working knowledge of Lean and continuous improvement methods
- Familiar with PFMEA and manufacturing risk assessment
- Advanced Microsoft Excel; ERP proficiency
Nice To Haves
- Background in fenestration, aluminum extrusion products, building products, or adjacent industries preferred
- CAD experience preferred
- Influential cross-functional collaborator with strong project execution
Responsibilities
- Build a value engineering charter and a prioritized portfolio of initiatives across materials, manufacturing, logistics, and product design—with savings targets, timelines, and ROI.
- Lead DFM and Design-to-Cost (DTC) studies.
- Drive material optimization (aluminum, mesh, components, spline), simplify hardware, improve packaging, and standardize SKUs.
- Collaborate with suppliers on substitutions or specification changes.
- Analyze metal forming, assembly, and packaging to cut labor content, scrap/rework, cycle time, and material waste; recommend automation and tooling enhancements where beneficial.
- Orchestrate cost-reduction projects with engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain; coordinate multi-plant implementation and ensure PFMEA, control plans, and work instructions are current.
- Partner with procurement and vendors to build transparency, create should-cost models, support negotiations, consolidate suppliers, pursue alternate sources, and drive value-engineered redesigns.
- Develop cost models for products, components, and processes; perform should-cost analysis on aluminum extrusions, fiberglass mesh, hardware, and packaging; track pipeline, realized savings, implementation status, and ROI.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
