Manufacturing Engineer (Assembly)

Summit Polymers•Kalamazoo, MI

About The Position

This is hands-on technical work involving the assembly of injection-molded plastic parts for automotive interior trim, full center consoles, and kinetic parts such as air-conditioning outlets, cup holders, glove boxes, and bins. The Manufacturing Engineer provides technical support and leadership to manufacturing production teams, with a focus on operational excellence. The role supports assembly-machine activities for new product launches, from product development through the end of a program, and provides ongoing production support for assembly machines and cells. It works with product development and corporate manufacturing technical leaders to improve manufacturability, quality, machine design, standardized work, packaging, and production performance. The position also leads or performs engineering changes and supports maintenance, troubleshooting, process improvement, and compliance activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a similar technical discipline, or five years of experience in an automotive manufacturing or assembly-machine supplier environment in lieu of a degree.
Proficiency in Omron PLC programming.
Basic machine-shop skills and the ability to fabricate simple components.
Ability to read electrical and pneumatic prints.
Ability to view assembly machines using software such as SolidWorks eDrawing, cut sections, and measure dimensions.
Knowledge of plastic-welding processes for injection-molded parts, including sonic, vibration, hot-plate, and IR welding.
Knowledge of secondary-decoration processes such as hot stamping, pad printing, laser etching, and laser marking.
Knowledge of and ability to use a variety of sensors and vision systems to create robust assembly machines and processes.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office software, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Independent thinking with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Flexibility and ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
Ability to gather and analyze information and make decisions from a limited number of choices.
Minimum score of 50 on the Wonderlic Select Assessment (traditional score of 26 on the cognitive portion).
Agreement to complete all required post-hire training.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SolidWorks.
Experience with VisMockup.
Six-axis robot and collaborative robot programming experience, including Fanuc and UR.

Responsibilities

Participate with product development and corporate manufacturing technical leaders to ensure products are designed for manufacturability and quality.
Specify robust assembly machines with effective error-proofing, good ergonomics, and efficient standardized work.
Provide feedback to corporate manufacturing technical leaders to improve assembly-machine standards.
Develop standardized work, machine quote specification sheets, capacity analyses, work-balance tables, and assembly-cell layouts from NBA through the end of the program.
Participate in machine design review meetings and monitor assembly-machine construction to ensure program and plant timing requirements are met.
Participate in machine reviews and validation runs of assembly equipment before shipment to the manufacturing plant.
Work with corporate packaging engineers and packaging suppliers to develop external packaging and internal work-in-process packaging for safe, defect-free transportation.
Work with the SLMS lean manufacturing engineer to develop flow racks for the assembly cell.
Write standardized work instructions that enable operators to work safely, meet quality requirements, and complete work in the proper time.
Lead and perform engineering changes to assembly machines involving electrical, pneumatic, servo motor controls, PLC, machining, sensors, and vision systems.
Assist maintenance in developing effective preventive-maintenance schedules.
Support manufacturing production for assembly machines and cells.
Help production teams improve efficiency, quality, and safety using standardized-work tools, practical problem-solving methods, and kaizen opportunities.
Troubleshoot process- or equipment-related problems and provide timely solutions.
Develop justifications for process-improvement projects.
Conduct process audits to ensure standardized work and assembly quality-system compliance.
Perform other duties as assigned.