Manufacturing/Industrial Engineer
About The Position
Element Electronics is seeking a Manufacturing / Industrial Engineer with 3–5 years of experience to support continuous improvement, Lean manufacturing, and process optimization within manual assembly operations at its Winnsboro, South Carolina facility. The role focuses on improving production efficiency, developing standardized work processes, optimizing assembly-line layouts, and supporting new product introductions and production runs. The engineer will work with Production, Quality, and other cross-functional teams to evaluate manufacturing processes, identify improvement opportunities, and implement practical solutions that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance. The ideal candidate has direct experience in manual assembly manufacturing, a strong understanding of Lean principles, and the ability to translate engineering concepts into clear and effective production processes and work instructions. Work takes place in both office and manufacturing environments and includes support for engineering builds, pilot runs, and initial production runs. Occasional evening or weekend hours, schedule flexibility to coordinate with international suppliers, and domestic or international travel may be required based on business needs.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
- 3–5 years of relevant experience in manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, or manufacturing process improvement.
- Hands-on experience supporting manual assembly operations in a manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience applying Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience conducting time studies, line balancing, workflow analysis, and process optimization.
- Experience developing and maintaining SOPs, standardized work instructions, and manufacturing process documentation.
- Experience supporting engineering builds, pilot production runs, new product introductions, or manufacturing process changes.
- Experience collaborating with production teams to troubleshoot assembly-related issues and improve manufacturing performance.
- Strong understanding of manual assembly operations and industrial engineering principles.
- Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing tools, including 5S, Kaizen, standardized work, and waste reduction.
- Ability to analyze cycle times, production flow, workstation layouts, and labor utilization.
- Ability to develop clear and accurate technical documentation and assembly work instructions.
- Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management principles and manufacturing documentation practices.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and manufacturing specifications.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently on assigned projects and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Strong attention to detail and a practical, hands-on approach to manufacturing challenges.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in consumer electronics, appliance manufacturing, electronic assembly, or high-volume manufacturing.
- Familiarity with ISO 9001 documentation, internal audits, or corrective action processes.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma improvement techniques.
- Familiarity with Statistical Process Control (SPC), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), or similar quality tools.
- Experience using ERP, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), or production reporting systems.
- Familiarity with CAD software or manufacturing process documentation tools.
- Experience working with international suppliers.
- Mandarin language proficiency.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate and improve manual assembly processes to increase production efficiency, consistency, and product quality.
- Conduct time studies, cycle-time analyses, and production observations to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.
- Analyze assembly-line layouts, workstation configurations, material flow, and labor utilization; support line balancing and capacity planning.
- Identify and implement improvements that reduce waste, unnecessary movement, production delays, and operating costs, applying industrial engineering principles to workflow and ergonomics.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives using Lean tools such as 5S, Kaizen, value stream mapping, standardized work, and visual management.
- Apply structured problem-solving methods, including root cause analysis, 5 Whys, and PDCA; monitor production indicators such as cycle time, throughput, labor efficiency, scrap, rework, and first-pass yield.
- Collaborate with Production and Quality teams to implement, evaluate, and sustain process improvements using manufacturing data and production observations.
- Develop, review, and maintain SOPs, work instructions, process flow diagrams, assembly instructions, and other manufacturing documentation, including revision controls.
- Ensure manufacturing documentation reflects current production methods, quality requirements, and approved engineering changes; collaborate with Production and Quality to validate procedures and support related training.
- Support NPI activities, engineering builds, pilot runs, initial production runs, and production trials; evaluate assembly requirements and manufacturing readiness.
- Develop assembly sequences, workstation layouts, process flows, and work instructions for new products; evaluate pilot-run results and recommend adjustments before full-scale production.
- Support transitions of new products from engineering development to routine manufacturing and document process changes, lessons learned, and improvement opportunities.
- Collaborate with Quality to investigate defects, process deviations, and recurring production issues; participate in root cause analysis and corrective actions.
- Incorporate safety, ergonomics, and quality considerations into process improvements and support process reviews and audits with accurate documentation.
- Work with Production, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams; communicate process changes and findings, provide technical guidance to production personnel, troubleshoot manufacturing challenges, and coordinate assigned improvement activities.
- Perform additional job-related duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
