Project Manager-Automated Manufacturing Line

Krones Inc

2d•$120,000 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Asset & Customer Care Manager is responsible for leading the operational execution and long-term success of Krones' Ingeniq Line of the Future partnership. Serving as the on-site business leader, this individual will manage customer relationships, operational performance, asset reliability, embedded technical resources, and financial results while driving continuous improvement across a highly automated manufacturing environment. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, digital analytics, maintenance excellence, and customer partnership, directly influencing the performance of one of the industry's most innovative automated production lines. This position is 100% onsite at a customer facility in either Perth, NY or Stockton, CA and is not eligible for remote or hybrid work arrangements. Candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of one of these locations or be willing to relocate.

Requirements

Associate degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Business, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
5-10 years of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing, packaging, maintenance, operations, or asset management environments.
Minimum 5 years of experience in packaging operations and project management.
Strong knowledge of bottling and packaging systems, equipment reliability, and maintenance best practices.
Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management training.
Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification.
Experience with SAP Asset Management.
Knowledge of Krones Digital Analytics and other industrial digitalization platforms.
Experience managing customer-facing service agreements or embedded operations teams.

Responsibilities

Promote and maintain a safe working environment for Krones, Niagara, and customer employees and visitors.
Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, and company policies and procedures.
Act as a visible role model for safety leadership and operational excellence.
Own and manage the customer service agreement, ensuring successful delivery against contractual objectives and performance metrics.
Build strong customer relationships and operate with a customer-first mindset.
Lead regular customer and internal business review meetings to communicate performance, priorities, and improvement initiatives.
Drive Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE - 88% on the pallet) and production output in accordance with agreed performance targets.
Coordinate daily activities with Embedded Engineers and customer stakeholders to ensure efficient line operation.
Monitor and optimize maintenance strategies, production schedules, spare parts inventories, and consumable stock levels.
Work closely with production, quality, and maintenance teams to maximize throughput and operational performance.
Plan, coordinate, and oversee preventive, corrective, emergency, and overhaul maintenance activities.
Utilize SAP Asset Management and other digital solutions to support maintenance planning and execution.
Continuously improve maintenance programs to reduce downtime and increase equipment reliability.
Optimize maintenance schedules by aligning activities with production changeovers, CIP cycles, and planned shutdowns.
Analyze operational KPIs through Krones Digital Analytics and related reporting tools.
Provide performance updates and recommendations to customers and internal stakeholders.
Identify opportunities for continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, and reliability-centered maintenance principles.
Monitor project financial performance, including budget adherence, cost control, and profitability.
Track project expenditures and proactively escalate risks or uncontrollable deviations.
Support business planning and resource optimization initiatives.
Provide hands-on maintenance support when required.
Support shift optimization and workforce coordination activities.
Maintain regular and predictable attendance, including split-shift coverage as needed to support operations.