We are looking for an experienced Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead a team of Production & Process Engineers to support change management.
The right candidate will be a strong leader that can develop and mentor the team, along with delivering key projects within the Operations department.
This role will report directly to the Operations Manager, within the Operations department.
As well as leading the team you will also be responsible for planning and delivering key projects such as shop floor layouts, new manufacturing machinery, along with lean manufacturing projects into operational areas.
The Manufacturing Engineering Manager is a key role within the Operations department, ensuring the team are integral to setting the standards within Operations, including project planning, machine installation, layouts, NPI, processes and manufacturing documentation.
Personal Responsibilities: Manage and lead a team of Production & Process Engineers, to assess risks, set robust standards, and find opportunities to improve.
Project Management: Planning and delivery of key projects for machinery (Laser, Weld Robot, Paint Line).
Reviewing options, creating solutions, dealing with suppliers, making proposals, planning, leading project meetings, and project teams - ultimately delivering the installation of a key piece of manufacturing equipment on time, to budget, with minimal issues.
Layout Projects: Plan factory layouts to optimize efficiencies and reduce waste within the Operations department.
Drive Continuous Improvement project roll out throughout Thwaites, ensuring we are always moving forward, becoming more efficient and raising the standards of Operations.
Capacity planning, ensure all processes are capable of forecast volumes.
Where a process falls short, plan in improvement projects to bring inline.
Coach, mentor and lead the team to achieve department objectives, on cost, in a timely manner, and to the right standard.
Be the authority for Continuous Improvement within the Operations department, look for opportunities to improve and promote CI projects to the Operations department.
Team Responsibilities: New Product Introduction – Working with Design Engineering to deliver new models into Operations.
Ensuring: Safe, Efficient & Quality orientated processes are approved.
Working to NPI matrix and NPI Gateways, ensuring documentation, timings, layouts, tools & training are factored and delivered at model launch.
Standards: Set clear standards at NPI for process, documentation, layout, tooling and capacity.
Productivity: Carrying out process timings to ensure all productivity data is current and up to date, whilst always looking for opportunities to improve.
Deliver CI projects into Operational areas: 5S, TPM, SMED, Kaizen, Tiered Auditing systems etc.
Improving our H&S, Quality, Efficiency, Productivity and Cost using Lean manufacturing techniques.
Auditing & handover: ensuring any project has had a clear handover and is managed accordingly, setting and auditing project KPIs to ensure processes are adhered to until habits are set and ingrained.
Training: Upskill the workforce with training in H&S, Tooling, Dumper driving, Process & Quality techniques.
Kaizen events: carry out Kaizen events on the shopfloor with local teams to create buy-in and improve the production areas.
"Ideal" candidate : Experience in the "Yellow goods" or "Automotive" industry either for OEM or first tier supplier.
Knowledge & experience of Manufacturing processes, specifically - Laser, Press, CNC Lathe & Weld.
Knowledge & experience of Assembly processes & and understanding of best practice.
Have a minimum of 3-5 years Continuous Improvement experience, actively implementing on the shopfloor.
Working knowledge of VSM, Kaizen, and Six Sigma.
Six Sigma Qualification.
Timing Study Certification.
Project Planning Qualification.
Must Have : HNC or Degree in engineering.
Excellent communication skills.
Excellent management skills and experience leading small technical teams.
Skills and experience of delivering critical high-cost projects to a busy operations department.
Process Improvement knowledge and experience.
Lean manufacturing knowledge and implementation experience – WCM, Lean, Six Sigma, Visual management, VSM, CI & Process Improvement.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, equipment, and systems.
Good knowledge of DC tooling and control systems for assembly.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Proficient in Microsoft Office and CAD software.
Time Study experience & capability.
Understand what "Good" and "Bad" looks like within Operations.
Experience of working in a WCM manufacturing company.
In Return, we offer a range of fantastic benefits: Salary up to £55,000 per annum depending on previous experience.
Private Medical Insurance Company Pension: Defined contribution scheme 26 days holiday plus 8 bank holiday per year Employee Assistance Programme Profit Related Bonus.