Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

G&W Electric Co - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Chicago, IL

Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing

About the position

Innovating since 1905, G&W Electric has grown into a global leader in engineered electrical power grid solutions. Working with us means joining a worldwide team of passionate manufacturing professionals striving to continually improve the technologies the world depends on to deliver safe, reliable electricity. Our culture is focused on employee success, so we foster an entrepreneurial environment that encourages everyone to thrive. In this position, reporting to the Director of Advanced Operations Technology, you will be responsible for all EPOX Engineering and Technology for Molding Manufacturing Processes. This role involves managing and leading the Engineering and Technical Innovation team for our Molding Manufacturing Processes, which is crucial in driving continuous improvement activities and achieving world-class operations excellence. You will assume responsibility for all engineering disciplines in the Molding department, including Process Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering. Your role will involve creating and driving business excellence strategies aimed at fostering a world-class manufacturing culture through Continuous Improvement Engineering and Process Engineering Excellence strategies. As a thought leader in the CI culture change, you will drive the transition and complete adaptation across the organization, utilizing tools such as Problem Solving, Lean, Six Sigma, and other Continuous Improvement Processes to create a culture of world-class Operational Excellence. Additionally, you will develop capabilities for implementing and driving continuous improvement strategies within the Molding department to align with overarching business strategies. You will actively collaborate with the New Product Development group in launching new products and innovative manufacturing processes, evaluate and recommend key critical projects to improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost metrics, and drive a culture of quality through PFMEA, Control plans, and other quality documents. Your responsibilities will also include participating in quality improvement initiatives, translating performance improvements to financial values, and communicating CI initiatives throughout the organization. This position requires you to support production with capacity increase projects, evaluate the performance of subordinates, monitor conformance to metrics, and develop employee skills to improve throughput and reduce scrap/rework. You will also be responsible for creating and monitoring OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) at both departmental and detailed process levels, providing leadership consistent with company goals, and working closely with plant staff to develop high-potential talent. Finally, you will be responsible for hire/fire decisions, performance appraisals, employee training and development, and handling disciplinary problems, with your job performance evaluated based on these decisions.

Responsibilities

• Assume responsibility for all engineering disciplines in the Molding department, including Process Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Create and drive business excellence strategies for world-class manufacturing culture.
• Serve as a thought leader in the CI culture change, driving transition and adaptation across the organization.
• Utilize tools of Problem Solving, Lean, Six Sigma, and other Continuous Improvement Processes to foster Operational Excellence.
• Develop capabilities for implementing continuous improvement strategies within the Molding department.
• Collaborate with New Product Development group in launching new products and innovative manufacturing processes.
• Evaluate, decide, and recommend key critical projects to improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost metrics.
• Drive a culture of quality with PFMEA, Control plans, and other quality documents.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and problem-solving projects with cross-functional groups.
• Translate and document performance improvements to financial values that align with corporate goals.
• Communicate and coordinate all CI initiatives throughout the organization to various stakeholders.
• Support production with capacity increase projects through innovative manufacturing processes.
• Evaluate performance of subordinates against job requirements and performance goals.
• Monitor conformance of subordinates to Safety, Quality, Delivery, and morale metrics.
• Develop employee work skills to improve throughput and reduce scrap/rework through training.
• Provide visual communications of goals to current performance through daily management metrics display.
• Conform with EMS policies and procedures, including regulatory requirements.
• Support training for new employees on EMS procedures and work instructions.
• Create and monitor OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) at departmental and process levels.
• Provide leadership and direction consistent with company and business goals.
• Work closely with plant staff to develop 'Hi-potential' talent.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advanced Operations Technology to achieve departmental goals.
• Responsible for hire/fire decisions, performance appraisals, employee training and development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related engineering field.
• 5+ years of Engineering Management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Molding experience, preferably in APG, but injection or other types of molding are acceptable.
• Computer proficient with MS Office applications such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Willingness to learn new applications such as Microsoft Project or similar.
• Understanding of P&L at a departmental level.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills.
• Ability to motivate others through excellent leadership skills.
• Problem-solving experience using standard tools and methods such as 8-steps, DMAIC, or similar root-cause analysis methods.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in Engineering is preferred.
• Leadership experience with examples of building high-performance teams and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Strong experience in managing and driving innovation through manufacturing excellence projects.
• Six Sigma black belt or green belt.

Benefits

• Challenging opportunities for career growth and development.
• Rewards for excellence and individual expertise contributions.
• Engaging work environment that embraces core values.