Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

G&W Electric Co - Naperville, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Naperville, IL

Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing

About the position

G&W Electric, a global leader in engineered electrical power grid solutions, is seeking a Manager of Manufacturing Engineering to join our team. This position is pivotal in overseeing all EPOX Engineering and Technology for Molding Manufacturing Processes. Reporting directly to the Director of Advanced Operations Technology, the successful candidate will manage and lead the Engineering and Technical Innovation team, focusing on continuous improvement activities that drive world-class operational excellence. In this role, you will assume responsibility for all engineering disciplines within the Molding department, which includes Process Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering. You will be tasked with creating and implementing business excellence strategies aimed at fostering a world-class manufacturing culture. This includes driving Continuous Improvement Engineering, developing Process Engineering Excellence strategies, and ensuring Manufacturing Engineering practices are aligned with our operational goals. As a thought leader in the culture change towards Continuous Improvement (CI), you will facilitate the transition and adaptation of CI practices across the organization. Utilizing tools such as Lean, Six Sigma, and other Continuous Improvement Processes, you will cultivate a culture of operational excellence. You will also work closely with the New Product Development group to launch innovative products and manufacturing processes. Your responsibilities will include evaluating and recommending critical projects that enhance Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost metrics, as well as driving a culture of quality through PFMEA, Control plans, and other quality documentation. You will actively participate in quality improvement initiatives and collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement best practices derived from these activities. Additionally, you will be responsible for translating performance improvements into financial values that align with corporate goals and communicating CI initiatives to various stakeholders within the organization. This role also involves supporting production capacity increase projects and developing the skills of your team to improve throughput and reduce waste. As a leader, you will monitor the performance of your subordinates, provide necessary counseling, and ensure compliance with safety and quality metrics. You will also be responsible for hiring, training, and developing employees, as well as making critical decisions regarding performance appraisals and disciplinary actions. Your leadership will be essential in fostering a high-performance team and achieving departmental goals.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead the Engineering and Technical Innovation team for Molding Manufacturing Processes.
• Assume responsibility for all engineering disciplines in the Molding department, including Process Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Create and drive business excellence strategies to foster a world-class manufacturing culture.
• Serve as a thought leader in the Continuous Improvement culture change across the organization.
• Utilize Lean, Six Sigma, and other Continuous Improvement Processes to create a culture of operational excellence.
• Develop capabilities for implementing continuous improvement strategies within the Molding department.
• Collaborate with the New Product Development group to launch new products and innovative manufacturing processes.
• Evaluate and recommend key 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 performance improvements into financial values that align with corporate goals.
• Communicate and coordinate 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 skills to improve throughput and reduce scrap/rework through training and communication.
• Provide visual communications of goals and performance metrics.
• 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 high-potential talent.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advanced Operations Technology to achieve departmental goals.
• Make hire/fire decisions, conduct performance appraisals, and handle disciplinary issues.

Requirements

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

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in Engineering.
• 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

• Competitive salary and performance bonuses.
• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.
• Engaging work environment that embraces core values and develops talent.
• Challenging opportunities that reward excellence.