Manufacturing Engineer

Mueller Water Products - Kimball, TN

Full-time

Kimball, TN

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

About the position

Mueller Water Products is the nation's leading manufacturer of flow control devices for the water and gas distribution industries and has an immediate opening for a Manufacturing Engineer in our newest Kimball, TN facility. For over 160 years, MWP's manufacturing commitment has ensured that one of the world's most precious resources, clean drinking water, reaches millions of people daily. As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will play a crucial role in developing, defining, and leading the implementation of manufacturing methods and procedures to meet our manufacturing objectives. This position involves designing and implementing methods for controlling manufacturing costs, analyzing data to reduce these costs, and providing specialized engineering services to your department or product line. You will also assist various departments in achieving cost reduction goals as directed by Engineering Management. In this role, you will evaluate manufacturing processes by applying your knowledge of product design, fabrication, assembly, tooling, and materials. You will confer with vendors and solicit observations from plant operators to ensure that our processes are efficient and effective. Your responsibilities will include developing and implementing Standard Operating Procedures, studying product requirements, and improving manufacturing efficiency through careful analysis and planning of workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout. You will also be responsible for assuring product and process quality by designing testing methods and establishing standards to confirm the manufacturing process and results. Additionally, you will provide critical decision-making information by calculating production, labor, and material costs, reviewing production schedules, and estimating future requirements. Collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data to prepare product and process reports will be a key part of your job, as will maintaining product and process data through identified computer programs. You will perform CNC programming as required to change, improve, or update machining processes and methods, and support engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance by providing data and information as needed. Your role will also involve implementing new systems and procedures, utilizing FMEA, DFMEA, and DOEs to drive continuous improvement, and keeping equipment operational by coordinating maintenance and repair services. Finally, you will have the opportunity to develop and mentor staff and technicians, providing strong developmental support while maintaining your professional and technical knowledge through ongoing education and participation in related professional organizations.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate manufacturing processes by applying knowledge of product design, fabrication, assembly, tooling and materials, conferring with vendors and soliciting observations from plant operators.
• Develop and Implement Standard Operating Procedures.
• Study product requirements and develop manufacturing processes through researching, designing, modifying, and testing manufacturing methods and equipment and conferring with equipment manufacturers.
• Improve manufacturing efficiency through analyzing and planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout.
• Assure product and process quality by designing testing methods, then testing finished product and process capabilities and establishing standards to confirm the manufacturing process and results.
• Provide manufacturing decision making information through calculating production, labor and material costs, reviewing production schedules and estimating future requirements.
• Collect, analyze, and summarize data, information, and trends to prepare product and process reports. Maintain product and process data through identified computer programs.
• Perform CNC programming as required to change, improve, or update machining processes and methods.
• Support engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance by providing data and information and answering questions and providing solutions as requested.
• Implement new systems and procedures as designed.
• Utilize FMEA, DFMEA and DOEs to drive continuous improvement in the manufacturing and engineering processes.
• Keep equipment operational by coordinating maintenance and repair services, following manufacturer's instructions and established procedures, and requesting special services as needed.
• Develop and mentor staff and technicians and provide strong developmental support.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks and participation in related professional organizations.
• Direct efforts to meet and/or exceed compliance with all regulatory bodies, organizations, and government requirements in the performance of position duties.

Requirements

• Strong working knowledge and experience in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma tools.
• Outstanding PC/Systems knowledge and skills.
• CNC and tooling experience required.
• Exposure to ductile iron and stainless steel preferred.
• Knowledge of automation and robotic applications preferred.
• Possesses communications and interpersonal skills with ability to interact with all levels of employees, customers and outside professionals.
• Knowledge of dealing with complex manufacturing situations, hardware specifications, quality standards, product development, CAD/CAM and technical specifications.
• Experience with machine simulation software.
• 5+ years' experience in manufacturing environment involving high speed machining operations.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or other technical discipline.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with machine monitoring and OEE optimization is a plus.