Manufacturing Engineer

Overview

Daifuku Automotive America Corporation is a leader in Design, Manufacturing, Installation and Support of automotive automation/material handling systems in North America. The company is currently seeking an experienced Manufacturing Engineer for the facility in Reynoldsburg, OH.

Daifuku Automotive America Corporation promotes and supports both individual and team success by providing opportunities to expand your skills and build on your capabilities.  As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to a culturally rich workforce and proud of our diversity in background, experience and origin.  Safety is part of our core values; we stress the importance to our employees by enforcing 5S and daily safety audits.

Daifuku Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision available day one
• Optional Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• FSA/ HSA
• Company provided life and disability plans
• 401K: Fidelity
• 7 Paid sick days (prorated according to start date)
• 13 paid vacation days (prorated according to start date)
• 11 paid holidays
• Yearly performance bonuses
• PPE Reimbursement

Responsibilities

Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer will be instrumental in optimizing our production processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and safety within our Reynoldsburg facility. This role involves the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing procedures and equipment, directly contributing to meeting customer requirements and maximizing productivity.

Responsibilities 

The primary goal is satisfying customer requirements of quality, quantity, and delivery, in a safe manner, while maximizing productivity. Specifically, the Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and reviewing the procedures and equipment involved in the manufacturing process.  This position reports to the Production Manager.  Annual SMART Goals will be assigned to evaluate the effectiveness of the position incumbent.

Other Responsibilities:

• Process Development & Improvement: Develops, evaluates, improves, and documents manufacturing processes; implements process control procedures; and directs improvements to facilities and processes. 
• Product & Tooling Collaboration: Works with manufacturing and design engineering on product tooling and design. 
• Continuous Improvement & Analysis: Continuously analyzes manufacturing process flows to improve quality, reduce costs, and increase throughput. 
• Technical Training: Collaborates with the manufacturing department to develop, coordinate, and implement technical training for employees.
• Production & Control Documentation: Supports the development and use of all production and control related processes and documentation, including Control Plans, Qualification Plans, Engineering Change, Deviations, Corrective and Preventative Actions, APQP, DFMEA, PFMEA, PPAP, FAI, DFMA, and SPC tools. 
• Capital Project Management:
  • Develops and manages capital projects of $500k+, including ROI reports with scope, preliminary budgets, detailed cost estimates, equipment specifications, drawings, bid documents, and vendor proposal tabulations.
  • Leads capital projects of $500k, encompassing equipment specifications, validation, and operating procedures.
  • Acts as a liaison with multi-disciplinary teams, communicating project information and ensuring projects are on schedule, within budget, and within scope.
• Kaizen Leadership: Leads Kaizen events and help those unfamiliar with the process understand how to carry out a successful event. 
• Compliance & Troubleshooting: Ensures processes and procedures comply with regulations; troubleshoots equipment and determines root cause solutions. 
• New Product Introduction: Executes the manufacturing side of the new product introduction process. 
• Technical Support for Production: Assists Production with troubleshooting and resolving technical problems. 
• Data Analysis & Process Changes: Gathers and analyzes manufacturing metrics, collaborating with Quality and Manufacturing to define appropriate process changes. 
• Prioritization & Time Management: Demonstrates the ability to successfully manage competing priorities and deliverables in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment. 
• Vendor Consultation: Consults with vendors on product specifications, parts and material purchasing, and product evaluation against quality standards. 
• Manufacturing Process Design: Designs and develops manufacturing processes for enhancements, product changes, new products, and related fixtures and tooling, aiming for zero defects and low product costs. 
• Documentation: Documents tool drawings, design concepts, shop orders, and related information. 
• Production Process Optimization: Designs, tests, and implements production process improvements to scale the business by eliminating bottlenecks and capacity limitations. 
• Quality Monitoring & Improvement: Monitors quality data to drive improvement. 
• Manufacturing Issue Resolution: Troubleshoots manufacturing issues. 
• Plant Layout Optimization: Designs efficient and productive layouts for machinery within plant facilities. 
• Corrective/Preventative Actions: Engages with relevant personnel to identify and resolve Corrective/Preventative actions for Quality, Technical, and Manufacturing issues (Audit Actions, NCN’s, CAPA’s, etc.). 
• Continuous Improvement & Lean Implementation: Leads continuous improvement and lean implementation to eliminate waste, reduce process variations, and meet customer expectations. 
• Operational Profit Improvement: Works hands-on and leads teams to drive operational profit through complex waste reduction and throughput improvement projects. 
• Data Management & Communication: Utilizes database SQL and data visualization software (e.g., Power BI) to collect and communicate critical data with stakeholders. 
• IT Project Collaboration: Gathers data requirements for IT projects aimed at increasing software efficiency and moving towards a paper-free factory. 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality to coordinate product changes and collaborates cross-functionally with departments like scheduling, planning, manufacturing, engineering, and IT. 
• Statistical Process Control (SPC): Develops manufacturing processes applicable to SPC and may develop these techniques; understands and can apply SPC. 
• Value Stream Optimization: Develops manufacturing processes utilizing cross-functional participation to ensure equipment and process compatibility with the entire value stream, including early equipment management (TPM), workstation design, material presentation, standard work, and single-piece flow. 
• Technical Knowledge: Possesses knowledge of CNC, robotic, and press brake offline programming. 
• Compliance & Continuous Improvement Culture: Employees are responsible for complying with all requirements of Daifuku Automotive America Corporations QMS policies and procedures, ensuring sustainable process outputs that drive continuous improvement for leading industry performance and exceptional customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

Experience: Prior manufacturing experience is highly preferred.

Technical Aptitude: Ability to learn new technologies, software, and machines.

Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Strategic & Problem-Solving Skills: Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, including the application of structured problem-solving methodologies, Statistical Data Analysis, and Design of Experiments (DOE).

Project & Time Management: Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines, and to multitask effectively.

Continuous Learning & Adaptability: Eagerness to learn new skills and take on new challenges.

Travel: Willingness to travel within the US up to 20%.

Lean Six Sigma: Lean Six Sigma certification is desirable.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills: Team-oriented and collaborative with a professional and personable manner when interacting with colleagues, customers, vendors, competitors, and visitors. Strong interpersonal skills are crucial for successful job performance.

Sense of Urgency & Goal-Oriented: Must possess and maintain a high sense of urgency to meet and exceed all production goals.

Physical Requirements: Physically capable of standing, walking, bending, pushing, pulling, reaching, and twisting throughout the shift; capable of repetitively lifting 25-50 lbs.

Attention to Detail: Attentive to detail.

Flexibility: Must be flexible to work overtime as needed, including potential weekends and/or holidays.

Work Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee works in typical manufacturing environment with overhead cranes and forklifts.
• Overhead LED lights throughout the workspace create a bright workspace for employees to safely perform their work.
• Normally clean work environment where the process creates some grinding dust, heat/cold, fumes/odors, and vibration. Housekeeping is performed as needed throughout the day and at the end of each shift.
• The noise level in the work environment is normal to manufacturing processes with air tools, grinders, and other tools.  Yearly audiometric testing is provided by the company to monitor areas for improvement.
• Non-climate-controlled facility in the summer, each work area is provided with fans to help keep cool. In the winter it is heated.

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Working experience of manufacturing and Lean concepts in manufacturing environment

Required Equipment  

• Safety Toe Shoes/Boots
• Safety Glasses

Daifuku offers an excellent compensation package including great benefits such as excellent medical, vision, and dental insurance, paid vacation time, paid sick time, and paid holidays, 401K, Flexible Spending Programs, and more.

Daifuku is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status or medical condition.

If you’d like to view a copy of the company’s affirmative action plan or policy statement, please email [email protected].

If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e-mail [email protected].