Industrial Engineer - Sewing Operations

Job Summary: The Industrial Engineer improves safety, quality, cost, productivity, and workflow throughout Alphapointe's sewing and related manufacturing operations. The position conducts time and motion studies, develops and maintains labor and equipment standards, evaluates production methods and floor layouts, and partners with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation Services to implement practical process improvements. Preferred candidates bring hands-on knowledge of industrial sewing processes, equipment, work aids, and production environments serving employees who are blind or visually impaired.

Essential Functions:

Industrial Engineering & Process Improvement

• Conduct, document, maintain, and update time and motion studies for sewing and other assigned labor operations.
• Develop labor standards, equipment requirements, capacity estimates, and cost estimates for new products, service projects, and production changes.
• Analyze production data, cycle times, downtime, bottlenecks, work-in-process, staffing, and equipment utilization; recommend and implement improvements.
• Evaluate manufacturing methods and standard work to improve throughput, consistency, ergonomics, and cost efficiency without compromising quality or safety.
• Support line balancing, production trials, changeovers, and the introduction of new products, equipment, and processes.
• Use continuous improvement methods such as root-cause analysis, 5S, value-stream mapping, and Plan-Do-Check-Act, as appropriate.

Sewing Operations Support

• Lead sewing operations across three facilities, including scheduling, morning rallies and internal meetings.
• Partner with sewing leadership to evaluate cutting, kitting, sewing, inspection, finishing, packing, warehousing, and material-handling processes.
• Apply knowledge of industrial sewing operations, including machine capabilities, attachments, folders, guides, work aids, pattern and marker considerations, seam construction, and operator methods.
• Research and recommend industrial sewing equipment, tooling, fixtures, assistive devices, and technology that improve productivity, quality, accessibility, and operator safety.
• Assist with equipment layout, workstation design, preventive maintenance priorities, and production-readiness reviews.
• Participate in sample builds, method development, efficiency testing, and troubleshooting of production issues.
• Oversee large-scale and small-batch sewing production, including design development, pattern making, grading and markers.

Facilities, Layout & Costing

• Develop and maintain efficient floor layouts for production, receiving, storage, warehouse, and shipping areas.
• Analyze the flow of people, materials, and information; recommend changes that reduce unnecessary movement, handling, delays, and congestion.
• Maintain accurate equipment lists and location records for assigned operations and support capital-equipment planning.
• Validate labor and material standards used in bills of material, routings, quotations, and other costing records.
• Prepare clear cost-benefit analyses, implementation plans, and post-implementation reviews for proposed improvements.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Understand and follow company safety, manufacturing, costing, material-handling, and quality-control policies and procedures.
• Support compliance with applicable OSHA requirements and recommend corrective or preventive actions when risks are identified.
• Assist with the ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, including process documentation, corrective actions, audits, and continuous improvement activities.
• Incorporate quality controls, ergonomic principles, machine guarding, and safe material handling into process and workstation design.
• Maintain organized, accurate records and submit required reports to management in a timely manner.

Collaboration, Accessibility & Training

• Work collaboratively with employees and leaders at all levels, including employees who are blind or visually impaired.
• Partner with Rehabilitation Services and Operations to identify accessible methods, adaptive tools, reasonable accommodations, and training approaches that support employee success.
• Communicate proposed changes clearly, gather operator feedback, and help train employees on new methods, standards, layouts, equipment, and work aids.
• Mentor interns or project participants assigned to engineering or process-improvement work.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering technology, or a related field required; equivalent directly related experience may be considered based on organizational needs.
• Minimum of two years of experience in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, production, or a related manufacturing environment preferred.
• Experience in industrial sewing, soft-goods manufacturing, textile manufacturing, cut-and-sew operations, or sewn-products production strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of time studies, work measurement, labor standards, line balancing, process mapping, production costing, capacity analysis, and facility layout.
• Knowledge of production processes, raw materials, quality control, safety, ergonomics, material handling, and manufacturing costs.
• Ability to read and interpret bills of material, routings, product specifications, drawings, patterns, and related production documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with ERP/MRP systems, CAD or layout software, and data-analysis tools preferred.
• Strong analytical, mathematical, mechanical, project-management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, maintain accurate records, and collaborate effectively across departments.
• Commitment to Alphapointe's mission and to designing processes that promote accessibility, dignity, safety, quality, and meaningful employment.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in office, production, sewing, warehouse, and shipping environments.
• May sit, stand, or walk for extended periods and may regularly move throughout operating areas to observe work and collect data.
• May be exposed to operating machinery, production noise, fabric dust or fibers, and other conditions typical of a manufacturing environment; required personal protective equipment must be used.
• Must be able to bend, reach, and position measurement or observation tools and occasionally lift or move materials or equipment weighing up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Occasional overtime or schedule flexibility may be required to observe different shifts, meet project deadlines, or support production needs.
• Occasional travel between Alphapointe facilities or to vendors, customers, or training locations may be required.