Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Reports to: Plant Manager (Hard Line)

Dotted Line: Sr. Director, Manufacturing Engineering

Scope: Site-level leadership of Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, and Facilities functions

Role Summary

The Plant Manufacturing Engineering Manager provides hands-on leadership for all manufacturing engineering, maintenance, and facilities functions within the plant. Reporting directly to the Plant Manager with a dotted line to the Sr. Director of Manufacturing Engineering, this position ensures the consistent execution of automation, digitalization, process improvement, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) systems in alignment with the ASD Lean Operating System. This role combines technical and operational leadership - managing process optimization, equipment reliability, and capital execution to deliver year-over-year improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, cash, and people (SQDCCP). The Plant Manufacturing Engineering Manager partners closely with production, materials, and quality to strengthen the plant's technical capability, process stability, and continuous improvement culture.

Core Responsibilities 1. Manufacturing Engineering Leadership

• Lead the site's manufacturing engineering strategy focused on improving process capability, throughput, and cost efficiency.
• Deploy and sustain standardized work methods, process documentation, and best practices established by the corporate Manufacturing Engineering team.
• Partner with Plant Leadership and Product Engineering to ensure manufacturability, scalability, and quality of new product introductions.
• Manage capital investments, layout optimization, and equipment upgrades in coordination with enterprise standards.
• Lead daily Tier 3 meetings to align engineering support with production priorities and SQDCCP metrics.

2. Automation, Digitalization & Smart Factory Systems

• Implement automation and digital manufacturing solutions aligned with corporate strategy to improve consistency and labor productivity.
• Support integration of MES, IoT, and smart factory technologies for real-time equipment monitoring and process visibility.
• Drive predictive and data-driven maintenance initiatives leveraging analytics and digital tools.
• Evaluate and implement robotics, vision systems, and advanced automation to improve safety and reduce waste.

3. Maintenance & Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

• Own plant-level maintenance and reliability performance, ensuring TPM systems are deployed effectively.
• Implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs to minimize unplanned downtime and optimize asset utilization.
• Lead the maintenance team to ensure adherence to safety standards, work order completion, and CMMS accuracy.
• Drive MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) and MTTR (Mean Time to Repair) improvements through disciplined root cause analysis.
• Partner with operators and supervisors to embed basic equipment care and autonomous maintenance practices.

4. Facilities & Capital Planning

• Oversee facility infrastructure, utilities, and building systems, ensuring reliable and safe operation.
• Manage capital budgets for maintenance, facility improvements, and new equipment installation.
• Ensure all facility and capital projects meet regulatory, environmental, and safety standards.
• Support energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives in partnership with EHS and corporate engineering.

5. Technical Capability & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and execute a technical capability roadmap for engineers, technicians, and maintenance teams.
• Lead structured problem-solving (RCCM's, PDCA, 5-Why, Fishbone) to eliminate chronic issues and improve process stability.
• Partner with Lean, Quality, and Operations to ensure standard work and visual management systems are sustained.
• Integrate engineering and maintenance metrics into plant SQDCCP and Tier review meetings.
• Support cross-functional Kaizen events to drive safety, quality, and productivity improvements.

Leadership Expectations

• Acts as a technical leader and coach - developing engineering and maintenance talent through hands-on mentorship.
• Operates as a system integrator, ensuring alignment between operations, maintenance, and engineering.
• Models servant leadership behaviors, engaging daily on the shop floor through Gemba walks.
• Balances technical rigor with practical execution to achieve reliable, measurable results.
• Communicates effectively across functions and builds collaboration between corporate and plant technical teams.
• Champions the ASD Lean Operating System, TPM, and automation culture within the plant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or Manufacturing Engineering (Master's preferred).
• Minimum 7+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, maintenance, or operations leadership within a production environment.
• Proven success leading TPM implementation and automation projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and coordinate cross-functional improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, reliability engineering, and process improvement methodologies.
• Proficiency with CAD, CMMS, ERP/MES, and Microsoft Office systems.
• Strong communication, analytical, and leadership skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.

Performance Metrics Category Example KPI Target Equipment Reliability OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) 85% Maintenance Unplanned Downtime

The Plant Manufacturing Engineering Manager plays a critical role in improving equipment reliability, technical capability, and overall plant performance. Success in this position is defined by consistent execution of the ASD Lean Operating System, measurable improvement in SQDCCP metrics, and the development of a high-performing, technically proficient engineering and maintenance organization.