Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Launch

ALTHOUGH POSTED IN THE METROPOLITAN DETROIT AREA, THIS ROLE IS LOCATED IN COLUMBIA, SC WITH A TIER 1 AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURER WITH A GLOBAL FOOTPRINT. CLIENT WILL FULLY SUPPORT RELOCATION EFFORTS.

Summary:

The Director, Launch & Advanced Manufacturing, is responsible for the industrialization of manufacturing processes and new product launches by establishing a culture of driving out waste and building Benchmark Manufacturing Processes. Developing and implementing the Bill of Process (standardizing the way we design processes, designing safety, quality and manufacturability into processes, participate with developing standard work, standardizing equipment and spare parts, best practice manufacturing and preventive maintenance, sharing overall best practices) for company’s Global Operations. Developing the Global team that promotes customer satisfaction and that positively impacts the financial performance of of the organization.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Ensures world-class capabilities to support customers’ specifications around process, to establish efficient, cost-effective requirements for ease of manufacturing and reproducibility.
• Drives implementation of the FIVE levels of Process Design (Do not Pass Defects/Wastes, Best System, Best Pathway, Great System and Product Connection, Rigorous Improvement Activity).
• Partners with the Global Opex team to align with the Stanadyne Lean Opex model.
• Supports benchmark levels of Practical Problem Solving (A3 Thinking, Problem Solving).
• Drives Global standardization, shares knowledge globally, across SBUs in a systematic fashion – Yokoten.
• Establish a culture of leaders as teachers & trainers - educates and trains team members, as to their impact in supporting upper quartile Stanadyne performance.
• Implements Design for Manufacturing concepts with the global design teams.
• Drives great working relationships with Program Management, Product Design, Plant and Supplier teams to develop benchmark processes – our Plants need to be Selling Tools.
• Collects current processes, global equipment inventories, creates and maintains log of both.
• Develops and creates centers of excellence for specific processes, key components around. Nozzle manufacturing and pump head manufacturing are examples.
• Optimized processes for each area (Laser Welding, Assembly, Machining, Grinding, Testing, …), standardize globally, including TPM, common equipment, spares
• Collaborate with Product Engineering, Plants, Program management, Procurement for DFM, insourcing/on-shoring opportunities
• Plant Process Engineering leadership, Functional Leaders, Finance Leaders
• Build strong relationships with Best-in-Class integration partners, execute flawless launches & processes.
• Drives high return investment on assets, “Most Simple Manufacturing Method”, fully utilizes capital for facilities and equipment, and manages CAPEX processes with finance.
• Implement installed capacity models, values for square footage utilization, with the focus on fully optimizing facility space management and visibility in CAPEX requests and overall planning.
• Starts with NPD - Supports concurrent engineering efforts by participating in design development projects with a focus on DFS/E, DFM, optimized PPH, low scrap, benchmark Cp/Cpk, and customer requirements.
• Strong DFMEA, PFMEA, Control Plans, SWIs.
• Ensures Waste Elimination, Labor and Overhead Productivity gains Year-Over-Year, Kaizen thinking and A3 Problem Solving.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in a technical or business discipline with 10+ years’ quality manufacturing experience in the Automotive Space. Ideally, at the Tier 1 level. Experience with aftermarket and remanufacturing businesses is highly valued. Other attributes include:

• Rotations through Materials, Quality, Lean, Operations, Plant Leadership.
• Demonstrated track record of success with developing a Global Advanced Manufacturing Engineering strategies and deploying Lean systems while improving the execution of operations, overall business processes, products to our internal and external customers.
• Hands-on experience in the areas of implementing Lean Processes/Tools, transactional lean, managing Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and demonstrated accomplishments in project management and process improvement initiatives.
• Experience in global leadership, change management and ability to work effectively within a matrix environment.
• Strong process development background with demonstrated proficiency to gain organizational commitment and agreement to execute new processes.

Position offers excellent base compensation, yearly bonus opportunity, growth trajectory, along with excellent benefits that start day one and relocation assistance.