Manufacturing Engineer

at Valmont Industries in El Dorado, Kansas, United States

Job Description

This Individual Contributor position is accountable for the site’s manufacturing Engineering functions involving capital and expense project management to include identification, analysis, justification and installation; manufacturing problem solving related to cost reductions, capacity, planning, safety, quality or manufacturability; and new product support including marketing and product engineering inquiries related to cost, processes or manufacturability.

Essential Functions:

• This position reports to the Plant Manager and has no direct or indirect reports
• This position works with all levels of manufacturing in the manufacturing environment (maintenance, operators, supervisors, managers, safety, corporate AMET team, regional lean team, etc.)
• Drives and manages engineering solutions to resolve manufacturing problems (i.e. safety hazards, machine breakdowns, capacity constraints, quality, material handling, and processes)
• Promote and participate proactively in the direction and development of Lean projects and activities
• Establish process work instructions for various production machines
• Ability to work by oneself and be a small team leader
• This role may require on occasion of up to 5% travel (domestically), including overnight stays
• Assist in the development of short and long term capital budget plans
• Focus on operating costs, labor, material and variable to aid in identifying cost reduction opportunities
• Specify new tooling, equipment and methods or modifications to old, to improve cost, safety, quality, equipment and cycle times
• Present funding requests in written forms to upper management
• Utilize CAD for equipment, tooling and layouts
• Participate in special projects relating to product development or extension.  Prepare cost estimates as required.  Work closely with manufacturing, tool and die, and vendors in those projects requiring their involvement.
• Know the Valmont Safety Mission Statement & support the department Safety by Objective plan in departments by assisting implementation of identified safety projects requiring engineering support

Other Important Details about the Role:

This position requires proven abilities in the manufacturing engineering profession with emphasis on methods improvement, economic cost study analysis, plant layouts, tooling design, manufacturing and planning processes.  Excellent verbal and written skills are required due to frequent communication with vendors and presentation of projects and ideas to upper management and production personnel.

The incumbent will be required to work under supervision to evaluate, select and apply solutions to a variety of manufacturing related problems.  The incumbent must be capable of functioning as project manager, initiating and following up on projects from conception to culmination, providing necessary justification, documentation and action to ensure that the performance, cost and scheduled goals are realized.  The incumbent must be capable of acting as team leader on all or most projects in order to gain the benefits associated with employee involvement and shop floor commitment.

Working Environment and Physical Efforts:

Work is typically performed in an office setting.  There may be limited exposure to a manufacturing environment or outside weather conditions.  When visiting a manufacturing area, the incumbent will be required to wear all mandatory personal protective equipment.  The incumbent is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time, as well as talk and listen on the phone and in personal conversations or meetings. Environment is fast paced and demanding most of the time.  Domestic travel, including overnights, may be required up to 15%.  The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms while working in the office with various files and forms and while working on the computer.  The employee is occasionally required to move about the office.  Incumbent must utilize proper ergonomic safeguards such as monitor height and positions, keyboard location and height and proper wrists rests. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds in working with large files, binders, and computer equipment.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.