Manufacturing Engineer

About the Role

Location: Burlington, WI (Onsite)

Primary Process Owner responsible for developing safe, efficient, and reliable manufacturing methods in collaboration with Astec, Inc. operations (manufacturing, quality, OpEx, and safety). Identifies opportunities for process improvement to reduce costs and create a competitive advantage using Kaizen and lean tools. Leads cross-functional events to analyze and deploy standards and techniques to improve quality, ensure on-time delivery, and control costs. Applies manufacturing best practices to solve problems, improve performance, and eliminate waste.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, evaluate, and recommend improvements in manufacturing methods, minimizing cost and effectively applying production capabilities.
• Implement process improvements through time studies, process mapping, value-stream mapping, spaghetti mapping, and workload balancing with cross-functional teams.
• Achieve safety and process improvements using standard lean tool sets, reducing cycle-time, rework, scrap, inventory, overtime, space, and improving on-time completions.
• Facilitate continuous improvements through lean tools and coordinate lean training and development activities.
• Analyze and plan workforce utilization, space requirements, material routing and handling, manufacturing processes and methods, machine and tool design applications, workflow, and new technology. Designs equipment and workspace layouts for maximum efficiency, safety, and quality.
• Estimate production times, capacity requirements, and related costs.
• Develop proposals, evaluate new development programs, and recommend changes in parts specifications, manufacturing processes, and production methods to improve quality, productivity, manufacturability, and safety.
• Apply statistical methods to estimate future manufacturing requirements and potential.
• Manage the transition of new product introductions from engineering to manufacturing, including capacity analysis, process robustness, and process validations.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing process work instructions and assembly tooling.
• Specify new equipment and design required fixtures, jigs, and tooling.
• Prepare and present information using Microsoft Office applications.
• Research, organize, analyze, and maintain records of technical information.
• Follow company policies, procedures, and safety rules.
• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial, manufacturing, mechanical engineering, or related field.
• Zero to three (0-3) years of related work experience in a manufacturing environment with a demonstrated understanding of heavy machinery manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of machine shop operations/processes.
• Knowledge of LEAN methods used in manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of all types of metal-cutting processes, including punch, plasma, and flame cutting.
• Knowledge of engineering/manufacturing system of symbols, legends, shading, and lines, and skill in reading engineering drawings.
• Knowledge and understanding of nesting software for material optimization (preferred).
• Ability to collaborate and facilitate cross-functional teams to influence and manage change in a heavy manufacturing, multi-shift work environment.
• Ability to meet regular attendance requirements.