Manufacturing Engineer

Company Overview:

Elkhart Plastics is one of the nation’s largest rotational molders of plastic products and has been part of the Myers Industries family since 2020. Our manufacturing facilities in South Bend, Ind.; Middlebury, Ind.; Bristol, IN.; Atlantic, IA.; Ridgefield, Wash.; and Littleton, CO., design and produce a wide range of custom products in varying shapes, lengths, and thicknesses, serving more than 30 industries. Founded in 1933, Myers Industries has moved from a small storefront in Akron, Ohio, to become a family of over 2,400 employees.

Job Overview

This role is responsible for applying knowledge of manufacturing methods, engineering theory, and problem-solving techniques to improve production efficiencies, material flow, equipment performance, and related processes. The successful candidate will work closely with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams to improve safety, quality, productivity and reduce costs using Lean tools and methodology.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work in conjunction with other departments to improve safety, quality, and production processes, reduce delays, increase efficiency, and reduce costs.
• Apply continuous improvement/lean tools and methods to enhance manufacturing quality, reliability, and cost effectiveness.
• Identify, plan, and lead cross-functional capital and operations improvement projects.
• Determine root causes of failures using statistical methods and recommend changes in designs, tolerances, or processing methods to avoid re-occurrences.
• Promote decision driven by data instead of opinions, focusing on root cause analysis.
• Introduce new equipment, methods, and processes to improve existing operations.
• Design testing methods and calculate process capabilities to establish standards or validate process requirements.
• Lead customers through NPI projects with interactive mold trials, resin formulations adjustments, and part testing.
• Design, develop, and implements control systems to improve production cycle times, product quality, equipment performance, down-time reductions, and process automation.
• Utilize statistical data to optimize and improve performance.
• Analyze process performance data and identify trends, runs to reduces process variation.
• Participate and contribute to the achievement of department goals including goals setting.
• Assist plant with IT troubleshooting and processes. Prior experience and understanding of basic IT knowledge would be helpful.
• Identify and solve chronic/repetitive problems and failures.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated success working in and/or leading cross functional teams including project management.
• Proven track record of driving significant efficiency improvements and cost reduction efforts.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to deal with opposing opinions and capable of leading team towards best outcome.
• Demonstrated problem solver with high degree of analytical skills.
• Passionate about continuous improvement and teamwork.
• Well organized self-starter skills in time management.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering related field such as Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical or Automated Manufacturing. Coursework and experience in Lean Manufacturing tools beneficial.
• Engineering or equivalent technical education.
• 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment – plastics (Rotomolding) preferred.
• Ability to interpret electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic schematics.
• Experience working with programmable logic controller (PLC), control logic and human machine interface (HMI) is beneficial.
• IT experience a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Solidworks (CAD).
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.

Working Conditions

This position will be required to work in an industrial manufacturing environment which may exceed 85 degrees inside and as low as 0 degrees outside ambient temp with forklifts and other machinery operating in areas of your responsibility.

Physical Requirements

The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl or be elevated to reach work items.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds alone and more than 50 pounds with assistance.

This position also consists of remaining stationary with intermediate walking throughout the shift on the plant floor.