Manufacturing Engineer (Mount Prospect)

Role Responsibilities:

• Design and modify workstations, custom fixtures, tooling, and factory layouts utilizing 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks or CREO.
• Support the sourcing and procurement of new assembly machinery, including NPI readiness trials, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), and capital expenditure requests.
• Develop and improve manufacturing processes for both metal fabrication and integrated assembly operations, with a focus on improving quality, efficiency, consistency, and manufacturability.
• Facilitate PFMEA and other risk assessment activities while utilizing root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies such as 8D and DMAIC.
• Analyze and optimize metal fabrication processes including sheet metal stamping, CNC laser/plasma cutting, tube bending, manual or robotic welding, forming, punching, grinding, and related fabrication operations.
• Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles to improve part manufacturability, tolerances, fabrication processes, and assembly operations.
• Design welding jigs, nesting fixtures, assembly tooling, and other specialized fixtures to improve process consistency, productivity, and error-proofing.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing process plans, work instructions, process sheets, and routings to support new product introduction and ongoing production.
• Own and maintain manufacturing routings and Manufacturing Bills of Materials (MBOM) within the company’s ERP system.
• Establish raw material consumption rates for fabrication processes and labor standards for assembly operations.
• Support new product introduction activities from initial design through production readiness, ensuring manufacturing processes, documentation, tooling, fixtures, and equipment are prepared for production.
• Work independently on the manufacturing floor to identify and resolve process issues while influencing operators and management to drive improvements.
• Train Operators and manufacturing personnel on new and updated processes, work instructions, equipment, and standard work.
• Collaborate with engineering, production, quality, and management teams to support manufacturing improvements and new product introduction activities.

MUST:

• Engineering Degree and 2+ years of Manufacturing Engineering experience within a sheet metal/fabrication manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience working directly on the manufacturing floor to troubleshoot and improve processes
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, engineering drawings, GD&T, work instructions, SOPs and process sheets
• Experience developing manufacturing process plans, process sheets, routings and work instructions
• Experience creating and managing BOMs, MBOMs, ECOs and ECNs within an ERP/MRP system
• Solid understanding of DFM/DFA and the ability to apply those principles to fabrication and assembly processes
• Experience supporting NPI activities, including developing manufacturing processes and preparing products for production
• Experience with Root Cause Analysis and CAPA and the ability to independently identify problems, determine root cause and implement corrective actions
• Ability to train and communicate effectively with Operators, Production, Engineering, Quality and Management
• Strong problem-solving mindset with the ability to take ownership of problems, investigate solutions independently and bring forward recommendations rather than simply bringing problems to management