Program Manager - Manufacturing

Company Description:
Lapmaster Wolters is a leading global supplier of precision machine tools and semiconductor wafer processing equipment headquartered in Chicago's Northwest suburbs near O'Hare Airport. Our diverse team works with a broad variety of industries and technologies. Our technical expertise includes Precision Machining, Motion Control, Robotics, Automation, Machine Design, and Process Expertise on a wide range of materials. Our customers include small, mid-sized and Fortune 100 companies in a spectrum of industries including Semiconductor, Electronics, Automotive, Aerospace, Precision Bearings, Optics/Electro-optics, Industrial Equipment, and Medical Devices. Our business model is to utilize leading technologies and exceptional engineering talent coupled with outstanding customer service to solve manufacturing and precision machining problems. With over 60 years of experience, Lapmaster Wolters has a proven history of successfully developing cost effective solutions for virtually any application requiring precision machining, flatness, parallelism, roundness, or surface finish.


Job Description:

Lapmaster is seeking an experienced Program Manager to oversee successful execution of various projects primarily high precision machine tools. These projects are generally fast-paced and challenging with significant impact on the future of the company.

The Program Manager will oversee successful execution of projects with emphasis on customer management, ensuring that engineering, supply chain, and production targets align. The Program Manger must bridge the gap between design and factory floors, managing timelines, budgets, and production scaling while tracking performance via metrics.

Responsibilities include:

• Work with sales and marketing team to gather and compile inputs from internal experts, market studies, strategic customers, and external consultants when appropriate.
• Work with management and engineering staff to clearly document the scope, features, design requirements, budget, and timeline for each major project utilizing Stage-Gate methodology to drive efficiency in new product development efforts.

• Define resource requirements and skills needed for successful project execution with particular emphasis on identifying resource gaps at the beginning of each project and at periodic checkpoints during execution.

• Compile project plans using Microsoft Project (or other preferred project management software) and define dependencies, milestones, specific tasks, deadlines, etc. then track execution and provide regular updates to management.

• Communicate directly with key stakeholders and project participants from Management, Sales, Engineering, Procurement, and Manufacturing to identify and resolve issues quickly with the goal of adhering to the project timeline.

• Coordinate cross functional teams including engineering, quality assurance, supply chain, procurement, and operations which may include external specialists or consultants and will likely be distributed across multiple locations and time zones
• Resource Management: Manage budgets, balance resources across multiple projects, and ensure capacities meet demand spikes.
• Risk & Issue Mitigation: Identify blockers-such as material shortages or equipment failures-and develop rapid-response solutions to keep projects on track
• Drive documentation efforts through all phases of project execution to enable smooth transition from prototype build to production release, including assembly procedures, quality metrics, installation and maintenance manuals, etc.
• Coordinate crating, rigging and shipment of machine to customer location
  Experience and Qualifications:
  The Program Manager will report to the General Manager and have at least the following qualifications.

• Bachelor's Degree in a technical field with 5+ years of program management experience.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and manage changing priorities.
• Strong working knowledge of manufacturing methods, preferably in high precision automated machine tools.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including effective use of Teams or similar web-based meeting software.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO)