Lean Engineer

Description

PURPOSE:

The Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VAVE) Engineer focuses on optimizing product designs and processes to reduce costs while maintaining or improving quality and performance. This role involves analyzing existing products, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and implementing solutions.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Create and facilitate process improvements from product assembly and teardown activities focusing on cost reduction without compromising the value of the product.
• Work closely with stakeholder to analyze and select VA/VE cost reduction kaizen blitz events and manage project activities through cross-functional closure and validation.
• Quantify and communicate improvement opportunities to organizational functions for integration into their project pipeline process for long-term process improvement activities.
• Develops mechanical and electromechanical product improvements by studying customer requirements; researching and testing manufacturing and assembly methods and materials; and soliciting observations from operators
• Facilitating cross functional teams to understand, identify and quantify component requirements and evaluate lower cost solutions that do not decrease the value of the item to the customer.
• The ability to educate production personnel and peers in new and improved processes / change management may be required for the successful transition management of projects.
• Review and calculate labor, material and other production costs along with reviewing schedules and future production requirements to assist management in decision making.
• Analyze and plan workflow, equipment placement and space requirements to improve manufacturing efficiency.
• Analyze production processes, schedules, methods and other data and then provide management with reports containing the data and statistics to enable management to better understand future requirements needed for the manufacturing process.
• Gather financial data and analyze it to uncover cost inefficiencies, enhancing a production process's efficiency while keeping manufacturing expenses low, maintaining documentation of manufacturing processes, investigating delays, tracking changes to work processes, and recommending cost-saving initiatives to senior management
• Execute Engineering Change Requests for changes to work instructions, bills of material, material sourcing,  make / buy changes, and process improvements stemming from VA/VE events across the organization's manufacturing sites.
• Ensure AS9100 compliance of process changes and improvement activities.

Requirements

EDUCATION AND/OR PROFESSIONAL LICENSE(s):

• Minimum BS degree or equivalent in mechanical or manufacturing engineering.
• Lean Manufacturing Black Belt, CPIM and PMI Certifications are a plus.

EXPERIENCE: 

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working within a manufacturing assembly environment is required.
• Experience in aerospace/defense industries with high mix and low volume is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated abilities with lean manufacturing tools, meeting facilitation, data analysis, process documentation and cross-functional processes.
• Process / cost analysis experience within operations, and/or procurement.
• Previous responsibility in designing, implementing and reviewing the procedures and equipment involved in the manufacturing process; researching automation techniques, testing new systems for efficiency, and planning factory layouts to optimize production is preferred.
• Manufacturing and supply chain analytical, project management and cost justification capabilities
• Fundamental understanding of job hazard analysis, workplace safety, production flow, kanban systems, product routings, value added activity, waste identification, 
• Knowledge of material sourcing, planning and scheduling in a high mix low volume manufacturing environment is preferred.
• A bias for self-managed problem-solving, effective time management /organizational skills
• Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills as well as fluency in MS Office Products, Visio, Lean Manufacturing tools.
• AI-based data analysis experiences preferred.

POSITION SUPERVISES:

This position is that of an individual contributor with no supervisory responsibility.

CONTACT WITH OTHERS:

This position requires contact and interaction with a multitude of technical disciplines within GENTEX Corporation, not only within the Carbondale facility, but with “sister” plants throughout the United States and the United Kingdom.

This position will also require interaction with GENTEX suppliers and occasionally with the customer.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL/COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee may lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by the job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The individual must have a high level of comprehension, and a high level of general, verbal, written, and numerical intelligence.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Works majority of the day in a climate-controlled environment, with the exception of, or otherwise specified, performing work in the warehouse or manufacturing areas which are subject to changes in temperature and/or noise.

TRAVEL:

Regular travel required

LOCATION:

Gentex’s Carbondale facility is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania in Lackawanna County. Carbondale, PA is about twenty miles north of Scranton, PA, 50 miles south of Binghamton, NY, and about 125 miles from New York City and Philadelphia. The area hosts numerous nearby state parks, nature preserves and local colleges and universities, including The University of Scranton and Marywood University. Northeast Pennsylvania is a beautiful area and offers an excellent cost of living. It is a great place to work, recreate, meet people, raise a family and live!

Gentex Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard for any applicable state or federal protected class.  Gentex is an E-Verify Participant. Pre-employment drug/alcohol/background screening is required.