The Trim Materials Engineering Manager will lead the materials technical support for group including managing customer accounts. Strong relationships with supply base, customer materials engineering, and internal business unit (BU) and trim functions. Strong basic engineering practices to develop and implement solutions that meet quality, cost, and craftsmanship objectives. Interfaces regularly with complete seat engineering, trim operations, and Seat Build plant as required to achieve flawless seat appearance and craftsmanship. Collaborates with other internal teams to address and lead closure of technical gaps. Supports Global requests for expertise. Manages headcount and budgets for lab. Subject Matter Technical Support (SMTE) for Trim Materials Engineering.
Primary Responsibilities
Materials Engineering Laboratory Functions:
Standardization / Best Practices
Program Customer Support
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Lead Materials engineering key deliverables for program and customer support.
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Attend customer warranty meetings, investigate root cause, and collaborate with trim, Cut & Sew Plants (C&S), Seat build plants for solutions. Document findings.
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A3 for major/reoccurring failures.
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Provide mentoring to newer team members on root cause and resolution of issues.
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Create and lead knowledge management for warranty history and lessons learmed.
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Helps support program teams in identifying cost reductions and/or validating materials cost reductions where appropriate.
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Address cost gaps in labor/timing/quality with proposals so "total savings" understood. Create/implement templates to standardize process.
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Build on knowledge management.
Internal Collaboration
Lead Materials Engineering key deliverables for internal collaboration. Support C&S plants to address material issues with cutting, sewing, and packaging. Identify gaps at C&S plant for high occurrence material issues. Develop project scope to address gaps with labor/budget needs. Lead project and present A3 as output. Develop standards/best practices. Seat build plants to address material issues with packaging, seat build, craftsmanship, and finessing. Identify gaps at Seat Build plant for high occurrence material/appearance issues. Develop project scope to address gaps. Develop project scope to address gaps with labor/budget needs. Lead project and present A3 as output. Develop standards/best practices. Support and suggest IDDOV/DOE innovative ideas for continuous improvement within Trim Materials Department staff, gather consensus, and implement.
Scope and Supervision Level
Reports to Director, Trim Engineering Americas
Provides technical guidance to other team members. Provides technical guidance to assigned customer business unit(s) or regions. Manage special projects or initiatives as approved by Director. Supervise staff, write annual goals, conduct monthly 1-1 progress to goals discussions, and write annual performance evaluations.
Complete assigned deliverables on time. Understands extra hours may be required to achieve deliverables based on customer expectations or lab accreditation timing. Adjusts workload to complete urgent deliverables, and delegates if necessary.
Technical Development Skills
All Lead Materials Engineer "Technical Development" skills. Establish tools/templates that show fiscal impact of risks identified in A3's reports. Work with Trim Costing to establish guidelines to capture process. Lead Best Business Practices (BBP) Initiatives for increase standardization, quality improvements, and cost reduction regarding trim materials. Implement for group and communicate to Trim Engineering and BU’s. Roll out to Trim leadership strategy to standardize material related issues into BBP solutions. Create a guideline or standard to capture solution.
Communication Skills
Speak in monthly Global Operations meetings on lab KPI’s and major material issues. Speak monthly at Trim Communication meetings on Trim Material updates and/or initiatives. Teach annually, at a minimum, one complete class on Trim Materials for Seating class.
Education and Experience
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4-year college degree in a job-related field (e.g., textiles, polymers, materials science, etc.) or other suitable technical degree preferred.
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12+ years’ applicable experience.
PRIMARY LOCATION
Central Tech Unit Plymouth MI
