Lead Manufacturing Engineer

HYDRAFORCE HYDRAULICS LIMITED; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

HydraForce Hydraulics Limited in Birmingham seeks a Manufacturing Engineer to lead production and logistics improvements, shaping processes to meet quality, cost and efficiency targets. You will mentor engineers and technicians, drive KPIs, and develop essential procedures.

You will design lean manufacturing layouts, collaborate across sites, and implement cost-reduction projects while maintaining documentation standards and training records.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent with manufacturing focus.
• Lean principles and continuous improvement experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership to Production and Logistics.
• Develop processes to ensure quality, cost and efficiency.
• Lead cost reduction and process improvement initiatives.
• Develop PCPs, VCPs, TCPs, FMEAs and SOPs.
• Support multiple manufacturing cells and sites.

Skills

Manufacturing engineering

Lean manufacturing

Kaizen / 5S / Kanban

Project leadership

CAD (Creo/AutoCAD)

6 Sigma (advantageous)

Education

HNC/HND or Degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Creo

AutoCAD

Job description

Have you got what it takes to succeed The following information should be read carefully by all candidates.

Birmingham

Company Description

HydraForce, operating from our purpose-built facility in Birmingham, UK, is a global designer and manufacturer of motion control systems and the world’s leading manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves and custom hydraulic integrated circuits, as well as electronic controls for a variety of off-highway industries

Bosch Rexroth and HydraForce bring together two world-class leaders in hydraulic motion control. By combining our strengths, we've broadened our hydraulics offering to deliver the world's highest quality hydraulic control solutions to more OEMs across the globe. Together, we are expanding the possibilities of hydraulic control technology to provide innovative and reliable solutions.

Job Description

To provide technical support and leadership to the Production and Logistics Departments by identifying the operations and improvements required to produce products and developing processes to ensure quality, cost and efficiency requirements are met on a timely basis and in accordance with business needs. Set goals and standards and guide and develop Manufacturing Engineers, Junior Engineers, and Technicians to achieve those goals.

• To ensure that all Manufacturing Cells and operational areas receive the correct level of focus to meet Operational targets, NPI targets and Project targets
• Guide, mentor and develop Manufacturing Engineers, Junior Engineers and Technicians
• Develop, monitor and report Key Performance Metrics
• Create and maintain departmental procedures. Train individuals as necessary and maintain training records.
• Enhance existing company procedures taking into account all manufacturing sites.
• To provide full engineering and technical support across the manufacturing facility including all business units, prep, honing, and stores, to ensure that production operating levels are achieved and maintained.
• Manage projects within agreed timeframes and to budget, to achieve agreed objectives and meet business needs.
• Produce and maintain relevant internal documentation to company standards, ensuring they are clear, concise and understandable for all users. Ensuring team members follow the process.
• Generate, develop and update Process Control Plans (PCPs), Visual Control Plans (VCPs), Test Control Plans (TCPs), FMEAs and SOP’s.
• Design and develop lean manufacturing cells, through analysis of process needs to include process assembly and test equipment.
• Design and develop assembly and testing fixtures to meet the departmental needs, liaising with external suppliers.
• Identify and lead cost reduction and process efficiency improvement activities, including provision of relevant documentation relating to cost savings and proposed efficiencies.
• Support prototype builds ensuring that all special requirements are met within agreed timescales.
• Conduct NPI activities in accordance with company procedures.
• Identify, justify and implement improvement opportunities.
• Use statistical tools to validate new processes or equipment or changes to existing processes or equipment.
• Specify and purchase facilities to aid production, liaising with relevant internal departments where necessary obtaining best value to meet production needs.
• Conduct time studies on new/existing cells. Report SMV to AMV variations and implement solutions.
• Work with your counterpart colleagues at different manufacturing sites to ensure best practice and open and clear communication.

Qualifications

• HNC/HND or Degree level in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering
• Successful completion of engineering Apprenticeship preferred
• Proven experience of working in a fast paced, manufacturing environment.
• Experienced in managing projects, delivering on time and within budget.
• Working knowledge of CAD systems – Creo & Autocad advantageous
• Working knowledge of hydraulics and/or pneumatics advantageous
• Thorough understanding and experience in application of lean principles, including Kaizen, 5s and Kanban.
• 6 Sigma qualification advantageous