Manufacturing Methods Engineer

Bridge Recruitment UK Ltd; Cramlington; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Bridge Recruitment UK Ltd in Cramlington seeks an experienced Manufacturing Methods Engineer to develop and implement manufacturing processes for new products, create routings and SOPs, and drive Lean improvements. You will define cycle times, design tooling, support pilot builds and production readiness, and lead continuous improvement initiatives within a structured manufacturing environment. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 3–5 years’ relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• 3–5 years in manufacturing or methods engineering.
• Experience in electromechanical, electrical or electronics manufacturing environment.
• Desirable Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher.
• Experience with NPI and process industrialisation.

Responsibilities

• Support Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• Develop and implement manufacturing processes for new products.
• Create manufacturing routings, work instructions and SOPs.
• Define cycle times and production methods.
• Design and validate tooling, fixtures and jigs.
• Support pilot builds and production readiness.
• Validate processes and transition products to production.
• Lead Lean and Continuous Improvement projects.
• Train operators on new processes and best practices.

Skills

DFM & DFA

Lean Manufacturing

NPI & Process Industrialisation

Data Analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Manufacturing Methods Engineer

Location: Cramlington

Salary: GBP37,000 - GBP42,000 per year

Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8.30am - 4.30pm. Fridays, 8am - 1pm.

Job type: Full-time, permanent

Bridge Recruitment is helping one of our established clients recruit for an experienced Manufacturing Methods Engineer to join their ever-expanding team.

Responsibilities of the Manufacturing Methods Engineer:

• Support Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• Develop and implement manufacturing processes for new products.
• Create manufacturing routings, work instructions and SOPs.
• Define cycle times and production methods.
• Design and validate tooling, fixtures and jigs.
• Support pilot builds and production readiness.
• Validate processes and transition products to production.
• Optimise manufacturing processes to improve productivity, quality and efficiency.
• Reduce costs, cycle times and waste.
• Improve layouts, material flow and ergonomics.
• Identify automation opportunities.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Provide engineering support to production.
• Resolve production issues with sustainable corrective actions.
• Lead root cause analysis (8D, 5 Why, Fishbone).
• Support engineering and process changes.
• Train operators on new processes and best practices.
• Define equipment requirements and specifications.
• Support supplier selection, FAT and SAT.
• Coordinate equipment installation, commissioning and validation.
• Work with Maintenance to improve equipment reliability.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, including SOPs, work instructions, routings, Bills of Process, standard times and visual aids.
• Ensure documentation complies with quality system requirements.
• Lead Lean and Continuous Improvement projects.
• Apply Lean tools including 5S, Kaizen, SMED, VSM, Kanban, Poka-Yoke and Visual Management.
• Monitor performance and implement improvement opportunities.
• Support cost reduction and operational excellence.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, ethical behavior and operational excellence.

Requirements of the Manufacturing Methods Engineer:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3-5 years' experience in a manufacturing engineering or methods engineering role.
• Experience within an electromechanical, electrical or electronics manufacturing environment.
• Experience in New Product Introduction (NPI) and process industrialisation is highly desirable.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement methodologies in a production environment.
• Experience analysing operational data and driving performance improvements.
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher) is desirable.
• Knowledge of several of the following manufacturing processes is desirable:
  • Mechanical assembly
  • Electrical assembly and wiring
  • Electronic assembly
  • PCB assembly
  • Manual and automated soldering
  • Crimping
  • Torque-controlled fastening
  • Adhesive bonding
  • Electromechanical integration
  • Functional testing
  • Electrical testing
  • Mechanical inspection
  • Final product testing