IE Director

Fairwork; Ipoh; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairwork in Ipoh, Malaysia, is seeking a Director of Industrial Engineering to lead strategies that enhance productivity and operational excellence across manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for capacity planning, process improvement, and mentoring a high-performing team.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, at least 10 years of experience in the industry, and strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10–15 years of experience in Industrial Engineering within a manufacturing environment.
• At least 5–8 years in a senior management or director-level role.
• Proven track record in driving large-scale productivity and cost improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Industrial Engineering function across all manufacturing sites.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve productivity and efficiency.
• Drive labor planning, manpower optimization, and line balancing.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering or related field

Master’s Degree or professional certification (Lean Six Sigma Black Belt)

Job description

The Director of Industrial Engineering is responsible for leading and driving industrial engineering strategies to improve productivity, efficiency, cost optimization, and operational excellence across manufacturing operations. This role oversees capacity planning, labor optimization, process improvement, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Industrial Engineering (IE) function across all manufacturing sites.
• Develop and implement IE strategies to improve productivity, efficiency, and cost effectiveness.
• Drive labor planning, manpower optimization, line balancing, and standard time setting.
• Establish and maintain standard work, work measurement systems, and productivity benchmarks.
• Lead capacity planning, layout planning, and factory expansion or re-layout projects.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other IE methodologies.
• Analyze operational data and KPIs to identify improvement opportunities and performance gaps.
• Partner with Operations, Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and HR teams to support business goals.
• Support NPI (New Product Introduction) by ensuring efficient process design and resource planning.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Mentor, develop, and build a high-performing IE team.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Master’s Degree or professional certification (Lean Six Sigma Black Belt) is an advantage.
• Minimum 10–15 years of experience in Industrial Engineering within a manufacturing environment.
• At least 5–8 years in a senior management or director-level role.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and IE tools.
• Proven track record in driving large-scale productivity and cost improvement initiatives.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.