Industrial Engineering Manager: Extrusion Improvement

PolyPipe; Erwin (TN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

PolyPipe seeks a Senior Industrial Engineer to provide technical leadership for plastic extrusion manufacturing operations serving the natural gas distribution market. You will initiate, develop, and implement improvements to enhance efficiency, quality, and cost performance across cross-functional teams.

You will lead Lean initiatives, analyze data, manage KPIs, and train operators to sustain standardized processes.

Qualifications

• Provide technical leadership for plastic extrusion processes and improvement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost.
• Develop and implement standardized processes and work instructions.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for plastic extrusion manufacturing processes, equipment performance, tooling systems, and process improvement initiatives.
• Assess current manufacturing operations to identify opportunities for improved safety, quality, productivity, material utilization, equipment efficiency, and cost reduction.
• Initiate, develop, and implement technical improvements that improve extrusion process capability, reduce variability, and support consistent product quality.
• Prevent, troubleshoot, and resolve technical problems related to extrusion processes, equipment performance, tooling, material flow, dimensional control, and production efficiency.
• Analyze process data, production metrics, scrap, downtime, throughput, labor utilization, and quality trends to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Manage, develop, monitor, and improve key performance indicators related to manufacturing efficiency, equipment utilization, scrap reduction, labor productivity, quality performance, and overall operational performance.
• Lead continuous improvement activities using Lean manufacturing, 5S, standard work, visual management, root cause analysis, and other operational excellence tools.
• Partner with production and maintenance teams to improve manufacturing equipment efficiencies, reduce downtime, improve reliability, and support preventive maintenance strategies.
• Support tooling design, tooling performance, tooling maintenance, and changeover improvement activities to improve process stability, product quality, and operational efficiency.
• Develop and implement standardized processes, work instructions, process controls, and best practices to support repeatable and reliable extrusion operations.
• Evaluate process capability and manufacturing capacity to ensure equipment, tooling, labor, and process systems can meet current and future business requirements.
• Assist in the development and improvement of manufacturing layouts, material flow, labor standards, production methods, and workflow efficiency.
• Support new product introductions, process changes, equipment upgrades, tooling modifications, and capital improvement projects as required.
• Work closely with quality personnel to ensure manufacturing processes meet applicable product specifications, customer requirements, and industry expectations for natural gas distribution products.
• Train, coach, and support operators, technicians, and production leaders on process standards, quality requirements, equipment operation, troubleshooting methods, and continuous improvement practices.
• Lead or participate in cross-functional problem-solving teams focused on improving safety, product quality, cost, delivery, scrap, downtime, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, technical reports, project plans, performance dashboards, and improvement action plans.
• Support cost reduction initiatives through improved material utilization, reduced rework and scrap, improved line rates, optimized labor efficiency, and better equipment performance.
• Ensure process improvements are implemented in a sustainable manner through standardization, training, verification, and ongoing KPI monitoring.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, teamwork, safety, and operational discipline throughout the manufacturing organization.
• Perform all other duties as directed by management.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

5S

Standard work

Visual management

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Job description

PolyPipe seeks a Senior Industrial Engineer to provide technical leadership for plastic extrusion manufacturing operations serving the natural gas distribution market. You will initiate, develop, and implement improvements to enhance efficiency, quality, and cost performance across cross-functional teams.

You will lead Lean initiatives, analyze data, manage KPIs, and train operators to sustain standardized processes.