Injection Molding Technical Manager

Summit Polymers, Inc.; Portage (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Polymers, Inc. in Portage, Michigan, seeks a Technical Manager for Manufacturing Coordination in molding. You will provide technical leadership across molding departments, drive standardization, and support major capital projects from concept to production.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Engineering, five years in molding within an automotive environment, and supervisory experience. Travel up to 25% is expected; strong communication and leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering.
• Five years technical experience as a molding engineer and/or molding department manager in an automotive environment.
• Supervisory or managerial experience of engineers in an automotive environment.
• Current technical and hands on knowledge of molding operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership while engaging plant molding champions and other team members to develop, implement and improve molding department standards.
• Achieve corporate and plant molding department performance targets across safety, labor cost per standard hour, scrap percentage and setup times.
• Lead regular molding champions meetings and coordinate presentation of new standards and projects.
• On‑site support of manufacturing plants including audits, action plans for findings and major capital projects.
• Assist with development and training of Interns & EITs on the Manufacturing Coordination team.

Skills

Independent thinking

Analytical/problem solving

Communication

Leadership/coaching

High energy

Wonderlic score

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Technical Center, 6715 South Sprinkle Rd, Portage, Michigan, United States of America

Technical Manager, Manufacturing Coordination (Molding)

Reports To: Chief Technical Manager – Manufacturing Coordination

FLSA Status: Exempt

Summary: Under general direction, this position is responsible for manufacturing coordination across molding departments of all SPI plants. Responsible for leading the molding champions team in the development and implementation of various molding department standards with the aim of improving the measured performance of the molding operations at SPI. Also assists plants in the specification, justification, procurement, and implementation of major capital projects.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Provide technical leadership while engaging plant molding champions and other molding coordination team members to develop, implement and improve molding department standards including:
  • Molding room safety
  • Molding equipment – injection molding machines, molding robots, auxiliary equip
  • Molding floor plans – molding machine work‑cell layouts, molding room floor plan
  • Infrastructure systems – process water, chilled water, electrical, compressed air
  • Setup reduction – mold change, end of arm tooling change, material change
  • Material handling systems – system design, equipment, material purging method
  • Training – mold technician training, supervisor training, molding engineer training
• Achieve corporate and plant molding department performance targets
  • Metrics include safety, molding labor cost per standard hour, scrap percentage, purge percentage, molding setup times, etc.
  • Coordinate performance improvement plans at and provide extra support at "focus plants"
  • Achieve consistent and continually improving results across all plants
• Lead regular molding champions meetings
  • Review molding room safety and operational performance across all plants
  • Coordinate presentation of new molding department standards, systems, etc.
  • Coordinate presentation of other significant molding related projects around company
• On‑site support of manufacturing plants
  • Audit plants to standards
  • Work with plant to develop action plans to address audit findings
  • Work with plant to develop action plans implement existing and new standards
  • Assist plants with developing, authorizing and implementing major capital projects, including budget and timeline development, and participation in project from concept to production
• Assist with the development & training of Interns & EITs on the Manufacturing Coordination team
• Participate in development of molding department innovation and new processes / technologies
• Maintain relationship with key molding equipment manufacturers, in terms of pricing and service part and service tech availability
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering
• Five years technical experience as a molding engineer and/or molding department manager in an automotive environment
• Supervisory or managerial experience of engineers in an automotive environment
• Current technical and hands on knowledge of molding operations

Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in Windows software – Excel, Word, & Power Point
• Independent thinking with strong analytical and problem solving skills is essential
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally both verbally and in writing at all levels in the organization
• Outstanding leadership, team building, coaching and decision making abilities
• High energy level and the ability to lead and motivate others
• A minimum score of 50 on the Wonderlic Select Assessment (26 on the cognitive portion)

Travel Requirements

This position typically does require up to 25% travel.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Agreement to complete all post-hire required training.