Process Engineer, Automation

Cooper Standard Automotive; Spartanburg (SC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooper Standard Automotive is seeking a manufacturing/industrial engineer to design, procure, and maintain equipment and tooling for extrusion processes. You will interface with product design teams and customers to ensure manufacturability, manage vendor quotes, and sign off on equipment specs for production readiness.

You'll oversee tool installation, train staff, troubleshoot issues during ramp-up, and lead continuous improvement projects for process optimization, safety, and reliability.

Qualifications

• Four-year technical degree is required and/or 4 year+ experience in production roll forming.
• Comprehension of physics, mathematics, and material science; specialized training with equipment.
• Experience with APQP process and documentation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interface with product design teams or customers to specify extrusion design criteria for manufacturability.
• Procure equipment/tooling and manage vendor quotes and approvals.
• Create tooling specifications and coordinate vendor quotes.
• Be primary contact between plant and tool vendors; ensure equipment is installed per specs.
• Train supervisors and operators; troubleshoot during launch ramp-up and life of the program.
• Lead continuous improvement projects to refine processes, design, and equipment.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

APQP process

Communication skills

Problem solving

Vendor management

Education

Four-year technical degree

Roll forming / production experience

Tools

Notchers

Roll Forming

Benders

TPV molding

Plastic Extruders

Job description

Position Summary:

Designs, procures, maintains and trouble shoots equipment and tooling used to produce the products manufactured and supports plant operations. Sets standards for manufacturing excellence and develops new process and technologies. Some travel may be required.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Interfaces with internal product design teams and or customer to specify design criterion for extrusion as to how it interfaces with the mold. Responsible for signing off on the product design as it pertains to manufacturability.
• Creates appropriation requests when required and sends equipment specifications to potential vendors to obtain quotes.
• Creates tooling specifications, sends to vendors to obtain quotes.
• Key contact person for interface between the plant and the tool vendors.
• Procures equipment and tooling, tracks vendors’ timing to plan and approves equipment and tooling at the vendors.
• Assists in equipment layout preparation.
• Responsibility to make sure that the equipment and tooling was installed properly and to specifications and establish the optimum processing conditions.
• Train supervisors and operators as appropriate.
• Troubleshoots equipment and tooling problems through the launch ramp up phase and throughout the life of the program.
• Oversee continuous improvement projects refining processes as it relates to design, equipment, etc.
• Support new Launch products and programs with development for new processes to improve capability, output, safety, and reliability
• May, on occasion, be required to perform duties other than those specified in this description.

Education and Qualifications:

• Four-year technical degree is required and /or a 4 year + experience in production roll forming. Comprehension of the laws of physics, mathematics, and material science. Work requires extensive specialized training with the equipment and tooling utilized to produce the products including but not limited to Notchers, Roll Forming, Benders, Plastic, Extruders and TPV molding.

Experience developing and testing internal and external packaging

Experience creating and maintaining engineering documents such as job breakdowns and work instructions

Experience evaluating material flow

Experience calculating production cell capacity

• Experience with APQP process and documentation preferred
• Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing Principles, Process Statistics, and Basic quality systems is required.
• Communicating and explaining technical processes and process limitations and how product design is affected by such limitations. Audience can be customers, management etc.
• Work with all levels within the plant; from plant manager to factory floor operator. Examples: When working on a new design/equipment etc. will need to discuss concept with functional operators as it relates to ergonomic issues and assist plant controller in justification of investment.
• A high level of communication skill is required to explain and interpret information or ideas and discuss and make recommendations. Discretion is required in deciding how and what to communicate.
• Process engineers support plant locations, or the Advanced Development department which can and does affect Global operations.

Work Environment/Work Conditions:

• Work time will be spent in a standard office environment with manufacturing plant exposure.
• Temperature and noise may vary depending on external environmental conditions.
• Lack of attention and carelessness may result in personal injury to self or others.

Cooper Standard is proud of its diverse workforce and committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, age, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are dedicated to creating an environment at work that not only values diversity but also encourages inclusion and a sense of belonging. We firmly believe that a diverse workplace fosters an environment where our employees can flourish and provide superior service to our customers.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as certain state and/or local laws. If you believe you require such assistance to complete our online application or to participate in an interview, you (or someone on your behalf) may request assistance by emailing [e-mail] with a description of the accommodation you seek. Application materials submitted to this email address will not be considered.