Reliability Engineer

WestRock Company; West Point (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Smurfit WestRock in West Point, VA seeks a Mechanical Reliability Engineer to lead the reliability program across the mill, driving predictive and preventive maintenance, reducing costs, and improving equipment availability.

You will oversee lubrication, vessel integrity, and RCA activities, partner with EMS, engineering, and operations, and mentor technicians to uphold safety and performance standards.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering (preferred).
• 2-5 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment (preferred).
• Experience with reliability, predictive maintenance, and RCFA processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the reliability program to continuously improve equipment availability and reduce maintenance costs.
• Manage the Pressure Vessel and Tank integrity program for the site, coordinating with EMS and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee the lubrication program, with vendor interface, sampling, and reporting using lubrication software.
• Develop and maintain KPI reports detailing reliability program results and cost benefits.
• Ensure PM and PdM routes are implemented, audited, and improved for existing and new equipment.

Skills

Reliability techniques

Preventive Maintenance

Root Cause Analysis

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Lubrication software

Job description

Reliability Engineer - West Point, VA

The Opportunity:

The Mechanical Reliability Engineer will act in both a supervisory and staff capacity to promote and advance the Reliability program across the entire mill in the following manner:

Use equipment failure analyses to overcome repetitive maintenance and repair problems to reduce maintenance costs.

Use proactive, preventative, and predictive maintenance techniques to avoid and to detect equipment failures.

Support the Maintenance Reliability Program.

The Mechanical Reliability Engineer reports to the Reliability Superintendent.

Reporting to the Mechanical Reliability Engineer are the Reliability Technicians and Lubrication Technicians.

How You Will Impact Smurfit WestRock:

Lead the reliability program to continuously improve equipment availability and reduce maintenance costs.

Be a tireless and enthusiastic champion of reliability.

Serve as an equipment reliability Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the site.

Assure predictive and preventive maintenance activities support the strategy and core values of the Maintenance Department and the corporation.

Manage the Pressure Vessel and Tank integrity program for the site, including inspection and repairs, working with the Engineering & Manufacturing Services (EMS) and local and State regulations.

Lead the lubrication program for the site, including vendor interface, oil sampling and analysis, thermography, inspections, route development, updates and reporting functions using the lubrication software.

Assure that an appropriate response is promptly enacted based on results from predictive failure analysis and condition monitoring processes.

Request measuring and testing equipment to keep the reliability programs current with the latest technological advances where those advances provide cost-effective upgrades.

Assure the Preventive Maintenance (PM) and Predictive Maintenance (PdM) routes and programs are implemented, audited, and improved on existing equipment and as equipment is added, removed, and improved.

Research and request formal training for maintenance and reliability personnel to increase their technical skill and knowledge for their area of expertise.

Provide input for Key Process Indicators (KPIs) detailing all the results of the reliability programs activities on a weekly basis.

Ensure Design for Maintainability and Design for Reliability are implemented with purchasing, stores, and engineering throughout all project phases including procurement, vendor selection, spare part selection and stocking.

Develop and adopt standards that improve equipment reliability in areas such as Essential Care, OBC, ODR, PM, PdM, CM, RCFA, MRO, precision rebuilds, precision installations and work execution.

Continuously work with Maintenance and Operations to educate, promote, and support program buy-in throughout the mill.

Review modification drawings and specifications and direct the implementation of appropriate preventive maintenance actions.

Recommend innovative solutions to increase equipment and facility life and reduce maintenance costs through the analysis of repetitive equipment failures/breakdowns and predictive maintenance analysis reports

Guidance and participation of the Reliability related Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) process.

Ensure follow-through, completion, and documentation of the RCFA Action Items.

Review and refine the PM process based on breakdown repair costs, down-time requirements, and production losses from individual pieces of equipment.

Submit recommendations and justification for capital expenditures that support and improve the Reliability Program.

Submit regular reports covering the overall program costs and benefits, the "finds" and improvements made, as well as the strategic way forward for the Reliability Program.

Direct the accumulation and maintenance of reliability records so that they are available to mill personnel digitally on-line.

Maintain awareness of advances at other sites that would be of benefit to adopt.

Serve as a leader and example for behavior and performance to all employees.

The Performance of the Mechanical Reliability Engineer will be evaluated by the following criteria:

• Mechanical PM/PdM route compliance.
• Tank and Vessel inspections and repairs kept current and costs reduced.
• Quality of failure analyses, root cause determination, and corrective/preventive actions
• Implementation of current best practice lubrication and inspection methods.
• The impact of all reliability activities on the maintenance program as indicated by standardized KPIs (overall site vibration level, route compliance, equipment availability, lubrication cleanliness from sampling, etc.).
• The implementation of effective reliability and maintenance improvements associated with practice changes, equipment redesign, upgrades, and replacements.

Relations:

• Maintenance Department Consult and advise on predictive maintenance techniques that could replace PM work tasks and enhance maintenance work. Provide training and leadership in the application and benefits of reliability techniques.
• Maintenance Leadership Advise on the generation, execution, and completion of work orders as indicated by preventive maintenance findings in terms of priority and impact. Advise on the continued education and skills development of the maintenance department to further the reliability initiative. Advise on the content of work indicated by preventive maintenance findings.
• Maintenance Planner/Schedulers Advise and consult regarding the specifics and priority of PdM generated work orders. Assist in formulating repair plans and Management of Change.
• Engineering Advise on the application of predictive maintenance techniques for the acquisition and improvement of equipment. Design out maintenance whenever possible.
• Operations Consult on the use of reliability techniques as they apply to the daily operations of the equipment (Essential Care, Condition Monitoring, etc.)
• Mill Leadership Report on the results attainable by the various preventive maintenance techniques and programs. Advise on the applicability of reliability-based programs on all aspects of mill operations.

What You Need to Succeed:

• Preferred BS in Mechanical Engineering
• 2-5 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably pulp & paper

What we offer:

• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential
• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.