Senior Industrial Engineer - Lean & Plant Optimization

Yanfeng; Novi (MI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Yanfeng is seeking a Senior Industrial Engineer to drive lean manufacturing and productivity across plant operations in North America. You will lead complex improvement initiatives, develop long-term manufacturing strategies, and partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and CI teams to optimize labor, layout, and material flow.

The role requires extensive experience in labor planning, time studies, and AutoCAD-based facility layouts, with a track record of delivering measurable productivity gains.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical/Operations Engineering or related.
• 7+ years of experience in Industrial Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience within the automotive industry desired.
• Willing to travel to customer sites and manufacturing plants.
• Extensive experience with labor planning, time studies, line balancing, and capacity analysis.
• Advanced knowledge of lean manufacturing, value stream mapping and CI.
• Experience leading complex operational improvement projects.
• AutoCAD and facility layout planning experience.
• Strong analytical skills and data interpretation.
• Experience supporting new program launches and plant expansions.
• Ability to influence teams in a matrix organization.
• Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and PM skills.
• Travel within North American manufacturing operations; regional plant visits.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity performance.
• Develop and implement strategic facility flow improvements to enhance material movement, floor space utilization, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Lead value stream mapping exercises and develop future-state roadmaps with measurable improvement targets.
• Champion Kaizen events and facilitate cross-functional teams in identifying and eliminating waste.
• Establish and monitor key industrial engineering performance metrics, ensuring achievement of plant and organizational objectives.
• Serve as the site's industrial engineering expert for labor productivity, operational efficiency, and manufacturing optimization initiatives.
• Lead direct and indirect labor planning activities for new and existing programs.
• Develop labor models, staffing plans, and workforce optimization strategies using labor standards and analytical tools.
• Conduct advanced time studies, work sampling, line balancing, and labor analysis utilizing MODAPTS® or equivalent methodologies.
• Validate labor assumptions during quoting, program launches, and operational changes.
• Maintain and continuously improve labor databases, standards, and best practices across operations.
• Own facility planning and layout strategy, ensuring alignment with business growth, operational requirements, and corporate standards.
• Lead plant layout redesign projects utilizing AutoCAD and facility planning tools.
• Evaluate warehouse capacity requirements and optimize storage, supermarkets, line-side presentation, kitting, and material delivery methods.
• Develop integrated material flow solutions that support lean manufacturing principles and operational scalability.
• Identify and implement automation opportunities related to material handling, AGVs, conveyance systems, and warehouse operations.
• Lead industrial engineering support for new product launches from concept through production implementation.
• Participate in facility footprint planning and manufacturing strategy decisions.
• Develop capital expenditure requests and business cases supporting automation, equipment investments, and operational improvements.
• Provide industrial engineering leadership during equipment installation, facility expansions, and plant reconfiguration projects.
• Support AME, Operations, and Program Management teams with manufacturing readiness and capacity planning activities.
• Act as a technical mentor to Industrial Engineers, CI Engineers, and engineering interns.
• Provide direction and guidance on industrial engineering methodologies, labor standards, and lean principles.
• Lead cross-functional project teams without direct reporting authority.
• Support the development and deployment of engineering best practices across multiple facilities.
• Present improvement strategies, project status, and business results to plant and senior leadership teams.
• May be involved in helping to move heavy parts within plants; may assist line with product changes and supervise interns.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Labor planning

Time studies

Line balancing

Capacity analysis

AutoCAD

Facility layout

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Operations Engineering or related

Tools

MODAPTS

Simulation modelling

Job description

Yanfeng is seeking a Senior Industrial Engineer to drive lean manufacturing and productivity across plant operations in North America. You will lead complex improvement initiatives, develop long-term manufacturing strategies, and partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and CI teams to optimize labor, layout, and material flow.

The role requires extensive experience in labor planning, time studies, and AutoCAD-based facility layouts, with a track record of delivering measurable productivity gains.