Senior Manager Trim Engineering

Adient; Plymouth (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Adient seeks a Senior Trim Engineering Manager to lead soft trim design and processes for a seating business unit. You will provide technical direction to engineers, pattern developers, and technicians, resolving customer issues and enabling global program support.

Responsibilities include leading development, design reviews, and applying best practices; reviewing DFMEAs, directing tool release, and ensuring cost, quality, and craftsmanship targets are met. Some travel is required.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering.
• 10–15 years in soft trim product development.

Responsibilities

• Leads soft trim product development for a seating business unit.
• Leads soft trim design reviews and open issues meetings.
• Ensures soft trim best practices and processes are applied.
• Reviews DFMEAs and releases tooling with corrective actions for high RPNs.
• Designs soft trim patterns aligned with interfaces and follows assembly guidelines.
• Coaches 2D pattern design using manual patterns, Optitex, and Lectra.
• Provides engineering solutions based on BEP and data analysis.
• Supports complete seat build events and manufacturing feasibility.

Skills

Leadership

Pattern design

Data-driven problem solving

Cross-functional leadership

Process improvement

Education

B.S. in Engineering

Tools

Optitex 2D CAD

Lectra

TPDM

PLM

NC cutter

Sewing machines

Job description

The Senior Trim Engineering Manager manages the soft trim design and processes for a seating business unit. Provides technical leadership and provides technical direction to the soft trim engineers, pattern developers, and technicians on the team. Develops and provides resolution to customer soft trim technical issues through continuous interaction.

Provides support for global programs (as required) by leveraging lessons learned and experience accumulated during development. Facilitates and provides feedback for manufacturing feasibility if the program is manufactured in this region. Capable of communicating and building relationships with global teams for global programs.

Specific Functions - Technical Responsibilities:

• Leads soft trim product development for a seating business unit.
• Leads soft trim design reviews and open issues meetings.
• Ensures soft trim best practices and processes are applied appropriately.
• Reviews and ensures that DFMEAs are completed/updated prior to release of tooling. Ensures that all high RPNs have been designed out or have a corrective action plan.
• Designs soft trim patterns aligned with the trim, foam interface template and follows Design for Assembly guidelines.
• Maintains strong working knowledge of trim cover construction process.
• Coaches principles of 2D pattern design using manual patterns, Optitex 2D CAD tools and Lectra as appropriate.
• Provides engineering solutions based on data driven problem solving and application of the Basic Engineering Process (BEP).
• Develops and implements trim design solutions that meet quality, cost and craftsmanship objectives.
• Provides/influences complete seat and foam engineering input/direction to jointly achieve flawless seat appearance and craftsmanship.
• Supports complete seat build events.
• Recommends solutions to process issues within the sew and JIT facilities. Supports creation of manufacturing ODS documentation.
• Maintains strong working knowledge of equipment used in trim cover creation (NC cutter, sewing machines etc.).
• Approves release of trim data in TPDM and PLM, including all required documentation, drawings, etc. Approves trim changes and deviations in TPDM and PLM.
• Reviews cost, performance, timing and investment versus customer targets with their core team members (PM, AFM). Ensures that the product is meeting internal and external targets and specifications. Ensures that a complete corrective action plan is in place (and agreed to with the core SDT) when the product is not conforming to expectations (including timing).

Travel:

Some global and regional travel required

Reporting Relationship:

Director of Engineering

Education Required:

B.S. in Engineering and 10-15 years of soft trim product development experience

Experience Required:

5 years in a supervisory position in soft trim product development