Sr. Industrial Engineer - Compounds (Madison, MS)

Westlake Chemical; Alabama; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Westlake Chemical is seeking an Industrial Engineer to drive process improvements through data analysis and on-floor support, enhancing safety, quality, delivery and cost metrics. You will train teams, develop SOPs, and lead continuous improvement initiatives across blending to shipping in a high-volume plant.

The role requires a BS in engineering, 10+ years of experience, and strong communication with hands-on leadership.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or Industrial Technology.
• 10+ years of manufacturing work experience.
• Experience in a high-volume, continuous manufacturing environment.
• CI skills and expertise.
• Analytical approach to problem solving.
• Excellent verbal & written communication.
• Hands-on with good people skills.
• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt and knowledge of DOE preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical activities to solve problems from blending through shipping.
• Ensure effective communication and documentation to avoid repeat issues.
• Develop and maintain SOPs/SOC and training for new products and systems.
• Reduce process variation to ensure consistent quality and adherence to standards.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives via materials, product and process improvements; support PIP.
• Act as CI resource for Lean/Toyota Production Systems, Six Sigma, 5S/6S, TPM, Kaizen, VSM, DOEs, FMEAs.
• Update manufacturing standards after performance improvements.
• Develop work cell layouts to optimize material flow and 5S/visual management.
• Initiate new equipment and technologies with RFQ docs, timelines, and ramp-up plans.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

People skills

Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

Education

B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Technology

Tools

DOE

FMEA

Lean Manufacturing

5S/6S

Kaizen

TPM

Value Stream Maps

Job description

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate.

The Industrial Engineer will be responsible for making process improvements through collection and analysis of manufacturing data to improve safety, product quality, customer delivery, and cost reductions. Provide on-floor process information for training and meeting engineering standards. Support and provide production associates with the tools required to perform the job in a manner to meet all requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Leading and directing technical activities are necessary to solve problems encountered from blending through shipping.
• Ensure the team takes the necessary steps through effective communication and proper documentation to avoid similar problems in the future
• Develop & maintain process guidelines (SOP/SOC) and training programs for the integration of new products and systems
• Reduce process variation (improve process capability) to ensure consistent product quality and adherence to manufacturing standards
• Lead cost reduction initiatives through materials, product, and process improvements; assist the project teams to hold brainstorming sessions and develop action plans for the Profit Improvement Process (PIP), including activities to reduce utilities consumption, cycle times, scrap, downtime, material usage variance, and direct labor
• Act as a technical resource in Continuous Improvement Tools to plant and PIP project leaders: Lean Manufacturing/Toyota Production Systems, Six-Sigma, 5S/6S, Total Productive Maintenance, Kaizen Events, Value Stream Maps, DOEs, FMEAs, Advanced Problem-Solving, SMED, etc., and assist in their implementation in an efficient manner for individual projects
• Participate in the updating of manufacturing standards as a result of performance improvements
• Develop work cell layouts in an effort to optimize material flow and support 5S and visual management initiatives
• Initiate new equipment and technologies to maintain the company’s competitive advantage; including detailed scope definitions with the plant (capabilities, throughput, and equipment controls including function block diagrams, process parameters, and data acquisition requirements), RFQ documents, and execution timeline plans (including facility preparation, installation, H&S, training, production ramp-up, etc.).

Education, Experience and Qualifications

• B.S. degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Technology
• 10+ years of experience of manufacturing work experience
• High volume, continuous manufacturing environment
• Process Engineering / Manufacturing Engineering / CI skills and expertise
• A results-oriented problem solver with an analytical approach
• Excellent verbal & written communication
• A hands-on individual with good people skills
• Six sigma green/black belt and knowledge of DOE preferred

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and moving mechanical parts. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation.

Westlake is a global manufacturer and supplier of materials and innovative products that enhance life every day. Headquartered in Houston, with operations in Asia, Europe and North America, we provide the building blocks for vital solutions — from housing and construction, to packaging and healthcare, to automotive and consumer. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.westlake.com. Westlake (NYSE: WLK) is a global diversified industrial company that manufactures and supplies essential products that enhance the daily lives of people around the globe. Our products, now under a One Westlake brand, supply the necessary building blocks for everyday products across housing and infrastructure, packaging and healthcare, and automotive and consumer goods. Consumers gain the benefits of materials Westlake produces in products such as food packaging, medical devices, soaps and detergents, car interiors, fashion, toys, shoes, furniture, electronics, siding, stone veneer, windows, outdoor living, roofing, and pipe & fittings. Westlake is proud to contribute to driving a sustainable future through the creation of essential products that are Enhancing Your Life Every Day®. To view other career opportunities at Westlake and our family of companies, visit https://westlaketalent.com