Manufacturing Engineering Manager, Montana

The Manufacturing Engineering Manager is responsible for the establishment, maintenance, and improvement of the facilities and the manufacturing processes. They motivate and guide a team of Engineers, Machinists, and Technicians to constantly drive data-based solutions to the issues involved with the production of the world's best guitars.

Essential Functions

• Facilitates and leads the Engineering and Facilities teams through mentoring and daily management of the Engineering and Facilities Leadership.

• Drives idea creation for the improvement of the facility and the production processes in areas of SQDC, material/tool usage, and waste reduction.

• Is the subject-matter expert for the leadership team on all issues dealing with the facility, machines, and systems.

• Creates timelines and priority structure for the multitude of short and long-term projects being worked on to improve the facility and the production processes.

• Spearheads large, factory-wide projects that require input from multiple groups (Engineering, Facilities, QC, Purchasing, Production, Accounting, IT).

• Works directly with Product Development to manage the additional Engineering/Production work required for prototypes, special-runs, and one-of-a-kind guitars.

• Works with the Controller to create and manage the capex for the coming year and for large projects/purchases.

• Ensures the establishment and discipline of effective manufacturing standard work

Continuous Improvement Program:

• Manages efforts to identify root causes of issues negatively impacting production objectives

• Performs time studies, resource balancing for production

• Provides work content data support to leadership for labor ROI

• Implements and maintains process that sustains continuous improvement gains

• Reviews and assists with routing and/or other process flows created by production

• Lead or conduct studies in cost, quality, productivity, flow, value stream mapping

• Lead and coordinate a wide variety of identified and approved initiatives and projects designed to improve processes and performance.

• Facilitate the selection, scope, and planning of specific improvement projects

• Identify goals for CI events and potential quantifiable savings

• Identify resource requirements and ROI estimates for improvement projects

• Lead Kaizen events and maintain reporting on events, event outcomes and action plans, and follow-up measurement results

• Participate actively to prove process concepts as well as implementation of improvement activities

• Monitor and maintain event schedules

• Follow up and audit event progress to ensure results are achieved and sustained

• Resolve implementation issues / create and manage implementation communication process

Required Skills/Abilities

• Outstanding time management skillset with the ability to prioritize

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering required, IE or MFGE a plus; or 5+ years related experience in a manufacturing environment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5 years' experience in a Leadership role, preferably in a consumer goods manufacturing environment.

Essential Knowledge

• Safety documentation and resolution experience.

• Facility maintenance & upkeep experience.

• Familiarity with CAD and CAM programs.

• Demonstrated ability to lead a LEAN transformation.

• Training in QC root-cause problem-solving.

• Time-studies and takt time implementation experience.

• Automated environmental controls experience.

• Intimate knowledge of Human-factors engineering and how to apply it.

Personal Qualities

• Inquisitive mind.

• Desire to learn.

• Good interpersonal relationship skills.

• Effective communicator.

• Collaborative Spirit.

• Attention to detail.

• Clear and logical thinker

• Relish working in a company with a diverse, challenging, and fast paced environment

Travel Requirements

• Some travel to other facilities required (5-10%)