New Technology Introduction Lead

In this position you will play a key role in defining our future manufacturing strategy. By bringing state of the art technologies and processes into play, you will prepare our Repair & Overhaul (R&O) and Original Equipment (OE) manufacturing facilities for step changes in quality & delivery for the propulsion industry.

You’ll engage with industry forums, suppliers and customers to develop the blueprint for Dowty’s Future Factory based on clear business cases with defined ROI. Working across carbon composites, RTM, CNC machining and hydraulic assembly as well as rework and repair activities, you’ll define where automation, controls, robotics and digitization can best improve current process and prepare Dowty for the future.

Working throughout the business it will be vital that you form and develop great working relationships with sales, commercial programs, manufacturing, engineering and quality. Using influence, negotiation and a macro-business perspective, it will be expected that you work cross-functionally to propose and agree consensus for new ideas that you then deliver on-time and to-budget., * Investigating, trialling, and proving out new technologies and their benefits vs risks to propeller and control unit manufacture/repair within the aviation industry.

• Developing the Future Factory blueprint and define the CAPEX investment plan for Dowty manufacturing with clear business cases that demonstrate ROI.

• Focussing on both current manufacturing pain points and future customer demands across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory & Productivity when defining sources of investment.

• Defining the future manufacturing and investment glidepath by prioritising proposals based on ease of installation, business benefit, alignment to overarching strategy and cost.

• Establishing a documented Manufacturing Operating System for 2030+ demonstrable through a Lean Pilot Line that show cases Dowty best practice and the Future Factory.

• Creating PFMEAS for current and future production processes that capture empirically derived cause & effect relationships and tolerances.

• Establishing control plans and the means for data collection to allow monitoring, gating and analysis of critical input variables at defined control points in the manufacturing process.

• Embedding a culture of Statistical Process Control across manufacturing and providing the equipment, systems and business procedures to enable this.

• Assess and understand the potential behind AI and predictive modelling techniques in current manufacturing inc. NDT technologies and automated visual inspection.

• Working closely with the New Product Introduction team to promote failure mode avoidance in future designs & equipment specifications as well as promoting an APQP approach to quality planning.

• Engage with wider GE forums and become a valued member of the international ME community recognised as a subject mater expert in your field.

• Be a key signatory and approver for business procedures and documentation.

• Stay abreast of changes in the aviation and propulsion industries as well as remaining informed and up to date on governing body regulations (i.e. CAA, EASA, FAA etc.)

• Be familiar with Net Present Value and Future Value calculations.

• BSc/MSc/HND (or Level 6 equivalent) in a technical discipline or equivalent experience.

• Experience in a manufacturing or engineering function.

• Demonstrable expertise in one of the following, plus awareness of all the following; carbon composite manufacture, resin transfer molding, CNC machining, hydraulic systems, high tolerance part assembly, and NDT (X-Ray/Ultrasonics).

• Thorough understanding of engineering statistics i.e. Process Capability, Hypothesis Testing, Design-of-Experiments, Statistical Process Control.

• Familiarity with APQP and an appreciation of its impact to quality control & assurance.

• Excellent written and verbal communication.

• Ability influence up and down the organisation with a data driven approach.

• A self-starter, able to work independently with little direction towards a business goal.

• Flexibility to travel nationally and internationally to attend trade shows, conferences and industry forums.

Desired skills

• Experience within a tightly regulated industry, preferably aviation.

• Knowledge in the specification, installation and commissioning of robotics, automation and controls.

• Expertise in more than one of the following; carbon composite manufacture, resin transfer molding, CNC machining, hydraulic systems, high tolerance part assembly, and NDT (X-Ray/Ultrasonics).

• Broad experience in a variety of manufacturing & engineering roles centred around product creation and delivery.

• Specialism in propulsion and propeller manufacture.

• Experience in facility design, commissioning and technical specification in an automated environment (automotive, FMCG, warehouse logistics etc.) highly valued.

Flexible Working

Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. However, under the applicable UK immigration rules as may be in place from time to time, it may be that candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be appointed to a post if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled candidate who does not require sponsorship is available to take up the post. For further information please visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. (http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration)