Production Engineering Manager

Our client is a leader in the design and manufacturing of bespoke valves for a variety of industries and they are looking for a Production Engineering Manager to join their team!

Roles and Responsibilities

• Supporting in development of a roadmap on new technology introduction, machine & tool standardization and low-cost sourcing to maintain competitive advantage for company produced products in the market.
• Work with the Production Engineers to produce, maintain and continually improve the most cost-effective production routing/methods for all manufactured components.
• Accurately record both projected and actual manufacturing costs for each component as proof of most cost-effective routing/method.
• Work closely with Production to ensure continuous improvement in production operations and product quality, resolving issues during manufacture.
• Working closely with Operations Director to execute the operations strategy aimed at reducing cost through technology introduction, low cost sourcing.
• Develop advanced machining capability at the company while reducing cost of the day-to-day repeat tasks.
• Support the Operations Director in bringing improvements to all in-house manufacturing, increasing automation, reducing set-ups and increasing available production time wherever possible.
• Working closely with Quotations/Design Engineers to ensure new products take into account estimated cost and ease of manufacture.
• Be involved with the Design Engineers & R&D teams at the outset of all new product development, ensuring new and adapted designs take into account ease of production and suitability of materials.
• Develop a master costing sheet for each component within the Visual estimating window, including the estimated cost of manufacture, tooling, quality requirements and % of manning needed for the job.
• Review the manufacturing cost against the engineering master to verify the success of the job and its associated cost.
• Continually review & improve all existing manufacturing methods and associated CNC Programs.
• Manage and support the work of the Production Engineers ensuring that programs are produced inline with best method, machine capability, in-cycle inspection requirements and known level of manning, verified by the master costing sheet.
• Develop with the Production Engineers fixed tooling sheets for each job.
• Work alongside the machine shop supervision and flow leader to ensure machines are set and run as per the method agreed and inline with the tooling & program provided.
• Ensure that the ownership of the programs and method rests with the production engineers who sign off the method/programs after proving.
• Take responsibility for the safe storage and efficient retrieval of all CNC programmes and methods.
• Help drive a culture change throughout the production department by ensuring shop floor staff has the confidence and support to work to the CNC programmes and instructions provided.
• Make recommendations for new tools and equipment which will bring improvements and benefits through increased output and cost savings.
• Work with the Engineering team to standardise design features.
• Work with the Production Engineers to create programmes for standard features which use a standard suite of tooling.
• Encourage and obtain shop floor feedback which will contribute further improvements to work instructions & procedures.
• Assist the process improvement team in continual improvements of methods and processes by evaluating latest technology to increase automation.
• Be an active participant in lean initiatives throughout the Company such as 5S and Kaizen.

Ideal Candidate

• HNC Qualification in mechanical engineering is desirable.
• A considerable amount of hands-on machining and machine shop experience.
• A significant level of production engineering experience.
• Ability to understand and use Edgecam computer aided manufacturing system.
• Ability to read and understand CNC programmes.
• Experience & knowledge of all types of manual & CNC machinery.
• Experience of supervising a team of employees.
• Good numerical and literacy skills.
• Proficient in the use of MS Office applications, email and internet skills.