New Product Introduction Development Chemist - Inks - North West

Our client is looking for an enthusiastic Engineer/Scientist/Chemist to join their growing, fast-paced and dynamic business into a newly created role, located at a brand new manufacturing facility dedicated to the development and production of fluids within the ink industry. The facility incorporates the latest technology, including in line mixing capability, palletisation systems, innovative materials handling processes, automated filling lines with high speed rotary filling heads and robotic automated handling systems.

The successful individual will ultimately ensure that new products are introduced to both internal and external customers, that meet or exceed cost, quality and time to market requirements and can be manufactured competitively and sustainably for the entire product life. You will influence the development of new group wide products for your area of project responsibility, working with R&D and Group Sourcing from concept to post launch handover ensuring design for manufacture and supplier selection form part of the design process.

Role and Responsibilities

• Support creation of the manufacturing strategy for new products.
• Design and optimise the manufacturing and test processes including agreement on process parameters such as equipment type, mixing times, weighing accuracy, batch size and packaging method.
• Ensure product and manufacturing cost targets are achieved. Operational performance KPIs will determine the success of the new product introduction.
• Select components and materials with the design team that support capable achievement of required tolerances. Ensure that robust specifications are derived for product ingredients and that suitable suppliers are selected, with consideration of alternative sources for disaster recovery.
• Agree manufacturing targets and tolerances for product quality parameters such as viscosity, colour and filtration time.
• Participate in Design and Process FMEA’s, ensuring that risks are mitigated.
• Assess safety of any new raw materials (COSHH), equipment and processes (HAZOP) brought onto the manufacturing site.
• Write SOPs and train operators for any new processes or equipment.
• Oversee the pre-launch scale up batch production including ordering of unique materials and report on ability to meet product and manufacturing requirements.
• Work with Operations plant engineers to advise on formulation and filling process requirements so that new equipment including plant for pilot trials can be specified and procured.
• Use statistical analysis to evaluate and improve process variation.
• Report progress at Project Gate reviews within the Product Creation Process through pre-gate reports and presentations.
• Successfully transfer products from the design environment into the ERP environment by creating the end product Bills of Materials in the ERP system to the satisfaction of the Technical Manager.
• Report on post launch product manufacturing robustness and handover to Operational Support when criteria has been met.
• Manage the generation of new manufacture and test instructions.
• Planning of above activities to ensure timely completion in line with gateway reviews.

Candidate Profile

• Ink or coating formulation development.
• Pigment dispersion and ink manufacture techniques.
• Understanding of Lean/Process 6 sigma techniques.
• Degree Qualified Chemist, Material Scientist or Chemical Engineer.
• Previously held a process plant manufacturing, quality or NPI related role and launched quality process plant products in competitive timescales within a new product gate framework.
• Be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of reputable process plant companies and industries and may be sought for guidance in specialist areas.
• Be able to demonstrate statistical analysis, Six Sigma, DFM and Lean Manufacturing methods.
• Be familiar with PPAP and process capability techniques and analysis of inspection data using statistical analysis packages.
• Project Management tools and techniques - including use of Gant Chart software such as MS Project, Smartsheet etc.
• Use of PLM Change Management and document control systems desirable.
• Use of ERP software for setting up Bills of Materials desirable.
• Use of Statistical software tools such as Minitab desirable.

In return our client is offering a competitive package, 25 days holiday, private health cover, life assurance.