MANUFACTURING/PROJECT ENGINEER

Company Description

ITW Shakeproof Fasteners, a division of Illinois Tool Works, serves all the major autmotive OEMs and their tier suppliers with cold headed fasteners totalling approximately $250M in revenues. The division consists of facilties in:

• Elgin, Illinois
• Broadview, Illinois
• Machesney Park, Ilinois
• Troy, Michigan
• Bedford Heights, Ohio
• Watertown, Wisconsin
• Iron Ridge, Wisconsin

The division drives profitability by leveraging its innovative solutions and application engineering.  In addition to ITW’s industry leading research and development capabilities, ITW Shakeproof enhances our customers’ competitive advantage by…

• Maintaining advanced engineering and manufacturing facilities in North America
• Exchanging product, process and benchmarking information with sister units worldwide.
• Continually improving processes, materials and designs to ensure every product exceeds customer specifications while providing unparalleled value.

Job Description

Our Manufacturing Engineers are critical members of plant core teams, including the Plant Managers, Production Controllers, Manufacturing Operators, Finance Department and Quality Department. Our Manufacturing Engineers are the owners of our Product and Process Development. They also lead new product launches within our plants. Our Manufacturing Engineers impact our P&L directly through on-time and quality focused launches and by leading continuous improvement projects that drive KPI results.  Effective communication with the Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and the Customer Service departments are as critical as communications with our valued customers.

Responsibilities:

Improve manufacturing efficiency and solve production and quality issues.

• Use lean techniques to reduce waste and improve manufacturing performance.
• Work side by side with production personnel to trouble-shoot manufacturing concerns.
• Support the Quality Department in addressing issues and driving root cause analysis related to customer concerns.
• Manage change for updates to engineering prints, standards and/or processes.

Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate cross functionally with Production, Maintenance, Quality and Finance Departments to identify, monitor and continuously improve key performance drivers.
• Maintain and establish engineering standards.
• Establish and share best practices across all plants.
• Collaborate with engineering teams in all metal fastener plants.

New Product Quotation, Feasibility & Launch

• Assist in activities associated with new product launches (i.e. APQP in Automotive Industry) from providing quotes through the successful completion of quality records (such as PPAP) and product launch.
• Drive timeline and resolution of issues with cross-functional teams.
• Interface with the sales, engineering, accounting, and vendors to gather or clarify information.
• Collaborate with manufacturing organization to develop manufacturing prints and establish controls and operational limits for operators.
• Create 2D and/or 3D models for heading and rolling tools used in manufacturing of metal fasteners.
• Create process routing and bills of material for newly awarded business.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 3-4 years’ experience in the manufacturing industry; product and/or tooling development for metal manufacturing (fastener) experience required.
• Experience in automotive industry is highly beneficial.
• Working knowledge of APQP or equivalent gated product development processes.
• Working knowledge of lean manufacturing.
• Some experience with front office support to customer service, manufacturing or engineering.
• Strong experience with Microsoft Office software products.
• Strong experience with 2D and 3D CAD software; preferably SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
• Ability to read technical drawings and specifications & a basic knowledge of metal manufacturing practices.
• Skilled in document management, organization and prioritization.
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment while demonstrating flexibility.
• Proven ability to deal with changes in a business environment.
• Aptitude to multi-task while maintaining highest levels of accuracy.
• Proven ability to focus and prioritize tasks and objectives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the willingness to communicate and work with other departments and disciplines.
• Proven ability to work on a team while generating respect and trust from staff as well as external customers.
• Per