What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manufacturing Engineer position at Adient?
Job Description
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Avanzar San Antonio Facility
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary interface between customers, suppliers, and product engineering teams, with a strong focus on Plastics Injection Molding processes.
- Develop, implement, and optimize injection molding processes, methods, tools, equipment, and controls to ensure design integrity, cost efficiency, product quality, and operational excellence.
- Oversee all aspects of prototype development and builds, ensuring successful project execution from concept to production.
- Actively identify and apply new manufacturing technologies; evaluate and report on opportunities to improve cost, quality, and productivity.
- Participate in product design activities to ensure manufacturability, optimal productivity, and cost-effectiveness.
- Maintain effective cross-functional communication and issue regular project status reports to management.
- Prepare manufacturing feasibility and cost studies for new or existing products, materials, and processes; recommend process improvements for efficiency and quality.
- Support tooling and equipment selection, approval, and development to meet manufacturing requirements and design intent.
- Ensure all tooling meets timing, cosmetic, and functional goals; oversee in-house tooling repairs, laser welding, and hot runner maintenance.
- Supervise tool technicians to ensure preventive maintenance, adherence to 5S standards, and compliance with safety regulations.
- Coordinate contractor repair services, defining project scope and timelines.
- Act as a custodian of manufacturing processes and problem-solving strategies to preserve product design intent.
- Serve as Pre-Launch Team champion for new programs; document meetings, track checklists, and maintain issue lists and feasibility assessments.
- Create and maintain program review documentation and lead continuous improvement activities to maintain part quality.
- Review and approve process parameter changes to resolve quality issues.
- Supervise Process Technicians, including scheduling, task assignments, rotation, vacation approval, and performance evaluations.
- Review and design daily production schedules to support molding operations.
- Administer molding processes using RJG eDart (preferred), and coordinate troubleshooting to minimize scrap and downtime.
- Audit process lockdown parameters to ensure part integrity and compliance.
- Design and program robotic pick-and-place operations and configure EOAT (End of Arm Tooling) to minimize cycle times while meeting safety and quality standards.
- Identify and manage critical spare parts inventory for molding tools through periodic audits.
- Enhance plant layout to optimize space and equipment utilization; assist with plant expansion planning and design for upcoming programs.
- Prepare and submit Capital Appropriation Requests (CAR) for new equipment and manage associated budgets.
- Track and maintain project timelines using Microsoft Project, coordinating across multiple departments to meet capital project milestones.
- Lead problem-solving initiatives using structured tools such as Toyota Production System (TPS), 8D, and A3 methodologies.
- Collaborate with corporate teams to share and implement best practices in manufacturing and business operations.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field with 4–5 years of relevant experience
- Strong injection molding background — experience in any molding sector is acceptable
- Hands-on experience with multi-valve gate operations
- Proficiency in robot programming (SEPRO, or similar systems)
- Master Molder I or Master Molder II certification preferred
- Experience working with robotics and automation systems in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience with RJG eDart systems and process parameter optimization
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System (TPS), or similar continuous improvement methodologies
- Proven ability to manage capital projects and collaborate with cross-functional teams
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills using tools such as 8D or A3
- Excellent communication and leadership skills to support process technicians and production teams
- Proficiency with Microsoft Project or similar tools for project planning and scheduling
Avanzar San Antonio Facility
