What are the responsibilities and job description for the Manufacturing Engineer position at WAUSEON MACHINE AND MFG, INC?
Process Development & Optimization
- Design, develop, and optimize CNC lathe machining processes, with emphasis on turning operations for complex precision components.
- Evaluate and enhance existing manufacturing processes and routing to reduce waste, improve cycle time, and increase throughput.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives leveraging Lean tools such as SMED, TPM, Standard Work, and 5S.
- Collaborate with operations and quality teams to drive first-pass yield, OEE, and cost reduction improvements.
- Troubleshoot equipment, process, and tooling issues to ensure consistent production flow and quality.
CNC Programming & Tooling
- Develop, validate, and continuously improve CNC lathe programs using Mastercam and SolidWorks.
- Collaborate directly with machinists to optimize feeds, speeds, and tool paths for performance and tool life.
- Support fixture and tooling design, ensuring manufacturability and repeatability.
- Serve as the technical liaison between engineering, estimating, operations, and quality on machining strategies and process capability.
Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement
- Implement and sustain process control and inspection methodologies to ensure compliance with customer and AS9100/ISO9001 standards.
- Conduct root cause analysis on nonconformances and lead corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Champion process capability studies, PPAP documentation, and FAI reviews for new product introduction (NPI).
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partners with estimating, sales, and operations to define process routing, cycle times, materials, and tooling requirements.
- Collaborate with customers and design engineers to ensure GD&T interpretation, manufacturability, and cost-effective solutions.
- Work closely with maintenance to drive Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and improve equipment reliability.
- Support daily management systems (Tier boards, KPIs, and bowler metrics) to track progress and accountability.
Documentation, Reporting & Training
- Maintain accurate documentation for setups, process sheets, and tooling libraries.
- Prepare and present reports on process improvements, cost savings, and performance metrics.
- Develop and deliver operator training, SOPs, and work instructions for new equipment or processes.
- Actively participate in professional development and Lean/technical training to stay current on best practices.