Staff Manufacturing Special Process Engineer

External

Woodward · Rockford - Rock Cut Campus (rcc)

Full-timeOn-siteToday

AssemblyData AnalysisKanbanLeadershipLeanProcess Improvement

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About the role

The Special Process Engineer at Woodward is responsible for designing, implementing, optimizing, and supporting manufacturing processes that involve the chemical or physical transformation of materials. This role focuses on improving efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality production while bridging the gap between R&D, product design, and manufacturing. The engineer works closely with cross-functional teams to mature Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL), prepare for New Product Introduction (NPI), and support existing production processes. Additionally, they oversee specialized equipment such as chemical processing systems, heat treatment units, coatings (CVD/PVD), EDM, and surface treatments like anodizing and case hardening. They also provide technical support to the global supply chain for supplier selection and development of special processes.

Responsibilities

Production Support: Standardize troubleshooting procedures, minimize waste through hardware disposition processes, and ensure adherence to quality standards across multiple production lines.

Manufacturing Process Ownership: Develop and maintain scalable workflows that optimize efficiency, adaptability, and flexibility to meet production demands.

Process Capability and Improvement: Use advanced analytics and simulation tools to drive process improvement and scalability across multiple lines.

Project Leadership: Lead cross-functional manufacturing projects, managing complex timelines, budgets, and deliverables within a value stream.

Equipment Management: Oversee installation, maintenance, and optimization of specialized process equipment, advocating for new technology and developing plant-wide standards.

Supplier Support: Provide technical guidance to the global supply chain for supplier selection and development involving special processes.

Key Skills:

Productivity Improvement: Drive sustainable process improvement initiatives using methodologies like statistical process control (SPC) and data analysis.

Data Analysis: Develop models to optimize manufacturing processes, reduce variability, and improve resource allocation.

Cost Analysis and Optimization: Balance labor, material, and overhead costs while maximizing machine uptime and reducing scrap rates.

Lean Manufacturing: Lead Lean transformations with tools like Kanban and JIT to enhance production efficiency.

Design for Manufacturability & Assembly (DFMA): Ensure alignment between design, manufacturing, and assembly processes to reduce production complexity.

Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Resolve systemic issues and implement sustainable solutions within production workflows.

Knowledge of APQP Tools: Standardize process control, tooling, and fixturing designs across production lines using APQP principles.

Communication and Collaboration: Foster alignment and transparency across teams, ensuring effective decision-making and collaboration.

Other Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree (BS) and 8+ years of equivalent experience.

Experience with NADCAP Accreditation is preferred.

Six Sigma Blackbelt is a plus

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Staff Manufacturing Special Process Engineer

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