Director/Corporate Manufacturing Engineering

Basic Purpose

The Director, Corporate Manufacturing Engineering is responsible for developing and executing Accuride's manufacturing engineering strategy across all manufacturing operations. This position provides leadership for manufacturing technology, automation, process engineering, capital investment, operational excellence, and facility infrastructure initiatives that improve safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and profitability.

The Director leads the evaluation, development, implementation, and optimization of manufacturing processes, equipment, and technologies that support current and future business objectives. The position serves as the Company's senior manufacturing engineering leader and works closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, Information Technology, Program Management, Human Resources, and other functional leaders to ensure manufacturing capabilities support long-term strategic objectives.

This role is accountable for establishing engineering standards, driving manufacturing innovation, managing major capital projects, and improving operational performance across all facilities.

Dimensions

• Capital Investment Responsibility:
  • Supports enterprise-wide capital planning and execution
  • Develops and manages manufacturing capital projects and facility infrastructure investments
  • Provides engineering leadership for annual capital expenditures representing approximately 3% of Company sales
• Manufacturing Facilities Supported:
  • Erie, PA
  • Henderson, KY
  • Springfield, OH
  • Monterrey, Mexico (2)

Principal Accountabilities

Strategic Manufacturing Leadership:

1. Develop and execute corporate manufacturing engineering strategies that support Accuride's operational, financial, growth, and sustainability objectives.
2. Establish and maintain manufacturing engineering standards, specifications, and best practices across all facilities.
3. Identify and evaluate emerging manufacturing technologies, automation solutions, and process improvements that strengthen Accuride's competitive position.
4. Drive standardization and knowledge sharing across locations to maximize efficiencies and operational performance.

Capital Investment & Technology Implementation:

1. Develop manufacturing equipment specifications for new equipment purchases, rebuild opportunities, automation systems, tooling, and related manufacturing technologies.
2. Lead the technical evaluation, selection, sourcing support, and implementation of manufacturing equipment, automation systems, tooling, and related technologies.
3. Develop capital investment strategies that improve safety, quality, productivity, automation, asset utilization, reliability, and manufacturing capability.
4. Prepare capital appropriation requests, engineering analyses, project justifications, and return-on-investment evaluations for capital projects.
5. Support business case development and executive approval processes for major capital expenditures.
6. Provide technical leadership throughout equipment design, supplier selection, equipment runoff, installation, commissioning, startup, and performance validation activities.

Manufacturing Process Excellence:

1. Establish, document, and maintain corporate manufacturing process standards, engineering specifications, and best practices.
2. Coordinate engineering activities across locations to optimize manufacturing processes and improve consistency.
3. Partner with Operations to improve throughput, quality, equipment effectiveness, material utilization, labor productivity, and overall operational performance.
4. Provide technical leadership and engineering support to resolve complex manufacturing, process, equipment, and quality-related issues.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence:

1. Lead engineering initiatives that support Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, automation, waste elimination, and cost reduction objectives.
2. Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies to improve manufacturing performance and eliminate recurring issues.
3. Support manufacturing initiatives that enhance product quality, process capability, equipment reliability, and customer satisfaction.

Safety, Environmental & Quality Leadership:

1. Ensure manufacturing equipment, processes, and engineering activities support a strong safety culture, environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, and risk reduction.
2. Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, Control Plans, MSA, and other applicable quality system requirements.
3. Support continuous improvement of safety, quality, environmental, and operational performance across all facilities.

Organizational Leadership:

1. Mentor, coach, and develop manufacturing engineering talent throughout the organization.
2. Build and strengthen engineering capabilities through succession planning, training, and knowledge development.
3. Collaborate with Program Management, Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Quality, Information Technology, and Sales to support successful implementation of strategic initiatives.
4. Prepare and communicate engineering performance metrics, capital project updates, strategic recommendations, and operational results to senior leadership

Required Skills, Education, and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering discipline required.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Minimum ten (10) years of progressive manufacturing engineering experience supporting high-volume manufacturing operations.
• Minimum five (5) years of leadership experience within manufacturing engineering, operations engineering, capital project management, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated success managing major capital equipment and manufacturing technology projects from concept development through production startup.
• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations preferred.
• Automotive, wheel manufacturing, or heavy manufacturing industry experience strongly preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of wheel manufacturing processes, including presses, automation systems, dies, die lubrication, material handling systems, machining, welding, paint and coating operations, and related manufacturing technologies.
• Strong understanding of capital project execution, manufacturing systems, process engineering, automation technologies, and facility infrastructure development.
• Demonstrated proficiency with AutoCAD and/or other 2D and 3D engineering design software.
• Experience developing equipment layouts, tooling drawings, process documentation, and manufacturing standards.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Strategic leadership and business acumen.
• Strong technical and operational decision-making abilities.
• Ability to influence and lead across multiple facilities and functional disciplines.
• Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational and project leadership capabilities.
• Ability to lead change, drive accountability, and execute strategic initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of IATF 16949, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plans, and customer-specific requirements.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, automation, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Experience utilizing structured problem-solving methodologies, Root Cause Analysis, Lean principles, and Six Sigma tools.