Plant Engineer

JOB PURPOSE

Works in a wide variety of settings and roles, optimizing the overall efficiency of businesses and other organizations. In production operations (packaging, processing, and electrical controls), work in their focal Production CELL is related to the design, development, implementation, and refinement of manufacturing systems for Dallas manufacturing facility. Manages New Product Development (NPD) capital projects and is responsible for timely introduction of new products into the manufacturing environment. Ensures compliance with Environmental Health & Safety for production operations. Utilizes lean principles when optimizing equipment or implementing change. Utilizes advanced change control tools and techniques. Works with Quality to ensure that equipment and facility layouts meet the lean objectives for design. Ensures the company's operations, work properly and meet factory and management specifications. Responsible for any repairs or upgrades to the machinery and coordinates with other department heads to fine-tune their operations systems. Routinely examines machinery for defects and communicates equipment project and maintenance schedules to department heads. They work as part of a team and interact with engineers, quality control specialists and others to increase efficiency and establish best practices. Trains managers and other personnel to use new and upgraded machinery, so they can teach the other workers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assists in the planning, scheduling, coordinating Capital Expenditure Projects for the Dallas manufacturing facility. Identifies operational problems by observing and studying system function and CELL KPI’s; investigating complaints and suggestions; interviewing process supervisors and operators; completing troubleshooting procedures. Identifies operational priorities by assessing operational objectives; determining project objectives, such as, efficiency, cost savings, energy conservation, operator convenience, safety, environmental quality; estimating relevance, time, and costs. Develops operational solutions by defining, studying, estimating, and screening alternative solutions; calculating economics; determining impact on total system. Leads the development of New Product Development capital project plans including project scope, cost/benefit analysis, design basis, success criteria, timelines, resources needs, critical assumptions, commissioning/start-up plans; negotiates equipment and performance service contracts, and resolves issues associated with packaging, processing and/or electrical control systems.

2. Proactively identifies opportunities to upgrade current equipment performance so that speed to market, start-up curves, total delivered cost, capital utilization, clean/safe design, product quality are continuously improved. Upholds and maintains Engineering design standards and will be responsible for engineering specifications, documentation, training aids, standardization, quality assurance, service delivery methods and cost /value analysis. Ensures compliance with applicable standards, rules and regulations. Assist in the management of system, equipment upgrades, expansions and exchanges.

3. Anticipates operational problems within their focal Production CELL by studying operating targets, modes of operation, unit limitations; monitoring unit performance. Improves operational quality results by studying, evaluating, and recommending process re-design; implementing changes; contributing information and opinion to unit design and modification teams. Maintains safe and healthy work environment by following and enforcing standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations.

4. Attends and participates in capital project meetings, reviews, testing, studies and risk assessments. Communicates project status to all departments with associated involvement in the project.

5. Visits other company's manufacturing operations and attends technical trade shows to identify new technological breakthroughs in packaging, processing and controls (benchmarking). Incumbent stays abreast of cutting-edge technology, industry news and publications regarding new packaging materials, trends, innovations and standards.

6. Maintains an awareness of Engineering responsiveness to Government Agency compliance, i.e., FDA, OSHA, City of Dallas, etc., regarding such items as process validation, micro elimination, and effluent waste treatment.

7. Assists in the implementation of the commissioning, qualification and validation process for all system/equipment modifications and additions.

8. Assists with the technical support in the troubleshooting of all major equipment malfunctions.