Manufacturing Engineer

Working Schedule

• Most Manufacturing Engineers work full-time, with overtime possible during busy seasons, or when production is behind schedule or orders exceed projections. 
• Typical Duties
• Meet with customers to discuss specifications for their desired products
• Talk to vendors and management regarding the status of capabilities, timetables, limitations, and possible solutions to issues 
• Determine the right tools, machines, equipment, and processes to manufacturer specific parts or products based on specifications
• Seek ways to decrease or eliminate harmful practices and materials 
• Review schedules and workflows to ensure the correct number of workers are assigned 
• Use management control systems to organize team efforts
• Establish quality assurance protocols to ensure products are made to standards
• Continually assess production speed and look for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs using lean manufacturing principles 
• Collaborate with production teams to keep things on time, on target (and on-budget)
• Analyze workflows to search for (and mitigate) potential problems such as bottlenecks 
• Create backup plans to work around unforeseen problems that could cause delays or work stoppages  
• Test and troubleshoot designs, materials, and processes
• Offer technical assistance or training as needed
• Check-in regularly with staff to see how projects are progressing. Supervise, as needed
• Investigate the root causes of production failures and suggest fixes or adjustments
• Generate reports on manufacturing performance 
• Review financial factors related to sustainable processes and offer suggestions to management 
• Ensure timely delivery of goods to clients while maintaining cost-effective transportation practices

Additional Responsibilities

• Design workspace and equipment layouts and oversee installations
• Procure equipment, parts, and various materials, as needed
• Write documentation for various work processes 
• Stay up-to-date on fabrication and assembly process improvements 
• Read about trends and technological advances in tooling and equipment and incorporate them when feasible 
• Ensure compliance with state, federal, and international codes and standards  
• Participate in continuing education and professional organization events 

Soft Skills

• Ability to conceptualize 
• Ability to facilitate collaboration between teams
• Adaptive style
• Analytical
• Budget-conscious
• Calm under pressure
• Compliance- and safety-oriented
• Concentration and focus
• Good record management skills 
• Initiative
• Innovative
• Investigative
• Leadership
• Organized
• Patience 
• Problem-solving
• Realistic
• Strong people and communication skills
• Teamwork
• Time-management

Technical Skills

• Computer-aided design (CAD) tools such as Autodesk AutoCAD
• Knowledge of assembly line processes
• Knowledge of Solidworks
• Lean manufacturing
• Process improvement 
• Quality assurance principles
• Root cause analysis 
• Six Sigma
• Troubleshooting tactics
• Understanding of mechanical engineering 

• Automotive industry; transportation equipment manufacturing
• Computer/electronic products makers
• Manufacturing companies
• Military and governmental agencies 

Manufacturing Engineers keep factory production running smoothly, but there’s a ton of work and planning to get to that point. From choosing laborers with the right skills and selecting the best tools, equipment, and machinery to laying out workspaces and establishing procedures, Manufacturing Engineers certainly have their work cut out for them! 
 
Companies rely heavily on their talents to keep production flowing, costs down, and workers safe. One bad decision or oversight can throw a proverbial monkey wrench in the works, causing expensive manufacturing problems ranging from defective products to safety recalls and total work stoppages. If a seriously unsafe product hits the market, it can tank a company’s reputation and spell financial ruin for its future. Other times, a product probably should’ve been nixed during the concept phase, such as Cheetos’ disastrous lip balm product fail. 

The job outlook is strong for Manufacturing Engineers, in part because of the cost savings they bring to the table. A major part of the job is staying on top of trends and innovations, of which there are several these days. 
 
Automation has long been a key goal of many factories and is becoming increasingly prevalent and easier to use. Mobile and collaborative robots are also primed to alter the manufacturing landscape, bringing exciting new capabilities to bear. Meanwhile, the fabled Internet of Things keeps chugging along, empowering companies to gather valuable data they can use to optimize processes. 
 
Hailed as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0 is living up to the hype with several initiatives driven by “high-speed mobile Internet, AI and automation, the use of big data analytics, and cloud technology.” Additional trends include the spreading use of Enterprise Resource Planning, which is hardly new but is simpler to deploy now thanks to cloud-based SaaS. 

Manufacturing Engineers are very methodical and process-oriented. They may have enjoyed doing meticulous activities that required following lots of steps in a precise order, such as building intricate LEGO sets. They’re keen on cutting out inefficiencies, and might have found ways to get their chores (or their homework) done faster than others might take. As with most engineers, they usually love figuring out how to turn abstract ideas into concrete realities through a bit of creative thinking and tinkering. 
 
Because they are often immersed in cutting-edge technology including AI and robotics, they might have been avid science fiction fans as kids. And since they must oversee the work of many people and groups, Manufacturing Engineers generally have well-developed soft skills that were likely cultivated in school extracurricular activities or simply from growing up in a large family.