Manufacturing Process Engineer - Plastics
On-siteIndianapolis, Indiana, United States
Job Summary
Develop, optimize, and sustain injection molding, blow molding, automation, and secondary manufacturing processes to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance. Troubleshoot process, equipment, tooling, material, and automation-related issues using structured problem-solving methodologies and statistical analysis to reduce scrap and maximize overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Lead root cause investigations for quality defects, process deviations, and customer complaints while driving corrective and preventive actions focused on cycle time reduction and waste elimination. Support the full lifecycle of manufacturing equipment, including validation, qualification, and operational readiness activities. Partner with operations, maintenance, quality, and supply chain teams to establish process standards and ensure long-term manufacturing reliability. This on-site role reports to the Plastics Engineering Manager within the Plastics Manufacturing Engineering Team in Indianapolis, IN.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Process, Industrial, Plastics, or related field)
- 3+ years of manufacturing engineering, process engineering, or plastics processing experience
- demonstrated success troubleshooting and optimizing manufacturing processes in a high-volume production environment
- Strong understanding of process engineering principles
- statistical analysis
- root cause analysis
- continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5-Why, Fishbone Analysis, DOE, SPC, and FMEA
- ability to analyze complex technical problems
- implement practical, data-driven solutions
- Experience working with manufacturing automation
- process controls
- data collection systems
- industrial equipment
- strong project management skills
- organizational skills
- communication skills
- cross-functional collaboration skills
- Ability to lift, move or carry equipment up to 50 lbs
- Travel
- Motor Vehicle Record
- Physical/Environment Requirements
Desired Qualifications
- Experience with plastics manufacturing processes, including injection molding, blow molding, mold qualification, automation systems, robotics, vision inspection systems, and material handling systems
- Experience supporting regulated manufacturing environments through process validation, IQ/OQ/PQ execution, equipment qualification, CAPA investigations, nonconformance investigations, and the use of MES, SCADA, ERP, industrial networking, data analytics, and statistical software tools
- Demonstrated success leading OEE improvement initiatives, process capability studies, cycle time optimization, scrap reduction, cost savings projects, equipment installations, automation integration, manufacturing expansions, and new product introductions
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