Overview
We are seeking a dynamic and highly skilled Bearings Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead our manufacturing engineering team in optimizing bearing production processes.
Summary
We are seeking a dynamic and highly skilled Bearings Manufacturing Engineering Manager to lead our manufacturing engineering team in optimizing bearing production processes. This position is responsible for managing engineering activities that support customer requirements, product development, manufacturing efficiency, quality improvement, and cost reduction initiatives.
The Bearings Manufacturing Engineering Manager will provide technical leadership to the engineering team while working closely with Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Tool Room, and Customer Service to ensure the successful development and production of high-quality bearing products.
This role requires extensive knowledge of bearing design, metal stamping, machining, assembly processes, tooling design, and manufacturing engineering principles. There will be a collaborative team approach when designing formed or stamped bearing components with other Lutco engineers and toolmakers, particularly when new tooling is required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Applications and Product Engineering
· Provide Applications Engineering support to the Sales department through design layouts, sales drawings, and bearing/assembly databases.
· Produce internal component drawings and vendor drawings.
· Review customer requirements and build-to-print designs for manufacturability.
· Investigate and analyze new materials, specifications, standards, and engineering practices.
· Prepare engineering calculations, estimates, designs, reviews, and updates.
· Develop cost models and support business cases for new opportunities.
· Support sales with technical expertise, presentations, and customer issue resolution.
· Contribute to new product development and intellectual property growth.
· Design bearing assemblies and components utilizing Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA) principles.
Manufacturing Engineering
· Develop and implement manufacturing processes and tooling methodologies for bearing components and assemblies.
· Develop and release manufacturing plans, design controls, work instructions, and engineering change notices.
· Support manufacturing operations in resolving production-related engineering issues.
· Develop process improvements that reduce costs while maintaining product quality and customer requirements.
· Resolve escalated technical issues while prioritizing performance, cost, quality, and delivery requirements.
· Collaborate with Manufacturing, Tool Room, and Quality departments to improve production processes and product quality.
Tooling and Die Design
· Design progressive and compound dies required for manufacturing bearing components, including jackets, ball cases, races, retainers, and related products.
· Work closely with toolmakers during tool design, build, troubleshooting, and implementation.
· Improve tooling performance, reliability, and life expectancy.
· Support tooling modifications and improvements to increase productivity and reduce downtime.
Quality and Compliance
· Collaborate with Quality Assurance in developing control plans, inspection methods, and quality standards.
· Support PPAP development, process validation, capability studies, and corrective action activities.
· Ensure compliance with ISO standards and customer-specific requirements.
· Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action implementation for quality issues.
· Support initiatives to reduce scrap, defects, and customer complaints.
Continuous Improvement
· Participate in and lead Kaizen events and Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
· Identify and implement process improvements that increase productivity, reduce waste, and improve quality.
· Analyze manufacturing processes and identify opportunities for automation and efficiency improvements.
· Support company cost reduction initiatives through engineering improvements and innovation.
Project Management
· Lead engineering projects from concept through implementation.
· Develop project timelines, budgets, and resource requirements.
· Coordinate activities with customers, suppliers, manufacturing, quality, and tooling personnel.
· Ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget.
· Maintain project documentation and communicate progress to management.
Supervisory Responsibilities
· Lead and develop the Manufacturing Engineering team.
· Establish priorities and assign engineering resources to support customer requirements and production needs.
· Mentor engineers, designers, and technical personnel.
· Conduct performance evaluations and support employee development.
· Participate in succession planning and workforce development activities.
· Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Job Skills and Abilities
· Strong technical and computer skills including AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Access.
· Proficient in blueprint reading, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and engineering drawing interpretation.
· Strong understanding of bearing design and manufacturing processes.
· Knowledge of assembly, machining, heat treating, metal stamping, and tooling design.
· Understanding of case hardening and heat-treating processes.
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
· Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
· Effective written and verbal communication skills.
· Ability to work collaboratively with employees at all levels of the organization and external customers.
· Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
Qualifications and ExperienceEducation
· Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline preferred.
· Equivalent combination of education and applicable experience may be considered.
Experience
· Minimum of 5 years of engineering experience in manufacturing environments.
· Experience in bearing design, mechanical design, drafting, or manufacturing methods preferred.
· Experience with metal stamping, progressive die design, machining, and assembly operations preferred.
· Supervisory or project leadership experience preferred.
· Experience supporting ISO-certified manufacturing environments preferred.
Performance Expectations and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)New Product Development
· Successfully launch new products on schedule and within budget.
· Meet customer milestones for prototype and production programs.
Manufacturing Efficiency
· Improve labor productivity and manufacturing efficiency.
· Reduce setup times and improve equipment utilization.
Scrap Reduction
· Develop and implement initiatives to reduce manufacturing scrap.
· Support company goals for reducing scrap and improving yield.
Engineering Responsiveness
· Support manufacturing and customer issues in a timely manner.
· Maintain prompt response times for engineering change requests and production support activities.
Tooling Performance
· Improve tooling life and reduce tooling-related downtime.
· Support the successful design and implementation of new tooling.
Continuous Improvement
· Lead or participate in Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen activities.
· Identify annual cost savings opportunities through engineering improvements.
Customer Satisfaction
· Support customer requirements and technical inquiries.
· Assist in resolving customer concerns and corrective action requests.
Project Execution
· Complete engineering projects on time and within budget.
· Meet established milestones and deliverables.
Physical Requirements
· Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.
· Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
· Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout production areas.
· Ability to travel occasionally to customer and supplier locations as needed.
About Lutco, Inc.
Family-Owned, American Made
Lutco, Inc. is a global supplier of quality semi-precision bearings, metal stampings, machined parts, and housed bearing assemblies with leading positions within its markets. We serve a diverse customer base in major industrial markets, including Farm Machinery, Office Equipment, Material Handling, Trucking, Industrial Equipment, Air Cargo, and Recreational Vehicles.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Lutco, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law.
Pay: $140,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
