Teijin Automotive Technologies is an innovative and full-service Tier One supplier with a global presence and emphasis in development for lightweight technologies. Teijin Automotive offers employees the opportunity to join a leading edge company within the composite material industry and enjoy the benefits offered by a growing company in North America and internationally.
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Establish and own the enterprise-wide standards framework for the Advanced Tooling and Automation department, including equipment standards, design standards, build standards, and maintenance standards.
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Develop, document, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all core department functions, including:
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Tooling quote scope-of-work development
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Tooling lineup planning and structuring
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Cost breakdown methodology and templates
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Vendor selection and evaluation criteria
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Tooling and equipment acceptance/runoff criteria
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Create and maintain a performance governance model - defining how standards are audited, how compliance is measured, and how deviations are escalated and corrected.
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Serve as the final authority on tooling and equipment standards across all sites, ensuring consistency, cost control, and quality.
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Define the standard format and process for tooling quote scope of work, ensuring quotes are complete, comparable across suppliers, and aligned to program requirements.
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Establish standardized tooling lineup structures (e.g., mold sets, fixtures, secondary equipment, automation cells) for consistent program planning.
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Develop standardized cost breakdown structures (material, labor, engineering, controls, freight, contingency, etc.) to improve quote accuracy, cost transparency, and negotiation leverage.
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Own the RFQ process for tooling and capital equipment, ensuring apples-to-apples supplier comparisons.
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Lead design, development, and validation of advanced tooling for composite molds, secondary equipment, and automation systems.
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Oversee tooling readiness for new program launches, ensuring durability, repeatability, and on-time delivery.
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Drive innovation into the tooling portfolio - evaluating new materials, processes, and design methodologies (e.g., additive manufacturing, simulation-driven design, modular/reconfigurable tooling) to improve cost, speed, and performance.
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Develop and implement advanced manufacturing technologies, including automation, robotics, predictive maintenance, and Industry 4.0 tools.
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Lead automation development end-to-end: concept, business case, design, integration, validation, and scale-up to full production.
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Validate new processes and automated systems through pilot lines, ensuring scalability and reliability prior to full deployment.
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Identify and prioritize automation opportunities based on labor efficiency, ergonomics, throughput, and ROI.
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Establish enterprise-wide controls standards (PLC platforms, HMI design, safety architecture, network/communication protocols, naming conventions, documentation standards) to ensure consistency, maintainability, and reduced spare-parts complexity across sites.
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Partner with controls engineering and IT/OT teams to ensure new automation and tooling projects comply with controls standards from concept through commissioning.
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Drive standardization of controls documentation, change management, and cybersecurity practices across all automated systems.
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Partner with suppliers to deliver best-in-class tooling and automation solutions within budget and timing requirements.
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Develop and administer a formal vendor evaluation program - scoring suppliers on quality, cost, delivery, engineering capability, and responsiveness - to guide sourcing decisions and build a preferred supplier base.
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Lead supplier performance reviews and drive corrective action when standards are not met.
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Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, scrap reduction, labor efficiency, and ergonomics.
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Define and deploy enterprise standards for manufacturing layouts, material flow, ergonomics, and process optimization.
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Benchmark industry trends and emerging technologies to keep the enterprise at the forefront of composite manufacturing and automation.
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Work closely with Product Development, Facilities, and Asset Management to align tooling and equipment strategy with long-term business objectives.
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Partner with Finance to validate ROI and payback for capital equipment, tooling, and process investments.
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Collaborate with Quality to ensure advanced manufacturing processes meet customer standards and regulatory requirements.
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Manage budgets for tooling, equipment, and process engineering, including capital expenditures (CapEx).
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Track project spend against budget and forecast, and report variances to leadership.
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Define and monitor department and program KPIs, including:
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Tooling readiness (on-time, first-pass acceptance)
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Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
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Scrap and quality escape reduction
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ROI on capital projects
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Vendor performance scores
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Controls standardization compliance
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Report regularly to executive leadership on program readiness, risks, and performance against standards.
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Build, lead, and develop the Advanced Tooling and Automation team, setting clear expectations and standards for individual performance.
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Conduct structured personnel evaluations, including performance reviews, development planning, and succession planning for key roles.
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Coach and mentor engineers and program leads to build technical depth in tooling, automation, and controls.
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Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement within the department.
Qualifications
Education
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Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or Electrical Engineering required; or equivalent work experience.
- Experience
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10+ years of progressive experience in tooling design, advanced manufacturing, automation, or industrial engineering, including 5+ years in a leadership role.
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Proven track record of leading tooling and automation programs from concept through production launch.
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Experience with composite manufacturing tooling strongly preferred.
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Demonstrated experience developing standards, SOPs, and governance frameworks at an enterprise or multi-site level.
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Experience managing capital budgets and evaluating ROI on equipment/automation investments.
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Experience with controls platforms (e.g., Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Siemens) and Industry 4.0/data integration tools preferred.
Skills & Competencies
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Strong technical knowledge of tooling design, robotics, automation integration, and controls architecture.
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Skilled in supplier negotiation, vendor management, and cost analysis.
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Strong leadership, coaching, and organizational development skills.
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Excellent communication skills, with ability to present to executive leadership.
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Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.
