Manufacturing Engineer

COMPANY OVERVIEW Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in high-performance chemicals, fibers, and plastics, committed to enhancing quality of life through innovation. With fully integrated manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, we develop essential solutions that drive safer vehicles, cleaner energy, advanced medical devices, and durable consumer goods. Guided by a strong focus on safety, sustainability, and customer success, we operate responsibly while delivering value through cutting-edge technologies and industry expertise.

POSITION OVERVIEW Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high-quality chemicals, fibers and plastics. With world-scale integrated manufacturing facilities, we are able to develop new products from our core technologies and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of our customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution with five manufacturing facilities in the United States.

The primary purpose of the Operations Manufacturing Engineer is to provide engineering support to operate the unit safely, reliably, and to optimize the process by driving operational entitlement through the use of advanced optimization methods and identification of ideas to drive step-change technology improvements. The Operations Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for unit operating performance to include production, raw material usage, energy usage, quality, daily performance tracking, troubleshooting and will drive execution of A2E projects.

TARGETED OUTCOMES Drive unit performance to operational entitlement with respect to yields, usages, reliability, and quality

Achieve annual operating productivity targets by maintaining a unit performance tracking program

Maintain accurate accounting of all unit production losses and drive actions to correct

Achieve measurable improvements in unit performance aligned to business financial objectives to include raw material usage, energy usage, reliability, capacity, and quality

Position papers developed and maintained on market position in industry to include benchmarking studies of raw material and energy usages, catalyst performance, reliability, and quality

Well-defined productivity plans (current year +1) and pipelines (5 years) for respective unit(s)
Develop and maintain dynamic operational entitlement models in order to understand best performance for any given set of conditions (production demand, catalyst age, etc.)Successfully operationalize technology projects KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
40% AREA SUPPORT Monitor unit performance on a weekly and monthly basis by tracking key process indicators (KPI’s) and key operating parameters (KOP’s); setting targets for short interval controls (SIC’s)
Actively support the site and area safety programs via participation (or leadership) in PHA, LOPA, MOC, incident investigations, resolution of action items, and other activities to ensure safe operation and regulatory compliance. Facilitate MOCs originating from unit needs

Update and maintain unit process safety information

Troubleshoot and optimize of the process to address gaps identified through performance monitoring

Work with reliability to provide technical support for RCA’sAssist in delivering technical training to operators

Own the Consequences of Deviation procedures

Execute annual productivity plans

Participate on HCN team
40% UNIT OPTIMIZATION Evaluate performance using the A2E (DMAIC) process and statistical tools to make process improvements

Use entitlement models to challenge and improve unit performance

Develop unit production expertise, continuously building a body of technical knowledge around unit operations and processes

Deliver tools and processes to enhance performance tracking and drive…