Manufacturing Engineer

Tramec is currently seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to join our Tramec Sloan facility in Iola, KS.

The Manufacturing Engineer develops, implements, validates, and continuously improves manufacturing processes, tooling, work instructions, fixtures, equipment, and production documentation at the Iola, Kansas facility. This position works closely with Product Engineering, Production, Quality, Maintenance, Purchasing, the Tool Room, and suppliers to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.

The Manufacturing Engineer leads new product launches, production troubleshooting, equipment implementation, process validation, engineering documentation, and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring manufacturing processes are efficient, standardized, and capable of meeting customer requirements.

• Develop and continuously improve manufacturing processes.
• Lead implementation of production equipment, automation, and tooling.
• Evaluate processes for safety, quality, efficiency, ergonomics, capacity, and productivity.
• Plan and execute process validation and capability studies.
• Lead troubleshooting and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Provide hands-on engineering support on the production floor.

• Design manufacturing fixtures, gauges, and tooling.
• Define requirements and coordinate internal or external fabrication.
• Maintain tooling drawings, documentation, and revision history.
• Evaluate tooling performance and implement improvements.
• Establish preventative maintenance and spare-parts requirements.
• Develop prototype and production tooling.

• Lead APQP manufacturing activities.
• Conduct production readiness reviews and resolve launch risks.
• Develop manufacturing processes and work instructions for new products.
• Plan and support prototype, pilot, and launch builds.
• Develop PPAP manufacturing documentation.
• Validate production processes, equipment, and tooling before launch.
• Coordinate manufacturing engineering activities during product launches.

Develop and maintain:

• Manufacturing work instructions
• Visual work aids and setup instructions
• Standard operating procedures
• Process flow diagrams and manufacturing layouts
• PFMEAs and control plans
• Tooling and equipment documentation
• Review and implement Engineering Change Notices (ECNs).
• Maintain accurate manufacturing drawings and controlled documentation.

• Provide daily engineering support to production departments.
• Lead line balancing, capacity, and workstation improvements.
• Improve material presentation, workflow, and ergonomics.
• Lead root cause investigations using structured problem-solving methods.
• Implement improvements to increase throughput and reduce waste.
• Lead the manufacturing implementation of engineering changes.

• Develop specifications for new manufacturing equipment.
• Coordinate supplier design reviews and equipment acceptance activities.
• Lead equipment installation, qualification, and validation.
• Develop equipment operating and training documentation.
• Coordinate with Maintenance on equipment reliability and improvements.
• Conduct machine capability and capacity evaluations.

• Lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Plan and facilitate Kaizen events.
• Implement and sustain 5S and standardized work.
• Lead waste reduction and productivity projects.
  
  Develop and execute cost reduction initiatives.
• Improve manufacturing flow, equipment utilization, and workstation organization.

Work closely with:

• Product Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Quality
• Production
• Maintenance
• Purchasing
• Tool Room
• Suppliers
• Lead engineering meetings, production meetings, launch reviews, capital project reviews, and continuous improvement activities.

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 3-5 years of manufacturing engineering experience in a production environment.
• Experience developing and improving manufacturing processes in a production environment.
• Experience with tooling, fixtures, automation, production equipment, and project execution.
• Automotive, commercial vehicle, or heavy-duty truck manufacturing experience preferred.

• Solid Works
• AutoCAD
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Epicor (preferred)
• ERP/MRP systems
• Microsoft Teams
• PDF editing software
• PLC/HMI programming or troubleshooting…