Continuous Improvement Engineer

Are you inspired by challenging the status quo? Do you thrive in collaborative environments that drive results? If so, Gates could be for you.

Gates is a leading manufacturer of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions. We push the boundaries of material science to engineer solutions that continually exceed customer expectations.

Let's simplify it, think belts and hoses. Found in motorcycles, conveyor belts, cars, tractors, blenders, vacuum cleaners, bicycles, & 3D printers just to name a few. Because why not do it all?

Position Summary

As an innovation leader, we look for ambitious, forward thinking, open-minded and well-rounded individuals to join our global team. Located in our Rochester Hills, MI office, you will be a Continuous Quality Improvement Engineer. The Continuous Quality Improvement Engineer will lead and participate in projects aimed at improving manufacturing processes targeting improvements in product quality and cost.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• A successful incumbent will be capable of working independently with minimal supervision, balancing workload with multiple priorities, and utilizing technical manufacturing and product knowledge along with effective problem-solving methodology to consistently eliminate quality costs and incident causes across Gates Americas regional manufacturing locations.
• This is an exciting opportunity for you because you will work with global quality, cross-functional peers, and business leadership personnel to achieve quality cost and incident improvement objectives while developing as a successor to quality leadership positions.
• Applies broad knowledge of principles and practices in a specific practice area.
• Works on multiple projects of moderate size or portions of major projects.
• Designs a complete project, system, component, or process.
• Prepares complete project documents.
• Designs and conducts experiments, and analyzes and interprets data.
• Independently evaluates, selects, and adapts standard techniques, procedures, and criteria.
• Formulates and solves problems.
• Impacts a range of customer, operational, project or service activities within own team and other related teams; works within broad guidelines and policies
• Explains complex, difficult and/or sensitive information; works to build consensus

Keys to Success

• Leading execution of improvement projects targeting elimination of top Pareto causes of power transmission quality costs and incidents. Projects will be hands-on work with manufacturing plant personnel to identify causes and implement process, product, and quality control improvements with reduction in Cost of Poor Quality outcomes.
• Identification of best practice manufacturing process & quality controls within regional sites demonstrating superior low-quality cost and incidence rates. Communication of these process and quality control details to counterparts in global regions with intent to aid transfer of best practices to those global locations. Leading execution of best practices shared from other global regions within Americas manufacturing sites having similar product & processes.
• Serving as a quality subject matter expert on change management teams or review boards for Product / Process changes with the objective to ensure successful launch of changes without negative impact on customers or product quality.
• Supporting supplier quality and supplier development organizations as necessary to improve power transmission product quality and cost improvement. Assignments including focused activity with an identified high-risk supplier to improve their product quality & reliability.
• Development and implementation of manufacturing quality standards to ensure on-going understanding of consistent adherence to these manufacturing requirements.
• Acquires general knowledge of principles and practices of related fields, and ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
• Has knowledge of best practices and how own area integrates with others; is aware of the competition and the factors that differentiate the company in the market

Requirements and Preferred Skills

• Bachelor of Science (BS) undergraduate college degree in an Engineering discipline (Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering).
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in Quality Engineering, Process Engineering, and/or Continuous Improvement roles, including significant experience utilizing technical knowledge and problem-solving methodologies to drive out Cost of Poor Quality (E.g. DMAIC, DOE, etc.).
• Must have effective project management experience in leading and facilitating project teams.
• Certification as a Six Sigma Black is preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrated experience leading continuous improvement projects with cost out outcomes is required.
• Must be capable of reading and understanding product drawings & specifications.
• Working knowledge and experience with effectively using quality assurance problem solving tools is required (E.g., 5-Why, Cause & Effect…