Manager, Heat Equipment, Systems and Process

The TSUBAKI name is synonymous with excellence in quality, dependability and customer service. U.S. Tsubaki is a leading manufacturer and supplier of power transmission and motion control products. As a part of a vast, international network of corporate and industrial resources, Tsubaki offers its customers the finest state‑of‑the‑art products available in the world and we strive to be the “Best Value” supplier in the industry.

The Heat Treat Equipment, Systems, and Process Manager supports all U.S. Tsubaki heat treat operations. Responsibilities of this position includes site assessments and ongoing audits of all UST heat treat equipment, processes and environments with the goal of identifying, recommending, developing, and implementing best practices to positively influence all Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost KPIs. Expectations also include leading the ongoing development and implementation of process improvements, manufacturing launches of all products, root cause investigations of any associated failures, and associated training programs (materials, documentation, modules, etc.).

This position requires a hands‑on approach with the capability to operate heat treat equipment, diagnose unsafe furnace conditions and actively support and teach best operating practices across all heat treat operations.

• Identify safety improvements and drive risk mitigation initiatives.
• Develop, implement, and maintain systems for production control, standard operating procedures, safety, quality control, and training.
• Improve manufacturing processes and methods to reduce cost, improve quality, and enhance efficiency.
• Identify, coordinate, and support equipment and systems required for all heat treat operations.
• Manage budgets, proposals, and contractors for heat treat operations in coordination with Maintenance.
• Perform hardness testing, tensile testing, and other evaluations to verify heat treat effectiveness.
• Support and optimize induction hardening and furnace based processes.
• Monitor process conditions and support troubleshooting across heat treat equipment.
• Lead investigations into heat treat abnormalities; recommend and implement corrective actions.
• Conduct capacity analysis and support ROI planning for current and future operations.
• Conduct time studies and support capital planning.
• Lead manufacturing launches for new or revised products, including training and performance evaluation.
• Design, develop, test, source, and/or justify tools, machinery, and equipment to improve manufacturing methods.
• Perform product and process analyses to support cost reduction, quality improvement, and efficiency gains.
• Represent heat treat operations on cross functional teams.
• Travel Requirements 30% - 50% of time.

• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or Metallurgy required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 5–10 years of manufacturing experience specializing in heat treating equipment and processes. Automotive industry experience is favorable.
• Strong working knowledge of the functionality and operation of a variety of heat treating equipment.
• Practical, hands‑on experience with heat treating processes including carburizing, carbonitriding, induction hardening, and associated metallurgical principles.
• Ability to diagnose equipment issues and assist in correcting unsafe furnace or heat treating conditions.
• Metallurgy education or experience required.
• Manufacturing experience in a metalworking environment required.
• Strong analytical, problem solving, communication, and project management skills, including the ability to work directly on the production floor.
• Knowledge of material science, thermodynamics, CAD (Solid Works), and data analysis (Minitab, Excel).
• Familiarity with ISO and IATF quality management systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across teams.
• Strong organizational and planning skills; ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Expert level of proficiency in ERP systems, Quality management software, Maintenance management system, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook.

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