Product Development Director jobs in South Bend, IN

Purpose:

This position is responsible for developing NSG’s encapsulation and assembly processes.  This will include cost reduction, quality improvement, adherence to best practices/lessons learned, and supporting all prototyping/plant start up activities throughout NMI launches.  The person in this role will need to look for innovative solutions to advance our manufacturing processes.  The area of expertise will be plastics engineering and process development.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and implement new assembly and encapsulation processes/technologies.
• Develop new materials and suppliers for encapsulation process.
• Implement process solutions to error proof new processes at the manufacturing plant.
• Ensure standardization where possible for value added materials and processing.
• Verify development parts meet customer requirements.
• Check and accept incoming encapsulation/assembly tooling and components. Verify tooling capability.
• Assure “best practices” & “lessons learned” are up to date and include updates from around the NSG group.
• Benchmark new assembly and encapsulation processes/tooling/technology within the company and externally.
• Work with the design group to ensure that new programs are designed for manufacturability.
• Assist tooling engineers to reduce cost and solve processing issues.
• Provide product and process input to the sales team and feasibility manager during new model quotation process.
• Follow the NMI process, assisting program managers, and NMI Project Leaders to meet project milestones.
• Assist the plant in preparing product samples for customer evaluation (prototype, production). Provide direct plant support to manufacturing team as requested.
• Interpret test results and create reports from trials and experiments.
• Provide engineering interface with internal and external customers as needed.
• Identify performance gaps and develop plans/proposals to discuss with management to bring project to an acceptable level.
• Maintain good verbal and written communications with program/project management as well as project team and plant team leaders and process improvers.
• Train technical resources in a production setting.
• Work within a team environment concept and utilize all team members in the respected departments they represent.
• Work in compliance with all safety rules and regulations.
• Adherence to NSG/Pilkington Standards of Business Conduct and its Values and Principles
• Other duties as assigned by manager

Top 3 Competencies Needed for Success in the Role:  

• Passion for Excellence: Takes personal responsibility and ownership for achieving results & objectives
• Decision Making: Goes to the heart of the situation by talking to relevant people to fully understand all the issues and involve others in the decision-making process
• Innovation and Change: Open to change and actively interested in new developments, technology, emerging market trends

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelors degree – Plastics/Polymer Engineering preferred
• Familiarization with injection molding and tooling
• OEM experience preferred
• Demonstrated problem solving skills
• Mechanical / hands-on aptitude
• Demonstrated ability to work within project teams, and work with limited direction
• SolidWorks, VISI, Catia, or equivalent CAD software experience
• PC skills - MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Project, Mini tab or equivalent  

Qualifications Desired:

• Robot programming
• Familiarization with Green / Black Belt analyses
• Tooling and fixture design experience
• Manufacturing background
• Ability to travel to regional tool shops and manufacturing sites

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We offer an excellent compensation and benefits package, which includes 401k, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, company paid holidays, paid vacations, and education assistance.

NSG Group/Pilkington is an equal opportunity employer; M/F/D/V encouraged to apply.  Qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin.  Applicants have the option to confidentially self-identify or not self-identify when applying.

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