Opportunity
Kohler Company is a global leader in innovative products across plumbing, kitchen, bath, and lifestyle industries. With over a century of commitment to excellence, Kohler continues to lead in product design, quality, and cutting-edge manufacturing. As part of the leadership team, this role ensures that Kohler’s products meet the highest standards of quality and innovation while optimizing manufacturing processes for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.
Position Overview:
The Sr. Dir. - Manufacturing Engineering reports to the VP – Global Process Engineering and is responsible for overseeing and advancing manufacturing engineering practices for all Kohler Company’s material set production lines. This position will work across functions to ensure the application of best practices in manufacturing processes, drive continuous improvement, and ensure product quality. The Director will also lead teams to develop and implement innovative engineering solutions for complex manufacturing challenges, ensuring that Kohler maintains its leadership position in product innovation, quality, and sustainability.
Key Responsibilities:
Manufacturing Engineering Leadership:
Lead the manufacturing engineering teams focused on all material set production, ensuring the application of best engineering practices to optimize product manufacturing.Develop and implement engineering strategies to drive efficiency, quality, and cost control across all manufacturing operations related to these product categories.Provide leadership and guidance in developing technical solutions to solve complex manufacturing problems and achieve continuous improvement across production lines.
Process Optimization & Innovation:
Oversee the identification and implementation of new manufacturing technologies, automation, and process improvements to enhance production capabilities in all material sets.Collaborate with R&D, product development, and operations teams to integrate innovative materials, processes, and technologies into new product designs.Drive efforts to improve product yield, reduce waste, increase throughput, and lower production costs through advanced process optimization techniques.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Work closely with product development, R&D, and supply chain teams to ensure the manufacturability of new products, taking into account production scalability, cost-effectiveness, and design constraints.Support the development of new processes for product scaling, from pilot through full-scale production, ensuring timelines and budgets are met.Collaborate with quality assurance teams to ensure that product quality standards are met across all manufacturing processes.
Quality & Compliance:
Ensure that all manufacturing processes for all material sets meet Kohler’s high-quality standards and comply with all industry regulations and environmental requirements.Lead efforts to ensure that the manufacturing processes are capable of producing products with consistent quality, reliability, and performance.Implement and sustain robust quality control mechanisms, including real-time monitoring, failure analysis, and root cause analysis for continuous quality improvement.
Sustainability & Environmental Responsibility:
Champion sustainability efforts in manufacturing by identifying and implementing process improvements that reduce energy consumption, waste, and carbon footprint.Integrate sustainable practices into the production of all material set products, focusing on reducing environmental impact and improving resource efficiency.Work with product teams to incorporate environmentally responsible materials and processes into the manufacturing operations.
Capital Projects & Budget Management:
Manage capital investment projects related to the expansion and improvement of manufacturing lines for all material sets.Oversee the engineering budget for manufacturing operations, ensuring that projects are executed on time and within budget.Lead cost reduction initiatives by identifying areas for cost optimization in manufacturing processes and equipment.
Team Development & Leadership:
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of manufacturing engineers, ensuring continuous professional development and knowledge transfer.Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within the manufacturing engineering team.Provide leadership on problem-solving, technical expertise, and mentoring for team members to drive overall performance improvements.
Technology & Equipment Management:
Lead the selection and implementation of new manufacturing technologies and equipment for all material set products.Ensure that all manufacturing equipment is regularly maintained and optimized for performance, safety, and longevity.Stay abreast of industry trends and technologies to maintain Kohler’s leadership in manufacturing innovation.
Global Manufacturing Strategy:
Support Kohler’s global manufacturing strategy by ensuring the implementation of best practices across all manufacturing sites involved in the production of all material set products.Work with global operations and engineering teams to standardize processes and leverage synergies across Kohler’s manufacturing network.Develop and implement strategies for scalability and flexibility to meet changing global market demands.