Launch Manager
Location: Hamptonville, NC
Lydech is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.
The Thermal Acoustical Solutions segment offers a full line of innovative engineered products to assist in noise and heat abatement within the automotive and industrial markets. The business manufactures acoustical damping and thermal insulating solutions comprised of fiber and metal based composite product constructions. These products are typically found in the interior (dash insulators), underbody (wheel well, fuel tank, exhaust) and under hood (engine compartment) of passenger vehicles, heavy duty trucks, recreational vehicles as well as in other industrial applications. The segment employs approximately ~1400 employees with operations in the U.S., Germany, France and China.
Job Summary:
- This position is responsible to manage the industrialization of production tooling and equipment processes to ensure new products launch on time and on budget and to customer and corporate expectations. The Launch Manager is the leader for Phase Gates 3, 4 and 5 – Trial Development & Process Lock, Run at Rate and PPAP Approval, and SOP+90 days Budget Review & Lessons Learned. The Launch Manager will support the Project Manager during Phase Gates 1 and 2 – Program Award & Design Freeze, and Process and Tooling Design.
Job Duties:
- Develop/design tooling – Work withtooling suppliers to assure that the purchased tooling and equipment meets the required tolerances, can produce at the rate required/quoted, causes an acceptable amount of scrap, and fits within the existing equipment (bed size, shut height, open height, bolt pattern, tonnage, etc.). Utilize direct support from resources in Lydech’s Tooling Group during the design and development of production tooling. Conduct Runoff/Trials for tooling and dedicated equipment to ensure all requirements are met for Gate 3 and 4.
- Manage timeline – manage the timing for tooling and equipment such that the required milestones are met based on customer requirements as they were defined at the quoting and sourcing phases. Modify and manage timing as the project scope changes due to customer modifications. (Note: overall project timing unless customer changes scope.)
- Manage budget – successfully launch project within the quoted budget.
- Manage open issues and tasks list – Drive project through APQP meetings in which open issues and required tasks are coordinated through the cross functional team. (R&D Eng., Manufacturing, Process Eng., Quality Eng., DSTC, Operations, Purchasing, Finance, etc.).
- Track/manage all PPAP activities – coordinate the completion of process flows, control plans, work instructions, capability analysis, material specifications, etc. Drive core Team members that are responsible for each task, as well as support and participate in the development of this documentation when needed.
- Run internal/external trials – coordinate the scheduling of the line, labor, and procurement of materials until the part is fully launched into production. Initiate and oversee the trial until complete or until acceptable based on the complexity of the trial.
- Coordinate/submit all internal documentation – Ensure BOM’s and Routings, and all units within, are correct per the pre-production trials. Ensure pre-production Trials are planned and occur on-time in support of Gate 3 and Gate 4 milestones.
- Quote new projects – Support quoting based on review of customer supplied data and requirements and the capability of the existing equipment and processes. Work with process engineering to determine capital requirements if project will not work within existing processes. Obtain tooling quotes from suppliers with support from resources in Lydech’s Tooling Group.
- Reconcile actual and quoted costs – Track and confirm that production costs due to tool scrap rates, material usage and throughput rates are equivalent or better than those originally quoted. If costs are higher, develop, manage and implement action plan to achieve quoted costs.
- Customer print – Support review of customer drawings with Novi Design Center and accept or reject the print based on process capabilities. Confirm part will meet all test requirements and specified GD&T.
- Submit for testing – submit parts or material for testing based on customer requirements.
- Coordination of tool shipments.
Education, Experience, Skills and Abilities Required for Consideration as a Candidate:
- Must have four years technical studies in engineering or a related discipline.
- Must have at least three years of project management/launch management experience in automotive industry.
- Must have a working knowledge of GD&T.
- Must have a working knowledge of the APQP process and requirements for automotive PPAP.
- Ability to multitask and meet stringent deadlines, with effective time management skills.
- Ability to be an effective communicator across all levels of the business,
- Well-organized with good time management skills to work independently. Demonstrated computer skills; Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project.
- Proven self- starter with good decision-making skill.
- Financial acumen
Preferred Experience/Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a technical discipline.
- Automotive application engineering / program management experience at a Tier I automotive supplier.
- Knowledge/experience in metal stamping products/processes.
- Knowledge/experience in molded fiber products/processes.
- Knowledge/experience in CAD/CAE design/analysis capability.
- Understanding of product development and validation methods (i.e., testing, FEA, DVP, DFMEA)
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $120,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Evening shift
- Night shift
- Overtime
Experience:
- Project Management/Launch: 3 years (Required)
- Automotive Manufacturing: 4 years (Required)
- GD&T: 3 years (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Hamptonville, NC 27020: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person