Graduate Manufacturing Engineer - 6 month FTC

Imagine working at the forefront of innovation in fluid-flow technology, with over 1,400 colleagues across the globe, and contributing to a legacy of excellence that spans eight manufacturing facilities on four continents. Armstrong Fluid Technology is more than just a leader in our industry; we are a community of the brightest and most creative minds, driven by a shared mission to engineer the future and safeguard our planet.

As part of our team, you'll be immersed in an environment that fosters growth, creativity, and collaboration. Here, you'll have the opportunity to push boundaries, tackle exciting challenges, and develop cutting-edge solutions that promote energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Every day offers the chance to make a meaningful contribution to a more sustainable future, driving innovations that help lower global carbon footprints. Together, we’re creating a legacy that goes beyond business—one that’s changing the world for the better.

The Manufacturing Engineer will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining manufacturing processes to increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve sustainability, and maximize profitability. This role requires collaboration with cross-functional teams, including design, quality, and production teams, to ensure that manufacturing systems are effective and meet the company's production goals.

Initial 3–6 Month Objectives

1. Layout planning and production flow analysis: Review the existing factory layout and end-to-end material and product flow; identify constraints, excess movement, work-in-progress and opportunities to improve safety, ergonomics and flow. Develop future-state layout proposals for pump assembly, test and skid build.
2. Capacity and takt time analysis: Establish current and future capacity by product family and process. Develop cycle-time and takt-time models, identify bottlenecks, assess labor and equipment requirements and define practical capacity scenarios aligned with forecast demand.
3. Standardization of assembly operations: Define repeatable assembly methods through standard work, SOPs, work instructions, process sequencing, visual controls and appropriate jigs/fixtures. Reduce variation and improve productivity, quality and first-time-right performance.
4. Defining revenue and CAPEX spend: Translate forecast revenue and production demand into manufacturing capacity requirements. Develop a prioritized CAPEX plan and supporting business cases for equipment, tooling, test capability, material handling and layout changes, with clear cost, benefit and implementation assumptions.
5. Establishment of skid-build area, SOP development and testing protocols: Design and implement a dedicated skid-build area, including layout, material presentation, assembly sequence, tooling and quality controls. Develop controlled SOPs and test protocols covering build, inspection, functional testing, recording and release.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Layout, Flow and Capacity

• Develop, evaluate and improve manufacturing layouts and production processes for pump assembly, testing and associated skid-build operations.
• Undertake process mapping and flow studies to improve material movement, workstation positioning, work-in-progress control and line-side presentation.
• Develop current-state and future-state layouts using appropriate CAD and process-mapping tools.
• Complete time studies and establish standard cycle times for key assembly and test operations.
• Develop capacity and takt models linked to forecast volumes, product mix, labour availability, shift patterns and equipment constraints.
• Identify bottlenecks and develop countermeasures to improve throughput, labour productivity and utilisation.

Standard Work & Assembly Engineering

• Create and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, process flows and standard work documentation.
• Define assembly sequences, workstation requirements, tooling, fixtures, torque requirements, quality checkpoints and ergonomic standards.
• Work directly with production teams to trial, validate and embed improved methods of working.
• Lead the establishment of a dedicated skid-build area within the Manchester facility.
• Define the production process from component receipt and kitting through assembly, inspection, test and final release.
• Develop robust testing protocols and acceptance criteria with Engineering and Quality, ensuring test results are controlled and traceable.

CAPEX, Equipment and Operational Planning

• Specify and justify equipment, tooling, fixtures, test equipment and material-handling solutions required to support the target production system.
• Develop CAPEX requirements and business cases, including costs and expected capacity, productivity and quality benefits.
• Support equipment procurement, installation, commissioning and production readiness.

Continuous Improvement and Cost Reduction

• Support the translation of revenue forecasts and production plans into labour, capacity, equipment and space requirements.
• Develop cost and investment models to support operational planning and prioritisation.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manufacturing cost, waste, handling, waiting time and other non-value-added activity.
• Apply Lean manufacturing principles to improve flow, quality, standardisation, visual management and workplace organisation.

Production Support, Training and Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide hands-on technical support to production teams in resolving manufacturing and process issues.
• Coach and train production personnel in new processes, SOPs, standard work and equipment.
• Develop implementation plans, milestones, resource requirements, risks and budgets for agreed manufacturing improvement projects.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders to deliver changes safely, on time and within approved budget.

Performance Measures and Project Governance

• Establish performance measures to demonstrate improvements in capacity, takt attainment, productivity, quality and cost.

Person Specification

Education and Experience

• Degree or equivalent practical experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong practical experience in manufacturing or process engineering within an assembly environment. Experience in pumps, rotating equipment, engineered products or low-to-medium volume/high-mix manufacturing would be advantageous.
• Practical application of Lean tools including standard work, process mapping, takt/cycle-time analysis, waste reduction, visual management and continuous improvement.
• Industrial Engineering: Demonstrable experience of factory layout planning, line balancing, capacity modelling, time studies and productivity improvement.
• Assembly & Test: Experience developing assembly processes, SOPs, work instructions, fixtures and test/inspection methods.
• CAPEX & Project Delivery: Ability to define equipment requirements, develop investment cases and manage implementation projects from concept through commissioning.
• Systems & Tools: Competence in CAD/layout software and strong analytical capability using spreadsheets and production data.
• Quality: Working knowledge of quality management systems such as ISO 9001 and controlled manufacturing documentation and traceability.

Soft Skills

• Able to work effectively on the shop floor and across Engineering, Quality, Production, Supply Chain and Finance.
• Capable of coaching teams, influencing stakeholders and driving practical change in a hands-on manufacturing environment.

Technical Skills

Measures of Success – Initial Assignment

• Agreed current-state and future-state production layout with a prioritised implementation plan.
• Documented capacity, cycle-time and takt model identifying constraints and capacity requirements.
• Standard work/SOP framework implemented for priority pump assembly operations.
• Defined revenue-to-capacity and CAPEX plan with prioritised investment requirements.
• Skid-build area established or implementation-ready, with controlled build SOPs and test protocols.
• Baseline and improvement measures established for throughput, productivity, quality and work-in-progress.

Why Armstrong Fluid Technology?

By joining us, you’ll become part of a global community dedicated to pushing the boundaries of fluid-flow technology while upholding Armstrong's commitment to sustainability. You’ll have endless opportunities to learn, grow, and make a significant impact on the world. Together, we'll build tomorrow’s solutions today.