Manufacturing Performance Engineer

Do you love snacks? Are you looking to join an ever evolving and rapidly growing team? PIM Brands might just be exactly what you’re looking for!

At PIM, We Make The Brands You Love®. Our portfolio of products, from Welch’s® Fruit Snacks to Sun-Maid® Chocolate Raisins and Sour Jacks® Sour Candies are enjoyed by millions of consumers every day. And when it comes to careers, we seek talented, results-oriented individuals who want to play a part in building amazing brands and products while working in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-paced office environment. At PIM, you can make an immediate and lasting contribution to help grow iconic snack and confectionery brands, no matter your area of expertise.

We are looking for a Manufacturing Performance Engineer interested in a career with a top ranked and growing snack company, to join our Operations department at PIM’s manufacturing site Somerset, New Jersey. This position will report to our  Operations Manager.

Job Overview

This position will be responsible for driving operational excellence and continuous improvement to the Somerset Manufacturing plant supporting Fruit snacks production through safe and compliant manufacturing operations using Lean Six sigma and TPM data driven tools. The role will require proven lean leadership and expertise that drives disciplined problem solving and effective continuous improvement via communication, coordination and collaboration across relevant cross functional groups to improve capabilities and to establish a strong culture that enables robust production, testing and release of product to consumers.

Duties & Responsibilities 

• Drives and executes an effective continuous improvement and problem-solving program to improve safety, compliance, cost, process stability, building quality and efficiency into processes to improve performance and reduce losses of the plant.

• Identify process improvement opportunities with departmental leads based on data, facilitate sessions, lead and support execution of newly established improvements.

• Lead projects to improve productivity, reduce waste and improve overall equipment efficiencies (OEE) across manufacturing lines with target annual cost savings of $1M.

• Execute defined continuous improvement programs using lean six sigma manufacturing tools such as DMAIC, Standard work, KPI metrics, visuals, PDCA, SMED, Pareto Analysis, FMEA, A3 thinking, Time studies, Poka-yoke, Value-stream mapping and others.

• Support Plant management on food safety and quality issues and involve quality improvement activities, participate in CAPA, and facilitate RCA on quality issues.

• Analyze data by utilizing statistical tools and digital dashboards (Power BI, Tableau and other analytics) to create actionable insights, improve process capability and defect elimination.

• Leads, facilitates and coaches others in training events to develop employees on continuous improvement and High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS) role model; promote servant leadership and Gemba Walks.

• Facilitates daily huddle meetings, drive “Win the Day” and other Daily Management System (DMS) meeting in collaboration with business leaders in the plant organization.

• Follow PIM Brands GMP rules and monitor fellow employees for adherence to GMP’s.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career and the following experience and knowledge:

• Experience implementing CI processes using Lean Six Sigma and TPM methodologies

• Logical thinking and capacity to influence

• Experience in change-management processes

• Results oriented and prepared to deal with ambiguity

• Data driven mind set and experience using data driven tools

• Strong facilitation and communication skills, Be comfortable to deal and collaborate with shop floor employees, peers and Managers

• knowledge and capability to train others on CI program management and root cause problem solving skills to eliminate loss/waste.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Preferably Industrial/Manufacturing engineering, Mechanical Engineering and supply chain operations).

• Extensive management knowledge includes Lean Manufacturing, performance improvement processes, and TPM concepts.

• Good working knowledge of the supply chain and plant organization, preferably on confectionary and food snacks manufacturing process.

• Solid knowledge of Focused Improvement/ Analytical Skills (Root Cause Analysis and other Focus Improvement tools.

• Ability to leverage on diversity and blend people into teams to create strong morale.

• Effective at being a Servant Leader with the ability to lead and manage change.

• Results driven with a strong sense of urgency and complete work on time.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to effectively communicate with entire organization from hourly employees through executive leadership. Must have effective coaching skills at shop floor level.

• Excellent planning and organization skills and proven ability to improve results & increase efficiency.

• Ability to build positive relationships with plant leadership, corporate team and other functions as necessary.

• Experience in creating SOPs, Work instructions, OPLs and use these to train employees.

• Knowledge and Proficiency on Excel, Pivot Tables, Tableau, Power BI, SQL etc. and ability to create KPI dashboards.

• Knowledge on using Statistical Analysis, SAP and Data driven softwires.

Worksite: 

• The PIM Brands in Somerset, New Jersey

• The role requires working on-site: Monday thru Friday.  

• Estimated travel <15% to agencies, manufacturing locations, trade shows, etc.  

We are proud to offer:

• The pay range for this position is $ $85,000.00 to $95,00.00 per year. PIM Brands takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

• Total compensation package including bonus, 401(k) plan match and other incentives (*based on eligibility and position)

• Comprehensive benefits package - EFFECTIVE DAY 1, Including medical, dental, vision, disability, insurance plans and much more

• Diverse range of benefit choices tailored to support you in making optimal decisions for yourself, your loved ones, and your preferred way of life

• Personal time off, vacation time, floating days and observed holidays

• Business casual dress

• Entrepreneurial and innovative culture offering the opportunity for internal career advancement

 Awards & Accolades: 

• #10 Candy Company in North America

• #26 Global Candy Company 

• Makers of Welch’s - #1 Fruit Snack in U.S.

• 2024 Advocate of the Year Award 

• Recognized by NJBIA - State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Facility and in Research/Development 2024

• Recognized by New Jersey Business Magazine 2024

• Top 100 Privately Owned Company in the Metro NYC Market

• Top 50 Employer in New Jersey

PIM Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer

PIM Brands is an E-Verify Employer

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