Process Engineer - Curing

Process Engineer – Curing 

About Kumho Tire Georgia

Kumho Tire Georgia is a global tire manufacturer committed to quality, innovation, safety, and continuous improvement. At our manufacturing facility in Macon, Georgia, our teams use advanced manufacturing technology and engineering expertise to produce high-quality tires while continuously improving our processes, productivity, and product performance.

We are seeking a Process Engineer – Tire Curing & Finishing to support our Production Process Technology team. This position focuses on tire curing and finishing processes, manufacturing specifications, new product processability, quality improvement, process troubleshooting, and manufacturing standardization.

Job Summary

The Process Engineer supports the tire curing and finishing manufacturing processes by managing technical specifications, evaluating new products for mass-production readiness, troubleshooting production and quality issues, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.

This position works cross-functionally with Production, Quality, R&D, Engineering, and external partners to improve tire quality, manufacturing efficiency, process reliability, and productivity. The Process Engineer also maintains manufacturing standards, supports quality audits, analyzes tire defects and uniformity concerns, and identifies opportunities to improve tooling, molds, fixtures, equipment, and production processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage manufacturing specifications for tire curing and finishing processes, including reviewing R&D specifications and maintaining controlled documentation and revision histories.
• Conduct processability and manufacturing feasibility evaluations to determine whether new and revised products are suitable for mass production.
• Coordinate and evaluate production trials for newly developed products, identifying potential issues involving manufacturing methods, materials, machinery, or process conditions.
• Analyze trial results and prepare technical reports with findings and recommendations.
• Investigate production and field quality concerns using root cause analysis, data analysis, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Develop and implement corrective actions to reduce tire defects, improve product quality, and prevent recurring manufacturing issues.
• Troubleshoot curing and finishing process problems related to manufacturing specifications, equipment, materials, and production methods.
• Perform periodic analysis of defective tires, production samples, and manufacturing data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and execute continuous improvement and process optimization plans to improve quality, productivity, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Identify methods to improve tire repair processes, repair quality, and daily repair productivity.
• Investigate repair methods for tires with uniformity and balance concerns.
• Establish, revise, distribute, and maintain manufacturing process standards, specifications, and work instructions.
• Support implementation and standardization of new manufacturing technologies and production processes.
• Analyze out-of-specification tire uniformity conditions and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Conduct improvement testing for jigs, fixtures, molds, and containers and standardize approved process improvements.
• Monitor mold and container conditions and maintain repair and improvement histories.
• Prepare and review capital investment proposals related to manufacturing equipment, process capability, productivity, and product quality.
• Provide technical support to suppliers and other external partners when required.
• Support internal, customer, and external quality and manufacturing audits, including international certification and automotive customer audits.
• Support national product certification requirements for export markets, including applicable CCC requirements.
• Maintain and periodically update Control Plans, Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), manufacturing standards, and revision histories.
• Document process engineering activities, technical findings, process changes, and improvement results and communicate updates to appropriate leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline required.
• Knowledge of mechanical and/or chemical engineering principles as applied to manufacturing processes.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate manufacturing and quality data.
• Demonstrated problem-solving, critical-thinking, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to investigate production problems, identify root causes, and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong documentation and technical reporting skills.

Relevant Skills & Keywords

Candidates with knowledge or experience in the following areas are encouraged to apply:

• Process Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Tire Manufacturing
• Tire Curing & Finishing
• Manufacturing Process Improvement
• Continuous Improvement
• Root Cause Analysis
• Corrective Action
• Quality Improvement
• Process Optimization
• Production Engineering
• Manufacturing Specifications
• Process Standardization
• Production Troubleshooting
• Defect Analysis
• Data Analysis
• Tire Uniformity & Balance
• New Product Introduction
• Production Trials
• Process Validation
• PFMEA
• Control Plans
• Quality Management Systems
• Automotive Manufacturing
• Jigs & Fixtures
• Mold Management
• Technical Documentation
• Cross-Functional Problem Solving

Why Join Kumho Tire Georgia?

At Kumho Tire Georgia, Process Engineers have the opportunity to directly influence product quality, manufacturing efficiency, process technology, and continuous improvement in a high-volume automotive manufacturing environment. You will collaborate with production, engineering, quality, and R&D teams while developing hands-on expertise in tire manufacturing technology.

If you have a background in Mechanical Engineering or Chemical Engineering and are interested in process engineering, manufacturing technology, quality improvement, and automotive manufacturing, we encourage you to apply.