Industrial Engineer

Position Summary / Essential Function

The Industrial Engineer develops, validates, and maintains accurate labor and process standards for the manufacturing plant. Working in close partnership with the Senior Cost Accountant, the role traces estimates through ERP and costing systems, validates routings and assumptions through direct observation and time studies, and fact-checks system-generated costs against actual shop-floor conditions. The essential function is to apply industrial-engineering methods and independent technical judgment to improve the accuracy of product costs, labor standards, capacity assumptions, and operating decisions.

Key Responsibilities

· Plan and conduct stopwatch, work-sampling, predetermined-motion-time, and other appropriate time studies; establish defensible standard times and document methods, allowances, assumptions, and observed conditions.

· Partner with the Senior Cost Accountant to vet material, labor, machine, burden, setup, scrap, yield, and overhead assumptions used in product cost estimates and standard costs.

· Trace estimates end to end through ERP, MRP, quoting, routing, bill-of-material, labor-reporting, and costing processes; identify data gaps, logic errors, duplicate assumptions, and disconnects between systems and actual operations.

· Validate bills of material, routings, work centers, run rates, setup times, crew sizes, yields, scrap factors, outside-processing steps, and production quantities through floor observation and data analysis.

· Reconcile engineered standards and system estimates to actual labor hours, machine hours, throughput, scrap, rework, and production performance; investigate material variances and recommend corrections.

· Develop and maintain labor standards, process maps, value-stream maps, capacity models, line-balance analyses, and standard-work documentation.

· Support cost-estimating and quoting activities by supplying verified cycle times, staffing assumptions, process sequences, equipment requirements, and capacity constraints.

· Analyze manufacturing processes to identify bottlenecks, non-value-added work, avoidable motion, excess handling, and opportunities to improve flow, productivity, quality, and cost.

· Coordinate with Operations, Finance, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Scheduling, IT, and Commercial teams to implement approved master-data, routing, and process changes.

· Create clear audit trails and change-control documentation for standards and cost inputs; support periodic standard-cost updates and post-implementation reviews.

· Prepare actionable analyses and recommendations for plant and finance leadership, including financial and operational impact, risks, implementation requirements, and expected results.

· Perform other related duties consistent with the role, grade, and business needs.

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree or higher level in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field required.

· Three or more years of industrial engineering experience in a manufacturing environment, including direct responsibility for time studies and the development or validation of labor and process standards.

· Demonstrated experience evaluating routings, bills of material, cycle times, setup times, yields, scrap, throughput, capacity, and actual-versus-standard performance.

· Working knowledge of manufacturing cost drivers and the ability to partner effectively with cost accounting.

· Proficiency with ERP or MRP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

· Ability to work regularly on the manufacturing floor and to observe processes for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

· Five or more years of progressive industrial engineering experience in discrete, metals, wire, cable, or other process-oriented manufacturing environment.

· Hands-on experience partnering with cost accounting to develop or validate standard costs, quoted costs, burden rates, manufacturing variances, and product-profitability assumptions.

· Experience with ERP-based bills of material, routings, work centers, labor reporting, standard-cost rolls, and engineering or master-data change controls.

· Experience applying Lean manufacturing, value-stream mapping, line balancing, capacity analysis, root-cause analysis, and statistical methods.

· Experience developing engineered labor standards using predetermined motion-time systems, work sampling, or statistically valid direct-observation methods.

· Advanced Microsoft Excel capability and familiarity with Power BI, SQL, Minitab, or equivalent analytical tools.

· Demonstrated ability to translate technical observations and cost findings into practical cross-functional recommendations.

Preferred Certifications

· Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.

· Formal certification or training in MOST, MTM, MODAPTS, or another recognized work-measurement system.

· Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE), Certified Manufacturing Technologist (CMfgT), or equivalent SME credential.

· APICS Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), where relevant to routing, capacity, inventory, or production-planning analysis.

· Project Management Professional (PMP) or comparable project-management certification.

Key Competencies

· Time study and work measurement

· Manufacturing cost and variance analysis

· ERP and master-data validation

· Standard work and process documentation

· Root-cause analysis and continuous improvement

· Data integrity and attention to detail

· Cross-functional partnership

· Independent technical judgment

· Clear written and verbal communication

· Change management and follow-through

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

The role operates in both office and active manufacturing environments. It requires frequent walking and standing on the production floor; observation of machinery and production activities; use of a computer and measurement tools; and communication in areas where hearing protection or other personal protective equipment may be required. Reasonable accommodations will be considered in accordance with applicable law. This description identifies the essential functions of the position but is not intended to list every physical activity or working condition.

Benefits

Subject to the terms, eligibility requirements, and amendment provisions of the applicable plans and policies:

· 401(k) with matching

· Dental insurance

· Employee assistance program

· Flexible spending account

· Health insurance

· Health savings account

· Life insurance

· Paid time off

· Referral program

· Tuition reimbursement

· Vision insurance

Pre-Employment Drug Testing

All applicants who are offered a position with the Company will be required to successfully complete a post-offer drug screening, where permitted by applicable law and in accordance with Company policy.

At-Will Employment

Employment with the Company is at will. Either the employee or the Company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law. Nothing in this job description creates a contract of employment or alters the at-will employment relationship.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination or harassment based on any protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.