NPI Project Engineer

at ITW in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States

Job Description

ITW Construction provides a variety of fastening systems and truss products for the commercial, residential, and remodeling/renovation segments. With products manufactured at locations around the globe serving markets in North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

As a central component of ITW’s Construction segment the Global Tool Unit (GTU) innovates, develops, and manufactures best-in-class power fastening systems for the global marketplace, serving construction markets in North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. Our highly differentiated systems are specified to be used in a variety of applications including wood framing, wood trim, and steel to concrete installations

ITW offers its employees a path for advancement, a competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package designed to help employees care for themselves, their families, and their futures.

The New Product Industrialization (NPI) group at the GTU integrates into new tool projects during the design phase while assuming full project management responsibility for new product launches from the New Product Development (NPD) Group at the CapEx Stage through successful deployment.

The NPI Project Engineer is accountable for all elements of the strategic launch of new tools through the Develop and Deploy stages of a project. Launches require continuous monitoring and reassessment of a balance being maintained between customer needs and manufacturing capabilities. This occurs throughout a series of part and assembly manufacturing trials that test suppliers’ abilities to maintain quality while adhering to aggressive timelines and achievement of key market objectives. This individual critically has a complete understanding of the total project impact of each individual decision as it relates to functional design, quality, manufacturability, cost, and timing and how a decision on one affects all the others. This role will serve as the cross-functional leader of a project, across several teams within the business, to facilitate proper responsibility of tasks.

This role will report to the GTU’s NPI Manager.

Project Management

+ Maintains, plans, and organizes activities of projects to meet goals following CapEx

+ Accountable for timeline, team tasks, project progress following CapEx

+ Runs project meetings including Stage Gate

+ Leader for managing project issues and communications on solutions

+ Driver of continuous improvement and speed to market

Product Approval

+ Monitors and assess field feedback to balance DFM and Customer-Back Innovation

+ Coordinates validation & field testing with responses?

+ Ensures standardization and simplification in NPD projects around part selection and manufacturability

+ Manages print reviews supplier meetings, point of escalation for QA & issue management

+ Manages tooling and supplied parts timelines through Create, Develop & Deploy

+ Partner within the business to solve challenges associated with creating and maintaining quality management systems and processes that support GTU standards

Robust Quality Launch

+ Partners with NPI/NPD Engineering, Sourcing, Quality, and all other applicable groups through product development and deploy processes supporting ISO standards

+ Drives quality considerations throughout NPD and NPI processes

+ Develops supplier base around strong quality controls and supplier relationships

+ For every tool component included in NPI launches, ensure parts adhere to print and expectations, from initial samples through first-run production parts

+ Take ownership for quality issues throughout the product launch cycle and align with internal and external partners plans to mitigate issues while maintaining project timelines

+ Travel to supplier locations to align on quality expectations and/or resolve quality problems

+ Establish/maintain effective systems of internal communications to all quality stakeholders

+ Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline required

+ Minimum 5 years of related experience in a Design Engineering role

+ Minimum 2 years of related experience in Project Management (this is key!)

+ Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

+ Proficient with applicable spreadsheet, database, and statistical software

+ Strong problem solving and organizational skills

+ Experience with product quality and process analysis including APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, and MOI are highly desired

+ Basic knowledge of electro-mechanical process including plastic and metal injection molding, investment casting, and stamping are a plus

+ Able to travel globally as required, up to 20%

ITW is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

_All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. _

ITW is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.