Senior Industrial Engineer
Job Fit Check
Base Career helps you apply smarter for this job.
Full Job Posting
The Senior Industrial Engineer serves as a subject matter expert in industrial engineering, lean manufacturing, labor optimization, facility planning, and material flow strategy. This position is responsible for leading complex operational improvement initiatives, developing long-term manufacturing strategies, and driving sustainable productivity improvements across plant operations. The Senior Industrial Engineer partners with Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Program Management, and Continuous Improvement teams to optimize labor utilization, facility layouts, capacity planning, and operational performance while supporting the successful launch of new business and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Lead large-scale lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity performance.
- Develop and implement strategic facility flow improvements to enhance material movement, floor space utilization, and manufacturing efficiency.
- Lead value stream mapping exercises and develop future-state roadmaps with measurable improvement targets.
- Champion Kaizen events and facilitate cross-functional teams in identifying and eliminating waste.
- Establish and monitor key industrial engineering performance metrics, ensuring achievement of plant and organizational objectives.
- Serve as the site's industrial engineering expert for labor productivity, operational efficiency, and manufacturing optimization initiatives.
Labor Planning & Productivity Management
- Lead direct and indirect labor planning activities for new and existing programs.
- Develop labor models, staffing plans, and workforce optimization strategies using labor standards and analytical tools.
- Conduct advanced time studies, work sampling, line balancing, and labor analysis utilizing MODAPTS® or equivalent methodologies.
- Validate labor assumptions during quoting, program launches, and operational changes.
- Maintain and continuously improve labor databases, standards, and best practices across operations.
Facility Layout & Material Flow
- Own facility planning and layout strategy, ensuring alignment with business growth, operational requirements, and corporate standards.
- Lead plant layout redesign projects utilizing AutoCAD and facility planning tools.
- Evaluate warehouse capacity requirements and optimize storage, supermarkets, line-side presentation, kitting, and material delivery methods.
- Develop integrated material flow solutions that support lean manufacturing principles and operational scalability.
- Identify and implement automation opportunities related to material handling, AGVs, conveyance systems, and warehouse operations.
Program Launch & Capital Projects
- Lead industrial engineering support for new product launches from concept through production implementation.
- Participate in facility footprint planning and manufacturing strategy decisions.
- Develop capital expenditure requests and business cases supporting automation, equipment investments, and operational improvements.
- Provide industrial engineering leadership during equipment installation, facility expansions, and plant reconfiguration projects.
- Support AME, Operations, and Program Management teams with manufacturing readiness and capacity planning activities.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Act as a technical mentor to Industrial Engineers, CI Engineers, and engineering interns.
- Provide direction and guidance on industrial engineering methodologies, labor standards, and lean principles.
- Lead cross-functional project teams without direct reporting authority.
- Support the development and deployment of engineering best practices across multiple facilities.
- Present improvement strategies, project status, and business results to plant and senior leadership teams.
Additional responsibilities
- May be involved in helping to move heavy parts within plants
- May assist line with product changes to meet specifications.
- May have Yanfeng interns assigned to them for supervisory development and project coordination.
Qualifications
- Bachelors of Science Degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Operations Engineering or related.
- 7+ Years of Experience in Industrial Engineering.
- 5+ Years of Experience within the automotive industry desired.
- Must be able and willing to travel and work at customer sites, including industrial manufacturing plants which might require climbing, lifting, or working in confined spaces.
- Extensive experience with labor planning, time studies, line balancing, and capacity analysis.
- Advanced knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, value stream mapping, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex operational improvement projects.
- Advanced AutoCAD and facility layout planning experience.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret operational and financial data.
- Experience supporting new program launches and manufacturing expansions.
- Ability to influence teams and drive results in a matrix organization.
- Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and project management skills.
- Ability to travel as required within North American manufacturing operations.
- Flexible work with regional plant visits as required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt Certification.
- MODAPTS® Certification.
- APICS / ASCM Certification.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
- Experience with simulation modelling, automation systems, AGVs, and Industry 4.0 technologies.
- Multi-site manufacturing support experience.
• Competitive Compensation Packages
- Generous Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Leave and Paid Holidays
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits from day one
• Rewarding Healthy Behavior Program
- Life and Disability Insurance
About YFAI-AP
Global automotive supplier specializing in interior and seating systems.
Visit company websiteApply for this job in 1 click
Skip the repetitive application forms
Install the Base Career Chrome Extension and autofill job applications across major job boards with your profile.
Trusted by over 500,000 job seekers on Base Career
More from this employer
More jobs at YFAI-AP
Senior Finance Analyst - Treasury
Novi, USA
Main Responsibilities: Daily cash management of the business in North America and EU, including: the determination of the opening bank balance in various currencies, the identification of the daily in and out flows, adju
Plant IT Professional
Holland, USA
Primary IT support resource for PC/Server, Microsoft Office Applications and Desktop clients. Use standard monitoring solution and gather feedback from users. Analyze system issues and provides solutions if possible. Esc
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Novi, USA
The Recruiter is responsible for reviewing applicants and selecting those candidates that best match the job criteria and who will progress to the next screening phase. The professional recruiter will conduct and coordin
EHS Professional
Holland, USA
The EHS Professional is responsible for assisting in the implementation the YF iOS and YFIMS to eliminate the risk of occupational injury and illness, and environmental non-compliance in a manufacturing environment. Spea
Project Manager, Pilot Programs
, USA
Job Summary The Project Manager, Pilot Programs is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and successful implementation of new manufacturing pilot programs within the facility. This role serves as the primary c
Senior Professional, IT Systems
Novi, USA
Job Summary The Senior Professional, IT Hosting Services is accountable for delivering hosting services in accordance with established SLAs while ensuring deployment projects are completed on time, within scope, and to q
Controls Engineer
Holland, USA
Diagnose and resolve causes of electrical and mechanical malfunctions on all equipment. Assist the maintenance department in installing new electronic/electrical control equipment and making it operational. Develop engin
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Monroe, USA
Job Summary Provide single point technical contact on engineering and technical topics and issues. Direct reports may include product engineers and designers. Main Responsibilities Understand customer engineering organiz
Senior Finance Analyst - Treasury
Novi, USA
Plant IT Professional
Holland, USA
Talent Acquisition Specialist
Novi, USA
EHS Professional
Holland, USA
Project Manager, Pilot Programs
, USA
Senior Professional, IT Systems
Novi, USA
Controls Engineer
Holland, USA
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Monroe, USA