International Automotive Components
General Description
- Ensures components are protected during transit from the supplier to the vehicle assembly plant. This role involves designing, developing, and testing packaging solutions that balance cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and the safe delivery of automotive parts. It's a cross-functional position requiring strong collaboration with internal teams, suppliers, and customers.
- Establish packaging systems with optimal effectiveness.
- Develops and specifies new and revised packaging.
- Develops and implements process improvements.
- Requires advanced knowledge of industry regulatory requirements for packaging components and their related testing and documentation.
- Packaging Design & Development:
- Leads the design and development of innovative and functional packaging solutions (returnable and expendable) that meet specific requirements for automotive components.
- Considers factors such as product protection, material flow, logistics, and ergonomic handling within the automotive manufacturing environment.
- Develops and approves package testing plans and interprets results.
- Creates detailed technical documentation, including drawings, specifications, and bill of materials.
- Supplier Collaboration & Management:
- Partners with external packaging suppliers to ensure packaging solutions meet design specifications and quality standards.
- May assist in selecting and managing packaging vendors.
- Cost Optimization & Efficiency:
- Analyzes current packaging processes and designs to identify opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency improvement.
- Evaluates expendable vs. returnable container costs to improve quality and reduce costs.
- Coordinates efforts to minimize material handling and optimize warehouse layouts.
- Compliance & Quality:
- Ensures packaging designs and processes adhere to relevant industry standards and regulations (e.g., IATF 16949, ISO 9001).
- May develop and maintain Logistics Management Information (LMI) and Special Packaging Instructions (SPI) in accordance with customer and regulatory requirements.
- Addresses supplier compliance issues and assists with quality-related investigations.
- Project Management & Leadership:
- Manages multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring adherence to timelines and budgets.
- Leads cross-functional project teams, providing technical guidance and expertise.
- May mentor junior packaging professionals.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. A Master's degree may be preferred.
- Experience: Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in packaging engineering, preferably in the automotive industry or with a Tier 1 supplier. Experience in manufacturing engineering, supply chain, or warehousing operations is a plus.
- Strong knowledge of various packaging materials (e.g., corrugate, plastics, foams, molded pulp, steel, aluminum).
- Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, CATIA).
- Familiarity with industry standards such as ASTM and ISTA.
- Understanding of packaging testing and validation methodologies.
- Knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes and component development.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
- Ability to work effectively in a team environment and lead projects independently.
- Detail-oriented with a focus on delivering high-quality result