IPC Paint Engineer - In-Process Control

IPC Paint Engineer

In-Process Control - Paint

Company Overview: 

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. or “SIA”, located in Lafayette, Indiana, is the only Subaru vehicle manufacturing facility outside of Japan. SIA is a 4.4 million square foot automotive OEM – meaning our manufacturing process begins with coils of steel and ends with the high-quality vehicles you see out on the roads. We employ 6700+ Associates, both production and administrative, all under one roof. SIA is the safest automotive manufacturing plant in the United States and is also a pillar in the community due to its numerous fundraising activities held onsite, donations to local charities and plentiful volunteer opportunities. SIA is a frontrunner in environmental conservation being the first Zero-Landfill automotive manufacturing plant and the first to have its campus designated a backyard wildlife habitat. SIA has grown tremendously since its 1989 beginnings and continues to be an example of success within the automotive industry.

Position Summary:

The In-Process Control (IPC) Paint Engineer collects production data and applies scientific and statistical methods to analyze, document, and diagram production processes. A process engineer is responsible for identifying production problems and likewise identifying methods for resolution. They recommend and implement changes to equipment, work methods and other aspects of production to improve the utilization of all relevant resources. 

Outline of Duties:

Interpret color, appearance quality, and film build data and correlate to complete vehicle concerns.

1. Monitor sealer/PVC/damp coat, blackout/wax, foam, and pretreat/ED process outputs to ensure all drawing/standard requirements are met.
2. Request and verify process countermeasures when needed.
3. Actively pursue new ways of analyzing and communicating data to improve quality.
4. Develop and maintain list of critical product and process indicators.
5. Conduct process audits to ensure that process indicators are being properly tracked and maintained when requested.
6. Lead improvement plans to validate production processes to achieve department & plant targets for both new model and current production.
7. Create and maintain project schedules and quality punch lists.
8. Support and/or lead Paint Shop in root cause analysis of any paint quality concerns.
9. Actively participate in cross-functional teams to recommend and countermeasure plant-wide issues.
10. Create professional documents to record and track measurement results.
11. Lead and/or support continuous improvement activities to improve paint functionality, film build, appearance, and color match/color harmony.
12. Support hourly associates and ensure that best practices are being used for measurement/auditing activities.
13. Aid and support Paint Production, Process Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or New Model Pilot Team in process validations as needed.
14. Evaluate all Paint Shop processes and implement drawing changes or Inspection Standard updates to improve application or understanding.
15. Maintain inventory of parts for relevant equipment.
16. All other duties as assigned.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the Associate for this role. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associates degree in a technical field (i.e., Industrial, Chemical, or Mechanical) plus 1 – 3 years of relevant experience, or 5+ years equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of degree

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field (i.e., Industrial, Chemical, or Mechanical) and 3 or more years of relevant experience
• Previous experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally a paint/coatings application and/or a quality-related role
• Paint application/mix room experience
• Previous chemistry/lab experience - optical microscopy, FTIR, and physical property testing will be most important.
• Experience with Catia, Solidworks, or other similar 3D CAD software.

Work Hours:

This role generally works first shift hours (6:00 am to 2:30 pm Monday – Friday) and is subject to occasional overtime to meet demands of production, which may include 1-3 scheduled Saturdays per year and occasional daily overtime. This role does not currently allow for remote work opportunities.

Travel:

This role requires minimal travel, however, day trips to suppliers could be necessary. Occasional travel may be required mainly for off-site training, supplier visits, or business collaboration purposes.

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to employing a diverse workforce.