Industrial Engineering Lead

Description

The Industrial Engineering Lead at GM Bedford GPS provides technical and leadership direction for industrial engineering across the plant, with a strong focus on die casting and machining operations . This role partners closely with production, maintenance, quality, and HR/LR to implement lean manufacturing systems , improve throughput, and ensure standardized work and manpower plans support both current operations and future programs.

What You Will Do (Key Responsibilities)

Plant Industrial Engineering Leadership

• Serve as the primary IE leader for Bedford GPS, setting direction for industrial engineering strategies that support safety, quality, throughput, and cost objectives.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and indirect leadership to plant industrial engineers; coach team members on methods, tools, and GM Global Manufacturing System (GMS) standards.
• Lead IE participation in site capacity planning, people-power planning, and productivity improvement plans.

• Develop, recommend, and implement changes that improve manufacturing processes, labor utilization, and product quality in casting, machining, and assembly areas.
• Analyze throughput, OEE, and bottleneck data to identify constraints; lead Throughput Improvement Process (TIP) activities and structured problem-solving.
• Optimize sequence of operations, line balance, and workflow to support takt time, ergonomic, and staffing targets.
• Create and maintain crew plans and headcount models to ensure resources are properly allocated and utilized effectively.

• Own and oversee the accuracy of IE documentation, including Assembly Process System (APS), Standard Time Data System (STDS), Standard Operation Sheets (SOS), routings, AutoCAD layouts, and labor reporting (Global Workbook / GWB) .
• Lead development and validation of standardized work for new and existing products, ensuring integration of mandatory sequence steps, KPCs, ergonomic requirements, and quality controls.
• Support new program launches and engineering changes by:

• Participating in core teams and manufacturing readiness reviews.
• Providing process layouts, manpower plans, and timing inputs to program teams.
• Coordinating pre-production trials, run-at-rate, and ramp-up IE deliverables.

• Develop, monitor, and analyze Manufacturing Master Schedules to track progress, assess risk, and highlight performance gaps; apply critical path methods for launch and major change activities.
• Build and maintain IE-owned metrics dashboards (productivity, labor efficiency, throughput, ergonomic risk, schedule adherence) and drive closure of gap-to-target action plans.
• Provide clear, data-driven insights and recommendations to plant leadership, production staff, and maintenance teams.

• Champion safe work practices and ergonomic improvements in all IE studies and layout changes; partner with Safety and HRLR on compliance and risk reduction initiatives.
• Ensure IE practices, standards, and changes are consistent with UAW-GM National Agreement provisions and local agreements, working collaboratively with union representatives and HR/LR where IE work impacts job content, staffing, or schedules.

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or a related engineering/technical field, or equivalent IE experience.
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment (casting, machining, or automotive strongly preferred).
• 2+ years of supervisory, lead, or strong informal leadership experience (leading projects, cross-functional teams, or IE teams).
• Demonstrated experience with:
  
  
  • Lean manufacturing tools (e.g., value stream mapping, line balancing, standard work, 5S, waste elimination).
  • Industrial engineering fundamentals (time studies, work measurement, line balancing, methods engineering).
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel and data analysis; comfort with large datasets and visualization for decision making.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams (production, maintenance, quality, HR/LR) and drive change.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex analyses and recommendations clearly to hourly and salaried audiences.

• 2+ years of experience specifically in die casting and/or machining industrial engineering within automotive or a unionized manufacturing environment.
• Prior experience as a Lead/Staff Industrial Engineer or similar role with responsibility for mentoring/supervising other engineers.
• Demonstrated experience and/or knowledge of GM Global Manufacturing System (GMS) and related IE standards, including APS, STDS, and GWB.
• Experience with AutoCAD or similar tools for industrial layouts and material flow design.
• Direct experience planning and executing new product launches or major process changes in a plant environment.
• Background in ergonomics, productivity systems, or structured continuous improvement (e.g., Six Sigma, Kaizen leadership).