Manufacturing Systems Optimization Engineer

Manufacturing Systems Optimization Engineer 2.4 2.4 out of 5 stars Whitewater, WI 53190 $50,000 - $70,000 a year The Scharine Group Inc. 17 reviews $50,000 - $70,000 a year The Scharine Group Inc , a leading manufacturer of custom material handling equipment in Whitewater, Wisconsin, invites a results‑driven engineer to elevate how work flows across our operations. A day in the role You start your morning reviewing KPI dashboards and yesterday's run data, spotting a bottleneck that added five minutes to a critical assembly cell. By mid‑morning you're on the floor conducting a time study and mapping the workflow. After lunch, you model layout alternatives with capacity and forecasting inputs to validate throughput gains. You close the day by documenting a new standard work sequence and aligning with production, quality, supply chain, and design engineering on the rollout plan—complete with projected cost savings. What you'll tackle Diagnose current processes with time studies, workflow mapping, and data modeling to pinpoint improvement opportunities Design and deploy optimized layouts, processes, and systems that lift throughput and reduce operating cost Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement projects across manufacturing Author and sustain SOPs, work instructions, and process documentation Apply simulation, forecasting, and capacity modeling to guide strategic planning and resource allocation Mine operational data to uncover trends, root causes, and performance gaps Collaborate with production, quality, supply chain, and engineering to deliver durable improvements Advance automation, digital transformation, and technology integration initiatives Serve as the in‑house expert on material moving equipment, including tuggers, automated guided vehicles (AGV), and autonomous mobile robots (AMR) Enhance ergonomics, safety, and flow using human‑factors engineering Track KPIs and communicate outcomes, cost reductions, and productivity gains What you bring Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or a closely related field Sharp analytical and problem‑solving abilities Hands‑on experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other CI methodologies Strength in data interpretation, model building, and presenting insights to stakeholders Clear communication and disciplined project management skills Preferred Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or higher) CAD familiarity for layout design Background in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, or operations settings How we'll measure success Quantified reductions in cost, waste, and cycle time Higher throughput, improved quality, and steadier operations Trusted partnerships and influence across functions Well‑maintained documentation and standardized processes End‑to‑end leadership of improvement projects—from concept through implementation Tools and methods you're fluent in Data analysis and manipulation Continuous improvement 5 Why (root cause analysis) Standard operating procedures (SOPs) Process engineering Production optimization Lean manufacturing principles Process development