New Product Introduction Specialist

Wabtec Corporation is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for freight and transit rail. Drawing on nearly four centuries of collective experience across Wabtec, GE Transportation and Faiveley Transport, the company has unmatched digital expertise, technological innovation, and world-class manufacturing and services, enabling the digital-rail-and-transit ecosystems. Wabtec is focused on performance that drives progress, creating transportation solutions that move and improve the world. Wabtec has approximately 27,000 employees in facilities throughout the world. Visit the company’s new website at: http://www.WabtecCorp.com.

It’s not just about your career… or your job title…it’s about who you are and the impact you are going to make on the world. Do you want to go into uncharted waters…do things that haven’t been done to make yours and someone else's life better? Wabtec has been doing that for decades and we will continue to do so! Through our people, leadership development, services, technology and scale, Wabtec delivers better outcomes for global customers by speaking the language of industry.

Job Description

The New Product Introduction Specialist (NPIS) will be responsible for the transition of new products and processes from engineering design to the manufacturing and supply chain.   This position will work closely with product engineering to define manufacturing requirements within the New Product Development.  The NPI specialist will manage cross functional deliverables, develop schedules, track progress against these plans, and ensure new products are brought to market on time with expected quality and cost performance.  This includes managing the project from early design through the launch of production.  Will requires exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills. The successful candidate will act as a liaison between functional groups and the Manufacturing & Supply Chain (MSC) organization.  The NPIS will actively participate in design reviews and help guide development through Design for Manufacturing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in early-stage product development and communicate expectations and ensure the successful capture of Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Test, Installation & Service requirements.

• Apply DFx (manufacturing, assembly, quality, sourcing, and service) methods into new product designs. Work with engineering to integrate DFx principles early in the design process.

• Conduct manufacturing readiness assessments. Review engineering designs to transition manufacturing and supply chain.

• Ability to develop schedules for new product releases, set milestones, assess & mitigate risks, develop action plans, coordinate activities and drive results within cross-functional teams

• Conduct regular project status meetings with team and relevant stakeholders to communicate and coordinate activities.

• Deliver new products on-time, within budget, and at expected quality and reliability levels.

• Participate in initial build plans, drive material readiness with supply chain and evaluate constraints.

• Act as the manufacturing liaison to Engineering team and Operations for resolving technical problems.

• Collaborate with Manufacturing to develop efficient methods for assembling product. Design or specify manufacturing equipment, tooling and processes as required.

• Coordinate factory acceptance test requirements and execution.

• Provide a feedback loop to Engineering and Supply Chain to capture lessons learned from product rollouts and provide recommendations for future designs and processes.

• Identify and translate customer wants and needs into product features, offerings, and requirements and identify enabling technologies required to produce these product offerings.

• Define project requirements to meet program objectives, including investment (P&E), resource requirements, tollgate schedule, and budget. 

• Perform financial analysis including engineering expense, investment budgeting, and project benefits and internal rate of return.

• Manage execution of programs using NPI Tollgate process and DFSS rigor to ensure that all CTQ’s are satisfied and that new offerings are validated appropriately to mitigate risk before introduction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college (or a high school diploma / GED with at least 5 years of experience in Manufacturing).
• 5 to 10 years of experience in Product Development, New Product Introduction (prototype to volume ramp-up) or Manufacturing Engineering.

Desired Characteristics

• Prior project management experience including ownership of schedule and budget
• Experience in DFx - DFma, DFq, DFs, DFc (manufacturing, quality, sourcing, service and cost).
• Experience with FMEA, DOE, and continual process improvement.
• 3D CAD experience, preferably working knowledge of Team Center or Vis
• Excellent problem solving and project management skills
• Strong written, verbal communication, interpersonal and leadership skills
• Ability to work well in fast-paced, dynamic environment to bring assignments to a successful completion
• Ability to manage complex multi-year technical programs in a matrix resource environment and multiple priorities under tight deadlines

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Wabtec Corporation is committed to taking on the world’s toughest challenges. In order to fulfill that commitment we rely on a culture of leadership, diversity and inclusiveness. We aim to employ the world’s brightest minds to help us create a limitless source of ideas and opportunities. We believe in hiring talented people of varied backgrounds, experiences and styles…people like you! Wabtec Corporation is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, or protected Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.