Furniture Manufacturing Engineer

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Develop, document, and maintain manufacturing process standards for all production operations, including cutting, machining, CNC routing, edge banding, sanding, assembly, and finishing.

•    Design and optimize production workflows to maximize throughput, minimize waste, and ensure consistent quality across all product lines.

•    Author and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Work Instructions (WIs), and process control documents for each production stage.

•    Lead process improvement initiatives using structured methodologies (Kaizen, 5S, PDCA); identify root causes of defects, rework, and downtime and implement corrective actions.

•    Collaborate with Product Engineering during new product introduction (NPI) to assess manufacturability, define process routing, and establish cycle time estimates.

•    Define tooling, jig, and fixture requirements for new and existing products; work with the Machinery & Equipment Maintenance team to ensure tooling is available and within specification.

•    Set and monitor key process parameters (feed rates, cutter speeds, moisture content thresholds, adhesive application rates, finish film weights) and maintain process control records.

•    Conduct time and motion studies to establish accurate standard labor hours for production cost modeling and capacity planning.

•    Support QA in defining in-process inspection checkpoints, acceptance criteria, and control charts for critical quality characteristics.

•    Investigate non-conformances and customer returns with a process lens; determine whether defects are attributable to process variation, tooling wear, material inconsistency, or operator error.

•    Evaluate and validate new equipment, machinery, and production technologies; participate in equipment commissioning and operator training.

•    Monitor factory floor performance metrics (OEE, scrap rate, rework rate, on-time production) and report findings to the Product Engineering Manager.

•    Maintain compliance with workplace safety standards and contribute to ergonomic risk assessments for production tasks.

•    Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Wood Technology, or a closely related discipline.

•    3–6 years of process engineering experience in a furniture, woodworking, or discrete manufacturing environment.

•    Hands-on familiarity with furniture manufacturing processes: solid wood machining, panel processing, CNC routing, veneer and laminate application, spray finishing, and hardware assembly.

•    Proficiency in reading and interpreting technical drawings, BOMs, and process routings.

•    Experience with time study, capacity analysis, and production scheduling concepts.

•    Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and quality tools (fishbone diagrams, control charts, FMEA, 5 Whys).

•    Proficiency in AutoCAD or similar drafting tools; familiarity with ERP systems (Infor SyteLine or equivalent) is an advantage.

•    Good written and spoken English; ability to document processes clearly for both technical and non-technical audiences.

•    Comfortable working on the factory floor — this is a hands-on, floor-presence role