Lowell Inc.

Swiss Machining Manager

Job Summary:

The primary responsibility is to ensure customer demands are met, while promoting automation in the department and across the organization.  The primary objective of this role is to develop and implement processes that utilize automation to minimize the amount of human labor consumed in the manufacturing process needed to meet customer demands, while maintaining a consistently high level of product quality.

Lowell is the premier partner for the development and production of technologically advanced, implantable medical devices for the cardiovascular, spine, trauma and extremities markets.  We manufacture components and assemblies that save lives and improve quality of life. 

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage associates including interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and discipline employees; addressing complaints and resolving issues.  Ensures employees have the information, training, tools and equipment to perform duties while maintaining productivity, quality, and safety goals and objectives.
• Ensure production is maintained at a level required to control costs and meet customer demands through the use of automation strategies and management of staff.
• Manage part quality through the use of technology and by building the quality into the process at the machining operation.
• Help lead the creation of manufacturing specific inspection protocol for the entire dept; partnering with Quality.
• Research and implement best industry practices and other applicable technology to maintain or improve cost effectiveness in the machining cell.
• Maintain equipment performance by ensuring preventive maintenance is completed and adequate to meet customer requirements.
• Develop, build and promote processes that minimize the human resources needed to manufacture per customers’ needs.
• Work with production scheduler(s) to ensure customers’ delivery requirements are understood and met.
• Participate in Root cause problem solving and employing corrective and preventive actions to maintain process quality.
• Ensure the timeliness of NPI projects flowing through the area; assigning appropriate staff levels as needed
• Provide machine programming support to the department and the rest of the organization as needed.
• Provide support to all department staff to ensure they have the skills, technical assistance, inventory and support needed to be successful.
• Work with outside suppliers as needed to gain technical assistance and to stay abreast of evolving technologies.
• Maintain relationships and collaborate with all associates in other departments as needed to ensure that our customers’ needs and organizational goals are met.
• Manage accuracy and integrity of staff timekeeping and job reporting.
• Help to develop, create and maintain work instructions and procedures to ensure standard work is defined followed.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to identify areas that need to be improved in manufacturing and participate in or, lead the projects to drive improvements and reduce cost.
• Ensure compliance with established safety standards.  Address safety issues and concerns with management
• Ensure cell members maintain an organized, clean, safe and audit-ready workspace.
• Utilize LEAN Manufacturing, 5S, 6 Sigma to improve the area.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations to design an optimized floor layout; including repositioning of existing equipment, onboarding new equipment, and selling or disposing of old equipment.
• Partner with Engineering, Finance, and Operations to spec out and onboard new capital equipment for the area; CNC machines, inspection, finishing, software, etc.
• Comply with all ISO, FDA, OSHA and environmental regulatory requirements.

Required Skills and Experience:

• 5+ years’ experience in a manufacturing environment utilizing automated equipment and processes
• 2+ years supervisory or management experience
• Strong communication and people management skills
• Possesses strong problem-solving skills applicable to a manufacturing environment
• Ability to interpret and effectively communicate operating procedures, work instructions, company policies and procedures 
• Strong knowledge of CAD/CAM manufacturing software and how to store and retrieve programs and other information in a network environment
• Ability to interpret data charts, trends, and goal setting measurements
• Excellent interpersonal skills, has the ability for diplomacy and fosters relationships between teams and departments
• Proven problem solver who can build consensus and move the team to improvement
• Knowledge of general industry OSHA, FDA and ISO regulations and their application to manufacturing 

Additional Skills and Experience:

• Experience working with the Medical or other highly regulated industry, specifically ISO 13485:2016 and FDA 21 CFR 820 preferred.
• CNC Machine Technology or related certification is preferred.

Benefits:

Lowell offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, 401k Retirement Plan with 3% employer contribution, and Profit-Sharing plan.

Join our team and contribute to our commitment to excellence in medical device manufacturing. Please submit your resume to Shelly.anderson@lowellinc.com

This description covers the primary purpose and principal duties of the job. It is not designed to be a complete list of all the duties and responsibilities required of this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.