About This Role
This Process Technician role is responsible for developing, optimizing, and sustaining manufacturing processes for automotive interior components within a high-tech soft trim and injection molding facility. The role bridges production, maintenance, and quality by ensuring machines, molds, and processes operate at peak efficiency to produce high-quality parts that meet automotive standards. The Process Technician plays a critical role in process setup, troubleshooting, continuous improvement, operator training, and supporting plant startup and ramp-up activities.
Responsibilities
- Set up, start, and adjust injection molding and soft trim manufacturing processes to meet production and quality requirements
- Establish, monitor, and maintain process parameters to ensure consistent part quality and cycle efficiency
- Troubleshoot process, material, and equipment issues; implement corrective actions to minimize scrap and downtime
- Perform and support mold changes, machine setups, and tooling adjustments
- Own efficiency tracking and reporting metrics at the floor-level
- Perform routine maintenance tasks including machine lubrication, filter changes, minor repairs, and general upkeep of equipment and tooling to ensure operational readiness
- Conduct basic mechanical repairs and handyman-type tasks (e.g., replacing worn components, adjusting fixtures, tightening fittings) to support uninterrupted production
- Analyze production data (scrap rates, cycle times, downtime) to identify and implement process improvements
- Investigate and resolve quality defects by performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective and preventive actions, working closely with quality teams to disposition nonconforming parts
- Support first-article inspections, in-process quality checks, and process capability studies to maintain dimensional and cosmetic standards
- Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions
- Collaborate with maintenance to resolve equipment issues and improve reliability
- Ensure processes comply with automotive quality standards (IATF 16949, ISO 9001)
- Develop and maintain process documentation, including setup sheets, work instructions, and parameter controls
- Support new product launches, including process validation and PPAP/APQP activities
- Train and mentor production operators on process control, setup procedures, quality inspection methods, and troubleshooting basics; provide hands-on coaching at the machine level to build operator capability and reduce dependency on engineering support
- Assess operator skill gaps and provide refresher training when process deviations or recurring errors are identified
- Maintain accurate records of process changes, trials, and production performance