Equipment Manager

Position Summary:

The Maintenance Manager is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing all preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities to ensure maximum equipment reliability, production efficiency, and compliance with quality, safety, and automotive industry standards.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Certifications in TPM, Lean Manufacturing, Reliability Engineering, or Maintenance Management are considered a plus.

Experience

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
• Proven experience in the automotive or automotive supplier industry.
• Strong hands-on experience with the following manufacturing processes:
• Polyurethane foam (foam processing/manufacturing).
• Cut and sew operations for automotive components.
• Hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical cutting presses.
• CNC cutting machines for foam, textiles, and composite materials.
• Experience with Lectra automated cutting systems is highly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Development and implementation of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
• Strong knowledge of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Ability to interpret mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic drawings.
• Experience with PLCs, servo systems, variable frequency drives (VFDs), industrial automation, and control systems.
• Maintenance planning, spare parts management, and CMMS systems (SAP PM or equivalent preferred).
• Strong understanding of maintenance KPIs such as OEE, MTBF, and MTTR.
• Budget management and cost reduction initiatives.
• Knowledge of industrial safety regulations and environmental compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the maintenance team.
• Ensure maximum equipment uptime and reliability to support production objectives.
• Develop and execute maintenance strategies that improve operational efficiency.
• Oversee preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs.
• Support new equipment installation, commissioning, and process improvements.
• Manage maintenance budgets, spare parts inventory, and external service providers.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Operations to resolve equipment-related issues.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, reliability, and cost reduction.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and environmental standards.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic planning and organizational skills.
• Results-oriented mindset.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with IATF 16949 requirements and automotive quality systems.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• English proficiency sufficient to communicate with international.
• Fluency/Good in English and Chinese (is a plus), both verbal and written.