Key Responsibilities
• Act as the global expert for finning systems (fins, fin arrays, fin materials, fin manufacturing / forming, fin assembly) and provide technical leadership across the global manufacturing network. This includes storage, handling of raw material as well as WIP and headcount allocation according LEAN principles.
• Support new product introductions (NPI) and new source introductions (NSI) by providing input on fin design for manufacturability (DFM), fin-manufacture process readiness, tooling requirements, standard work, control plans and equipment/process capability.
• Partner with design engineering to ensure fin geometry, material and assembly/process choices align with manufacturing constraints, cost targets, quality and performance requirements.
• Conduct finning process audits, gap analyses and best-practice benchmarking across manufacturing sites and suppliers; drive harmonisation of fin-manufacturing methods, tooling, materials and inspection.
• Lead cost-reduction and productivity improvement projects related to finning (for example: optimise fin forming process, reduce scrap/rework in fin assembly, improve fin material utilisation, optimise inventory of fins).
• Develop and apply advanced manufacturing engineering tools (e.g., finite-element analysis of fin forming, simulation of fin assembly, process capability studies, failure mode & effects analysis (FMEA) for fin processes) to drive robustness and scale.
• Support quality engineering by investigating fin-related defects (e.g., fin deformation, fin-to-tube corrosion issues, fin vibration fatigue), root cause analysis, corrective actions and preventive system roll-out.
• Provide training, documentation and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for finning manufacturing processes globally; maintain a global "finning manufacturing engineering playbook".
• Support supplier development: engage external fin/sheet-metal suppliers, assess their manufacturing capability, define improvement plans, and integrate them into the global manufacturing network.
• Travel globally (50% plus) to manufacturing plants and key suppliers to implement standards, support NPI readiness reviews and conduct on-site improvement workshops.
• Provide regular reporting of key metrics (cost per fin unit, scrap %, cycle time, operating efficiency) and maintain alignment with global manufacturing engineering KPIs (safety, quality, cost, delivery, sustainability).
• Drive MES integration of finning equipment (machine data collection (MDC), plant data collection (PDC) and advanced planning (PDC)
Required Qualifications & Skills
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering or equivalent.
• Minimum 8-10 years of relevant experience in manufacturing engineering, preferably with strong focus on sheet-metal, heat-exchanger fins or finned-tube technologies
• In-depth knowledge of fin manufacturing processes: fin forming, fin bonding/assembly, fin material metallurgy (e.g., aluminium, copper, steel fins), fin inspection and testing methods.
• Proven experience in new product introduction (NPI) and design for manufacturability (DFM) in a global manufacturing environment.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma (Green Belt and/or Black Belt preferred), continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong project management skills: ability to lead cross-functional, global teams, manage timelines, budgets and deliverables.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis, FMEA, control plans, process capability (Cp, Cpk) metrics.
• Experience working with suppliers globally, managing supplier development and driving cost/performance improvements.
• Excellent communication skills in English (verbal and written); ability to influence senior stakeholders across geographies.
• Willingness to travel internationally
• Preferred: experience with manufacturing digital tools (process simulation, digital twin, data analytics), and knowledge of sustainability/energy-efficiency drivers related to finned products.
Preferred Attributes
• Strategic mindset with hands-on manufacturing engineering capability.
• Ability to think globally yet act locally - adapt global standards to site realities and drive site adoption of best practices.
• Enthusiastic about continuous improvement and building capability across the organisation.
• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to train, mentor and lead others.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and driving change in a dynamic, multi-site manufacturing environment.
Key Success Metrics
• Reduction in cost per fin unit by % (to be defined) across the global network.
• Reduction in fin-related scrap/rework and defect rate (e.g., % reduction in fin-to-tube leak failures, fin distortion defects).
• Standardisation of fin manufacturing processes implemented across global sites (e.g., number of sites adopting global fin manufacturing playbook).
• Supplier performance improvement (on-time delivery of fins, scrap reduction at supplier, cost savings).
• Engagement/training of manufacturing engineering community on finning best practices (e.g., number of sites trained, number of playbook trainings delivered).
Reporting & Team Structure
• Reports to: Head of Global Manufacturing Engineering
• Matrix working relationships: Design Engineering, R&D, Quality Engineering, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Plant Manufacturing Engineering Leads.
