3M manufacturing and quality engineers support the products, technologies and plants specific to a 3M business. These professionals safely and efficiently deliver quality products to global 3M customers. Engineers work on projects to: increase capacities of existing products; create processes to produce new products; lower production costs and inventories; assure quality products expected by customers; and meet or exceed all safety, regulatory, plant and customer requirements. In addition, all manufacturing and quality engineers are expected to have strong skills in project management, Lean manufacturing techniques and philosophy and Lean Six Sigma. Most manufacturing and quality engineers are located at plant sites throughout 3M locations worldwide, while some businesses have a core group of technology development and quality engineers located in St. Paul, Minn.
3M has two parallel career paths in the technical organization known as the "dual ladder" system. In addition to a management career path, there is a technical career path. This technical path honors the prestige 3M technical employees have enjoyed during 3M's history. It also allows employees to advance in position and compensation consistent with contributions, all without abandoning what they do best.
- Work to improve existing manufacturing processes and the running of experiments at pilot and production plants.
- Lead efforts for defining and establishing new product manufacturing operations.
- Lead efforts for defining and establishing new equipment design and technologies that will improve the cost, efficiency, safety or environmental requirements within a manufacturing operation.
- Assist in the design, installation, optimization and validation of processes and equipment required for new product production.
- Ensure the equipment and processes installed in a plant have adequate capability to meet the business and technology needs for the product.
- Evaluate manufacturing options to optimize unit costs.
- Assure that ergonomic and safety factors exist within a given process area requiring interaction with the operation and all operators and maintenance staff.
- Work to improve supply chain processes in areas for which they are responsible.
- Have a keen understanding of the variables that affect processes and seek solutions assuring the lowest amounts of waste are generated as products are produced.
- Design, prototype and evaluate products for existing and new business platforms.
- Develop an understanding of performance attributes of competitive products, demonstrate viable prototypes and interact with customers.
- Support the development of engineered materials required for developing unique and differentiated product solutions in ways that are cost effective and efficient.
- Document and update control plans and data with newly acquired information. Control key variables to optimize customer value through quality driven projects.
- Develop testing and procedures to assure new product compliance to customer requirements.
- Negotiate and manage the process of testing and conformance to specifications for incoming raw materials to the manufacturing sites.
- Manage statistical analysis that identifies anomalies, reoccurring problems, outliers and other forms to statistical process control of the operations within a plant.
- Work with plants, suppliers and customers to assure product quality processes are in place.
- Serve as the customer advocate to the business; protect 3M brand image.
- Work with product and process engineers to assure an effective Management of Change process for all modifications.
- Support Run-to-Target, Zero Defect and Lean approaches, all of which focus on optimizing quality for customer satisfaction.
- Implement quality systems that help become embedded in the culture of the process.
- Provide safety and environmental consulting services to an assigned location.
- Proactively assure that plants and laboratories are operating to compliance with safety, health and environmental regulations, corporate policies, product responsibility assurance regarding existing and new materials, and products and technologies of importance to the business unit.
- Provide facility-wide support to the maintenance functions of the equipment within a site.
- Consult on the maintenance operations of specific pieces of equipment.
- Oversee the use of utilities and recommend improvements to reduce cost while assuring compliance with all safety, health and environmental regulations.
Optimized Operations (O2)
This is a program for new employees who are qualified candidates and have graduated from a college or university within the past five years. O2 is a one-year project-based engineering and supply chain training program within 3M U.S. manufacturing plants. The development year, along with six weeks of training, and strong support from the host plant site, provides O2 employees with the skills to accomplish their projects successfully and accelerate their 3M career.
Education
B.S. in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical Engineers, some Industrial and Safety Engineers
All Positions
- Assignments are based at 3M plant locations throughout the United States.
- Travel is usually minimal. When it does occur, it is for coordination from the engineer's primary plant site to other plants, laboratories, supplier or customer locations. Actual amount of travel could vary from 0 to 25 percent depending on specific position.
- Candidates should demonstrate excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills. Ideal candidates will be interested in working in manufacturing operations with some prior experience in a manufacturing plant. In addition, the interviewers will be looking for the leadership qualities necessary for developing project assignments, guiding employees, developing teams of widely diverse perspectives and completing assignments.
- Relocation may be available.
- 3M is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
