The Lignum Group Hiring! Full Time Manufacturing Engineering Manager in Negeri Sembilan - Ricebowl

Position Summary

Lead the Manufacturing Engineering function at the site to support safe, efficient, and scalable manufacturing. The role focuses on process excellence, capacity growth, automation, digitalization, and smart manufacturing technologies including AI-enhanced manufacturing and Digital Twin applications. We are specifically seeking someone with a background in sheet metal, metal manufacturing, welding, and metal industries — and a leadership style that is hands-on and present on the shop floor, not just directing from a distance.

Roles & Responsibilities

Manufacturing Engineering Leadership: Lead and develop the ME team, set department KPIs, build engineering capability, and support plant objectives. This requires strong leadership skills paired with a genuine hands-on approach — the ability to be on the shop floor, working alongside the team, rather than simply dictating from an office.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence: Improve safety, quality, productivity, cost, OEE, capacity utilization, and manufacturing lead time through Lean, Six Sigma, and Industrial Engineering methods. Strong grounding in process engineering and lean management is essential.

Automation & Factory Modernization: Identify, justify, and implement automation opportunities including robotics, smart assembly, machine vision, automated material handling, and digital quality solutions.

Digital Manufacturing: Drive smart factory initiatives such as real-time production monitoring, manufacturing data analytics, AI-enabled performance improvement, IIoT, and Digital Twin applications.

NPI & Industrialization: Lead manufacturing readiness for new products or product transfers, including PFMEA review, process validation, tooling/fixture readiness, documentation, and production ramp-up. Experience in industrialisation is key.

Machine Maintenance & Reliability: Oversee machine maintenance strategies to ensure equipment reliability, minimize downtime, and support consistent production output.

Cost & Capacity Management: Lead productivity improvement, cost reduction, value engineering, capacity planning, and capital project execution.

Technical Documentation & Systems: Maintain process standards, work instructions, PFMEA, control plans, technical documents, and ERP/SAP manufacturing data accuracy.

EHS, Quality & Compliance: Promote proactive safety behavior, support machine safety and ergonomic risk reduction, and ensure processes comply with company policies and local regulatory requirements.

Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or above in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Automation, Mechatronics Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of Manufacturing Engineering experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience as ME Manager, Engineering Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or equivalent role — with demonstrated ability to lead both strategically and hands-on on the shop floor.
• Proven experience in process optimization, automation projects, productivity improvement, cost reduction, and capacity expansion.
• Experience with NPI, product transfer, manufacturing readiness, and engineering-to-production launch is required.
• Experience in automation, smart manufacturing, AI-enhanced manufacturing, Digital Twin, or factory digitalization is highly preferred.
• Experience in sheet metal fabrication, metal manufacturing, welding, or metal industries is required.
• Hands-on experience in machine maintenance, process engineering, industrialisation, and lean management is essential.

Skill Requirements

• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Industrial Engineering, VSM, TPM, and OEE improvement.
• Hands-on capability in manufacturing process design, layout optimization, tooling/fixture design, and standard work development.
• Good understanding of automation, robotics, PLC/controls concepts, machine vision, IIoT, and smart factory technologies.
• Ability to use data analytics and digital tools to improve manufacturing decision-making; Power BI/Tableau knowledge is preferred.
• Familiar with ERP systems (preferably SAP) and engineering software such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or equivalent.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, analytical thinking, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, and stakeholder management skills — with a leadership style that is visible, approachable, and hands-on rather than directive from a distance.
• Fluency in English and Mandarin is required; additional local languages are an advantage for regional and local collaboration.