Launch Manager

We are a global leader in automotive seating because of our people — a team of adventurous thinkers and passionate high performers who make it all possible. We pride ourselves on being at the vanguard of new industry trends and technologies. When you join Adient, you’ll play an important role in helping us improve the experience of a world in motion.

Support the plant and customer through effective management of new programs, plant projects and implementation of improvement and cost reduction suggestions.  Assure design changes are implemented in a timely cost-effective manner.

• →Support plant safety programs by ensuring that HSE, Engineering support, & Operations is involved with the change implementation into the manufacturing process.
• →Complete eLPA & 5S audits as assigned.
• →New program management based on the Program Launch System (PLUS) as detailed in the PLUS BOS documentation.
• →Support VA/VE activities by ensuring that Engineering, Operations, and Quality is represented at all trials, approvals and implementation dates are achieved.
• →Establish/evaluate internal integration plans by completing make vs. buy plans and present proposals.
• →Facilitate and track material cost reduction activities
• →Manage changes within profit plan parameters for fiscal year
• →Follow and ensure BOS processes are followed to achieve launch and change management objectives and milestones
• →Input feedback to warranty issues
• →Feedback estimated EO implementation dates as well as actual dates and clean point VIN numbers to KMMG production control/ procurement and quality.
• →Attend all weekly Adient Simultaneous Development Team (SDT) meetings for JIT, foam and trim where proposed changes are reviewed and promoted or rejected
• →Review, approve and communicate deviations, change requests & change notices, utilizing the Adient PLM Team Center system.
• →Create reports, presentations, and tracking files to properly manage projects, changes and provide management updates
• →Coordinate & manage seat / part shipments per request of Adient engineering.  This includes the following steps:

• →Capture part number, qty, purpose, requestor & record in tracking spreadsheet
• →Send information to plant Materials team so that consumed inventory can be accounted for
• →Send information to plant Finance team to ensure expenses are recovered from Engineering via the IC3 process
• →Procure shipping boxes needed for for shipment to Plymouth or Korea
• →Conduct training and provide instructions for proper methods used to box and palletize seats for shipment to US and overseas locations

Directly supervises hourly Master Builders as assigned for new program launch activities, trial builds, training, & materials disposition.  Indirectly manages salaried team members cross-functionally to ensure adequate support is engaged with implementing Engineering changes, executing launch activities, and achieving improvements.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed in this position description are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

B.S. Degree in Engineering or a related field.  Three to five years automotive experience. Preferable experience as a project manager encompassing manufacturing change-management disciplines

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, blueprints and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. 

Must be computer literate and familiar with appropriate software programs.  Ability to create visual aids for communication purposes.