About this role
**Responsibilities:**
The primary mission of this position is to plan, coordinate, and track Business Area-level manufacturing engineering activities with strategic accountability, including:
Drive the implementation of comprehensive production concepts, encompassing process flow optimization, machine specification development, and facility layout optimization to enhance operational efficiency.Direct and support the execution of Group sector initiatives across all Business Area locations, with particular emphasis on automation and digitalization initiatives that drive competitive advantage.Lead cost improvement initiatives across the Business Area and ensure systematic rollout of Best of Best (BoB) practices to establish operational excellence standards.Optimize plant utilization rates and drive efficiency and throughput improvements through data-driven analysis and process refinement.Oversee layout and workflow improvements to maximize productivity and operational performance across manufacturing facilities.Establish and drive Business Area maintenance initiatives to harmonize and improve maintenance processes and activities across all plants, ensuring consistency and reliability.Support the execution of strategic manufacturing projects in accordance with defined Business Area investment budgets, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and financial parameters. Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a comparable disciplineLong-term experience in manufacturing engineering, process, and/or equipment development, preferably within rubber or elastomer processingProven expertise in one or more rubber manufacturing domains, such as: Mixing and compounding, Fluid handling systems (hoses), Conveying solutions (belts)Solid understanding of industrial machinery, tooling, and production equipment used in rubber processingExperience in developing, reviewing, and approving machine and line specifications for equipment procurementProven capability in CAPEX evaluation, including ROI calculations, savings assessments, and economic justification of machine investmentsAbility to work across disciplines, effectively combining mechanical, process, and automation perspectivesStrong analytical and structured problem‑solving skills in complex manufacturing and industrialization environmentsHigh level of ownership, technical leadership, and ability to operate independently Fluent in English (spoken and written) Willingness to travel to production facilities in APAC (30-40%)