Overview
Job Title: Material Flow Engineer
Job Code: 9905148
Band: M00E1 - E1
EEOC Classification: 2- Professionals
Prepared Date: 09/01/2028
FLSA Status: E-Exempt
SUMMARY:
The Material Flow Engineer supports Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America’s Material Flow Engineering activities by developing and improving material flow processes that support safe, efficient, and stable production. This position works across production, logistics, supply chain, manufacturing engineering, IT, safety, quality, and outside partners to evaluate material flow opportunities, manage assigned projects, support system and process changes, and improve the way parts move from supplier readiness through delivery to the assembly operator. The engineer is expected to manage projects with limited direction, use data to support recommendations, coordinate trials and implementation activities, document standard processes, and help deliver measurable improvements in Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.
Responsibilities
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- · Review proposed material flow projects to understand operational needs, identify constraints and risks, compare options, estimate required resources or investment, and recommend the best path forward.
- Manage assigned material flow projects from current-state review and concept development through design, trials, implementation, launch, stabilization, and handoff to operations.
- Work with internal users and support groups to define, test, implement, and improve material flow systems and digital applications based on operational requirements and feedback.
- Develop and maintain layouts, material flow routes, equipment concepts, workstation arrangements, capacity studies, and trial plans that support safe and efficient production.
- Design sequencing plans, delivery methods, supermarkets, kitting processes, tugger or cart routes, part presentation, empty-container return, and just-in-time logistics processes that support production requirements.
- Determine delivery frequency, route timing, labor requirements, inventory quantities, space requirements, container strategy, and standardized work using production demand and operational data.
- Prepare and follow project launch plans that include scope, milestones, resources, responsibilities, testing, training, readiness reviews, cutover, contingency actions, stabilization, and operational handoff.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, Logistics, Supply Chain, or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of advanced technical education and extensive directly relevant experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in material flow, logistics engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, production systems, process improvement, or related technical operations.
- Experience reviewing project feasibility and managing engineering or operational improvement projects from concept through implementation, launch, and stabilization.
- Hands-on experience with material flow design, layout development, capacity or labor analysis, process trials, standardized work, data analysis, root cause analysis, and implementation support.
- Conduct process trials using new technologies, equipment, carts, racks, handling methods, and digital tools; define success criteria, evaluate results, and recommend implementation decisions.
- Support root cause analysis and structured problem solving for material shortages, delivery failures, inventory inaccuracies, congestion, ergonomic risks, process instability, and system-related issues.
- Use logistics process knowledge, Kaizen, the YAMAHA 8-Step Process Improvement method, and other continuous improvement practices to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, labor productivity, and efficiency.
- Track project KPIs, baselines, targets, benefits, risks, action items, and launch readiness; communicate project status, open issues, recommendations, and countermeasures to stakeholders and management.
- Create and control process documentation, including standards, work instructions, training materials, process maps, layouts, timing plans, testing records, and implementation documentation.
- Coordinate with production, supply chain, logistics, manufacturing engineering, IT, continuous improvement, quality, safety, distribution centers, vendors, and third-party logistics providers to support project execution and ongoing process improvement.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline strongly preferred.
- More than 5 years of progressively responsible experience in material flow, logistics engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, or production systems.
- Experience developing feasibility studies, business cases, benefit calculations, detailed launch plans, readiness reviews, contingency plans, and post-launch stabilization plans.
- Experience with Tulip, PYMAC, SAP, warehouse management systems, MES platforms, or similar manufacturing and logistics technologies.
- Experience with sequencing centers, parts supermarkets, kitting operations, tugger routes, shelf-cart delivery, returnable packaging, point-of-use presentation, time studies, capacity analysis, labor modeling, value-stream mapping, PFEP, inventory optimization, ergonomics, Kaizen, Lean, or Six Sigma.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/REQUIREMENTS:
The above declarations are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of this job, nor are they intended to be such a listing of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Rather, the above describes only the general nature of the job.
Management retains discretion to add or change duties of this position at any time.
Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Where required by state law and/or city ordinance; this employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.