Project Manager – Outsource Mfg.

About Us

Daifuku Wynright is the nation’s leading independent, U.S.‐based provider of intelligent material handling systems. With hundreds of engineers in‐house, the company designs, manufactures, integrates, and installs the full spectrum of intralogistics solutions. We provide leading‐edge conveyor and sortation systems, voice and light‐directed order fulfillment equipment, controls and software, robotics, mezzanines, and structures.

The Project Manager – Outsourcing position involves all aspects of managing Outsource Manufacturing (OM) vendors (other manufacturing companies) activities in the performance of building orders for Wynright Conveyor Manufacturing (WCM).  Specific tasks include but are not limited to; schedule coordination (and internal coordination with planning), building and coordinating component Sales Orders, project tracking, shipping, receiving, facilitating quality sign-off for new OM vendors or new product lines outsourced to existing OM vendors and problem solving.  Additional activities in coordinating with our internal teams such as engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, shipping/traffic and Customer Service or Project Execution teams.

• Pro-actively manages project activities across multiple customer orders and manufacturing vendors with a careful eye on achieving project timing, cost containment and documentation of deliverables.
• Writes and/or manages Sales Orders for WCM supplied components to include parts tracking, inventory management, ERP software utilization, shipping and potentially engineering approved substitutes.
• Assist WCM Planning department in the scheduling of projects and segment changes where necessary.
• Participate in weekly production meetings and communicate status of project executions, report any changes or up-dates to manufacturing schedules.
• Provides verbal and written updates to projects, including deliverable timing, project issues, and risks along with potential solutions, timing impacts and best courses of action.
• Manages and builds productive and positive relationships and project outcomes with multiple stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Coordinates with our Supplier Quality representative to ensure new OM vendors achieve sign-off on their quality processes and that new product lines introduced to existing OM vendors achieve FAI approvals and production signoffs.
• Work with engineering team to help resolve vendor challenges, drawing discrepancies, product/drawing changes, component issues and other technical issues as needed.
• Display solid leadership in the face of unexpected project disruptions with a focus on finding solutions, following through on deliverables required from other teams and ensuring the disruptions are both communicated, and workarounds are achieved in a time efficient and effective manner.
• Manages and maintains up-to-date electronic documentation of all related contracts, purchase orders, change orders, sales order, parts tracking, shipping documents and confirmations.
• Monitors and maintains vendor KPIs and reviews internally and with the OM vendors to correct undesirable trends and ensure the OM vendor remains focused on Wynright deliverables.
• Problem solves with OM vendor teams and Wynright product engineering when drawing revision issues are found or Bill of Material (BOM) or component issues are identified.
• Work closely with the Quality department to manage deviations and/or NCNs as needed.
• Backup point of contact for the Project Manager (PM) and Customer Service teams in balancing schedules for major projects and communicating with Shipping and Traffic to ensure job site delivery.
• Support the Project Execution Team (PET) PMs or Customer Service teams through pro-active communication of delivery issues or changes as required to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Follow Wynright standards for documentation across multiple software systems.
• Potential for occasional travel, project dependent, of up to 20%.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience (Engineering or Ops Mgmt. a plus)
• Minimum of 5 years of project management, program management, manufacturing plant production supervision or experience managing larger complex activities with clear timeline, delivery and documentation coordination requirements.
• Prior military service, any branch, in any MOS, a plus.
• Team player with a cooperative problem-solving mindset and a can-do positive attitude
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented with a drive to meet goals (timing, costs, documentation, etc.…)
• Excellent communications skills, a willingness to learn new things and desire to work with diverse teams.
• Ability and effectiveness to lead and collaborate with others outside of the organization without the leadership responsibility and create a positive work environment that achieves our goals.
• Ability to handle multiple project assignments and adapt to changing priorities in a sometimes fast-paced environment that may require extra hours to achieve results or meet project timing needs.
• Excellent organization skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and multi-task.
• Mechanical aptitude with the ability to read drawings, CAD models and multi-level BOMs.
• Knowledge of industrial manufacturing processes; including metal fabrication, powder coating, assembly, work order flows and inventory management.
• A desire to help implement a continuous improvement culture.
• Computer skills including MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Knowledge of SAP a bonus