Launch Engineer

Operational & financial performance Monitoring and reporting

• Facilitating optimization of Launch Cost, quality and timelines of projects.
• Ensure smooth handover of the new product to the production team for SOP.
• Monitor plant production activity for the first 3 months after SOP.
• Risk identification in product launch in plant and discuss mitigation plan in consensus with plant CFT for zero event program launch.
• Track Launch Readiness Criteria in the Launch Readiness Report Format for every program. Metrices are as follows :

1. Design status and PD readiness

2.Tooling, facility and Equipment status

3. Process design Feasibility, Lot Control, PFMEA, control Plan, Operating standards, process data collection, boundary sample boards, process capability, non-conforming material control, container and part labelling

4. Production capacity

5. In-Line and Off-Line Gage readiness

6. Supplier Qualification, supply capacity, Material Delivery and PO, Material Validation

7. Material Flow, End item packaging, Inventory, Manufacturing Plan Development, IT / EDI, shipping and logistics

8. Manpower plan and hiring, associate support, Launch support

9. Quality operating system, safe launch and build support, Engineering Change Control System and Change Point Control, Non-conforming Material Control

10. Matching, Graining, and Color Approval (Trim only), Production Trial Run, Engineering Specification Testing, DFMEA / PFMEA Completion and Integration, PSW Approval

• Track elements of launch cost incurred in all the stage of launch readiness. Track for deviation, if any, using Launch readiness format for every program.

Resource Management

• Ensure assembly line readiness for New Product Development.
• Coordinate for assembly of parts with the approval of concerned authority within the timeline at later sample stages.
• Ensure sample part availability in the plant as per drawing.
• Provide the sample required by the program manager within the target timeline by liaising with R&D, ME, BD, and customer regarding BOM, data on shortages, part availability during the assembly stage. Ensure there is no part shortage.
• Check availability of material as per part list / BOM.
• Obtain production slot and run online (in presence of ME, Quality & R&D members) based on PPC data for the build of NPD and ensure avoidance of mix-up of identical products.
• Monitor kitting loading process executed by production and pass on for quality assurance of the first-made product.
• Provide BOM updates to ME and monitor & coordinate for completion of programming (if any).
• Follow up with relevant stakeholders at each stage of the process and provide go-ahead.
• Ensure raw material readiness, child part review, R&D software program, and final handover to production and quality FDR.

Stakeholder Management

• Integrating and resolving inter team dependencies and deliverables in plant.
• Cross verify specification received from R&D and BC code for every description.
• Coordinate with Quality for cross-checking of BOM.
• Liaise & follow up with the production team for line availability, CD & ME for jigs, fixtures and machine availability.
• Coordinate for signoff on the checklist with CD for all components, ME for process followed, production for machine programming, and quality for final inspection.
• Ensure smooth handover of the new product to the production team for mass production (SOP+90 days) by ensuring timely closure of issues prior to launch.
• Monitor if program is executed through NPD QA and production teams as per timelines and adherence to quality parameters.
• Risk identification in product launch in plant at every stage using launch readiness report. Escalating to the launch Segment head and discuss mitigation plan in consensus with CFT for zero event program launch.
• MAJOR CHALLENGES
• Multiple Stakeholders
• Stakeholders Response time
• Line availability from Plant for NPD
• List of deviations sign-off prior to build as well during Assy process
• Component kitting for NPD build as per BOM