Head of NPI

Head of NPI

Permanent Position

Excellent Salary Available  

(Car allowance, Bonus scheme, 4x Salary Life Assurance, Bonus scheme, 4.5% matched Pension)

Growing Manufacturing Business

Telford

Owen Daniels have partnered with Polytec in Telford as they look to appoint a Head of NPI (Director level role) to help lead and support the execution and successful delivery of secured business with major growth plans over the coming years. Polytec are a Tier 1 Automotive supplier of high-quality exterior plastic components, supplying into some of the biggest names in the Automotive industry.

Head of NPI

Job Objectives

• Lead all New Product Introductions, encompassing capital and process development projects, providing superior technical knowledge & direction
• Responsible for providing leadership, outstanding people skills and management to the New Product Introduction function
• Responsible for management of all new products/projects from concept to start of production ensuring environmental requirements are adhered to
• Ensure that all functions complete and adhere to the required deliverables through each of the gateways specified including the functional deliverables for program management, engineering and NPI Quality
• Develop the required processes and discipline to deliver the above within the NPI function and ensure transparency and governance of the deliverables for Supply chain, Procurement, operations & Sales functions

• Lead the creation and implementation of best practice new product introduction; planning vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve operational performance

• Design, prove, implement and maintain production systems to deliver product on time, to quality requirements and to cost.
• Drive functional excellence of the new product introduction team.
• Drive continuous improvement activities in quality, cycle times, process improvement, machine availability through lean techniques and value engineering to enhance the capability of existing processes and remove waste.
• Drive validation plans to ensure robust and comprehensive technical solutions.
• Provide technical inputs to bids for new business and facilitate successful outcomes.
• Develop and maintain project plans and budget profiles to ensure delivery of milestones to agreed cost targets and timescales.
• Identify and justify capital equipment investment.
• Analyse and improve material usage.

• Provide leadership to departments under their control and coach, mentor and develop direct reports and manage a high performing team that delivers continuous improvement, added value and cost reductions.
• Set department objectives and monitor ongoing progress and performance in a timely manner.
• Ensure strong communication between teams under leadership to facilitate exchange of information and in order to implement change and improvements.

• Input and hold responsibility for Launch budgets.
• Prepare the annual Launch budget and forecasts and all Capital Expenditure proposals as well as ensuring compliance with legal standards. Manage the budget from identification to completion of projects.

• Coordinate with engineering to ensure repeatable manufacture of product while maintaining quality, safety and environmental standards and achieving cost targets in a timely fashion.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure optimal performance.
• Work collaboratively, negotiate and engage with key stakeholders to facilitate delivery and compliance with the quality strategy.
• Communicate with stakeholders the impact of technology change and potential effects on supply. Recommend solutions without compromising quality or service while optimising cost.
• Contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on manufacturing activities.

• Educated to degree level (preferably Masters) in a relevant commercial or engineering discipline or equivalent NVQ Level 7 qualification.
• Considerable and diverse demonstrable experience of leading a launch function with a proven track record in strategic quality leadership delivering effective quality strategies, policies, processes and systems.
• Proven project management and launch experience.
• Experience of operating and influencing at a strategic level
• Ability to add value, reduce costs and make business improvements.
• Knowledge and technical understanding of automotive processes, components and manufacturing techniques.
• Experience of New Product Introduction, reworking design changes and upgrades through to production.
• In depth knowledge and experience of Design Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (DFMEA), Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Production Part Approval Process (PPAP), and Lean Manufacturing techniques such as Six Sigma.

• Fellow or Chartered Member of an industry related Professional Body