As a Manufacturing Engineer, how do you see yourself fitting in to the day-to-day operations of the business?

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The involvement of a manufacturing engineer in day-to-day operations can be quite varied, depending on the organization. Sometimes, different manufacturing engineers within an organization may have vastly different levels of involvement in day-to-day operations. Some manufacturing engineers will be directly responsible for managing maintenance staff and troubleshooting punctual problems, while others may support in more of an indirect role. In almost all organizations, manufacturing engineers will be expected to be subject matter experts around equipment and processes which they are responsible for. It is important that the candidate let the employer know that they understand the importance of the day-to-day operations and that they will go to necessary lengths to support the operations when needed. An engineer who thinks that they should not be expected to support the shop floor or help troubleshoot problems is not desirable for most companies.

"While my primary responsibility has usually been related to quoting new equipment and working in more of an advanced manufacturing role, I certainly understand the importance of supporting the floor. Any time there has been a problem with my lines that the maintenance team could not troubleshoot, they knew that I was just a phone call away. If I can't walk them through a solution on the phone, I will come in and join them to see how I can help get to the bottom of the problem."

"I understand my role as manufacturing engineer would be key to the operation of the facility. It's all important, so I would try to understand as much as possible about each workstation so, should a problem arise, troubleshooting would be done quickly and effectively. Additionally, I believe consulting my hire-ups to be important in carrying out orders effectively and staying up-to-date on the goals of the company and its operation."

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"My primary responsibility has usually been related to supporting more of an advanced manufacturing role, I certainly understand the importance of supporting the floor. Any time there has been a problem with my lines that the maintenance team could not troubleshoot, they knew that I was just a phone call away. If I can't walk them through a solution on the phone, I will come in and join them to see how I can help get to the bottom of the problem."