Master 31 Manufacturing Engineer interview questions covering process optimization, lean principles, and production systems.
Question 7 of 31
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Manufacturing engineers often operate in support roles. They are usually responsible for certain metrics in an area, but may not be directly responsible for the production team. This can put the engineer in a difficult spot when they identify non-conformances with the team. A good manufacturing engineer will establish rapport with their team and should have a good enough relationship to address most issues with the team personally. It is important that you show you are capable of communicating with all levels of the organization and that you will attempt to resolve issues with team members before resorting to management. This is also a good time to show that you value the feedback of the direct team, and that you will engage the team to identify opportunities for improvement.
"During my career this situation has arisen for me quite often. If I notice that someone is completing their job in a way other than what is identified in their work instructions, I will approach the person and ask why they are doing the job in that way. The person may not have been trained adequately, or they may not be aware of the proper method. If this is the case, I will explain the proper method and reiterate the importance of following the steps as specified. If the person is purposefully not following the instructions, I will ask why they are doing the job in this way. Sometimes the team member has identified a better way to complete the task, in this case the instructions should be updated to reflect the new method so everyone else can be trained. If they are just taking short-cuts that could create problems, I will explain to them why this could cause a problem. After talking directly with the team member, I have found they will usually come around and follow the instructions."

Daniel Neuhaus is a Tool Design Engineer with 10 years of CAD experience and 3 years in the manufacturing field. He is a University of Cincinnati Alumni with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology.
"I would respectfully and personably join the team member in conversation, get a sense of their mental state, and seek to understand their level of comprehension of the project at hand. From there, I would attempt to provide helpful guidance and ensure they perform the duty correctly before leaving the team-member unattended."

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