Vacatures manager Groningen

The Manufacturing & Process Improvement manager Manager leads the process engineering function at the Scheemda manufacturing plant, supporting the production of adhesives, lubricants, electronic inks, and graphite-milled products. This role is responsible for driving process performance, supporting new technology introductions, and leading continuous improvement initiatives that increase operational efficiency, quality, and scalability.

The manager will act as the key interface between plant operations and the global technology network, ensuring that process design, control, and optimization efforts are aligned with business and operational goals. The role requires strong technical expertise, cross-functional collaboration, and a proactive approach to solving complex process challenges.

1. Process Engineering Leadership

• Lead the development, optimization, and troubleshooting of manufacturing processes to improve efficiency, quality, and consistency.
• Support daily operations by providing technical expertise and problem-solving guidance on process deviations and inefficiencies.
• Manage process documentation, including P&IDs, mass and energy balances, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Oversee implementation of process control improvements and advanced automation technologies.
• Lead or support capital projects related to process upgrades, expansions, and debottlenecking.

2. New Technology & Product Introduction

• Serve as the plant’s technical contact for process technology transfers and the scale-up of new products.
• Collaborate with R&D, product development, and global engineering teams to ensure smooth implementation of new processes.
• Coordinate process validation and commissioning activities for new installations or product introductions.
• Ensure readiness of the production environment and documentation to support technology introduction and long-term operability.

3. Continuous Improvement & Process Optimization

• Identify opportunities to reduce cycle times, improve yields, lower energy consumption, and increase plant throughput.
• Apply structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, root cause analysis).
• Use process data and digital tools to monitor KPIs and implement data-driven process optimizations.
• Collaborate with operations and maintenance teams to enhance equipment reliability and process stability.

4. Digitalization & Technical Innovation

• Champion the use of data analytics, digital dashboards, and process monitoring systems to improve process visibility and decision-making.
• Identify and implement advanced automation solutions and control strategies to drive consistency and reduce variability.
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies in process engineering and apply relevant innovations to plant operations.

5. Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with operations, maintenance, quality, and HSE teams to ensure process reliability, compliance, and product quality.
• Act as the primary liaison with global and regional technology functions, ensuring alignment on technical standards, best practices, and innovation roadmaps.
• Communicate process performance updates and project progress to site and regional leadership.
• Support training of plant personnel on new processes, procedures, and technologies.

6. Technical Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all process engineering work complies with internal standards and external regulations related to manufacturing operations.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date technical documentation for all processes and equipment.
• Support audits and inspections by providing technical information and ensuring process traceability.