Process Engineer

Job description

As a Process Engineer at Avery Dennison, you will play a critical role supporting day-to-day manufacturing operations and driving continuous improvement for coating and compounding assets within a 24/7 manufacturing environment. In this position, the Process Engineer is responsible for reducing product and process variation through the rigorous use of Six Sigma methodologies, statistical process control tools, experimental design, and the development or enhancement of standard operating procedures and process controls.

Acting as an essential technical partner to site leadership, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including Operations, Marketing, and R&D—to optimize product performance, execute capital projects, and deliver sustainable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and cost.

Key Responsibilities

This is an on-site position based at our manufacturing facility in Mentor, OH. Support day-to-day product and process operations for coating and compounding assets in a 24/7 manufacturing environment, serving as an active technical business partner to the site leadership team. Identify, investigate, and analyze production issues using Six Sigma methodologies, statistical process controls (SPC), and structured root-cause problem solving to eliminate losses and continuously enhance coating line productivity and quality.

Continually improve and optimize current product lines and manufacturing processes by reducing variation, executing line trials, and conducting thorough process capability studies. Partner cross-functionally with Marketing and R&D teams to support new product development, raw material qualifications, and production scale-ups across manufacturing assets. Initiate, scope, manage, and execute capital engineering projects and site continuous improvement initiatives, implementing new equipment, establishing long-term sustainment control strategies, and developing technical training to mentor operations personnel.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, combined with 2+ years of engineering experience in a manufacturing environment. Demonstrated experience utilizing statistical analysis and quality engineering methodologies, including Statistical Process Control (SPC), Design of Experiments (DOE), Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and Measurement Systems Evaluation (MSE); Six Sigma exposure or Green Belt/Black Belt certification is preferred.

Strong technical working knowledge of process optimization and continuous manufacturing operations, with hands-on experience in web handling, pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coating, compounding, or 24/7 operational environments highly preferred. Proven project management, decision analysis, and situational appraisal skills, with a track record of scoping, prioritizing, and executing capital projects and functional improvement plans while managing multiple concurrent priorities.

Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, with the demonstrated ability to communicate and influence across all organizational levels, deliver technical training, give and receive constructive feedback, and maintain schedule flexibility for on-call after-hours/weekend support as needed.