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Senior manufacturing engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

8 min read

Quoted experts

Charles Jenckes,

Bryant Harrison

Senior manufacturing engineer example skills

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior manufacturing engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for senior manufacturing engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.0% of senior manufacturing engineer resumes contained lean manufacturing as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior manufacturing engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior manufacturing engineer skills for your resume and career

1. Lean Manufacturing

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use lean manufacturing:

Lean manufacturing initiatives producing over $1 million in annual savings through process improvements, material cost reduction and increased capabilities.
Developed facility Lean Manufacturing plan to increase strategic capacity of forming and fabrication area at a 3,000 employee manufacturing plant.

2. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use continuous improvement:

Focused on continuous improvement to increase product quality and process efficiency by implementing process monitoring tools to monitor process capability.
Developed and managed evaluation of product change activities along with continuous improvement of manufacturing processes and implementation of new products.

3. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use sigma:

Executed several Six Sigma tools (measurement system analysis, variation decomposition, and screening experiments) to improve manufacturing processes.
Deploy 6 sigma methodology to identify and evaluate opportunities for improvement in manufacturing process and make specific recommendations for adoption.

4. Project Management

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use project management:

Project Management: Completed new product introduction reviews and designed the manufacturing process from raw material through finishing.
Coordinated resolution of engineering and quality issues between design engineering, manufacturing, project management and the customer.

5. CAD

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use cad:

Implemented computer-generated assembly instructions using CAD software for mechanical and harness assemblies.
Developed and maintained process documentation and fixture CAD drawings.

6. Lean Six Sigma

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use lean six sigma:

Implement manufacturing process improvement and Lean Six Sigma program.
Realized an 11% raise in product efficiency and eliminated waste formation by 23% by implementing Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

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7. Solidworks

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use solidworks:

Recommended improvements to Process Sheets and Work Instructions for assembly associates using SolidWorks software.
Designed machine work-holding and assembly fixtures in SolidWorks.

8. Process Control

Process control is a method pertaining to continuous production processes that uses the aid of ICS (Industrial Control Systems) for production. This method enables production to be done with a level of consistency and safety in an economically friendly manner that is impossible to achieve solely through manual control.

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use process control:

Develop, evaluates, improves and documents manufacturing processes, develop and implements process control techniques and procedures into manufacturing environments.
Worked with Process Engineering in supporting process control and process development, specifically in the areas of quality and equipment capability.

9. Process Improvement

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use process improvement:

Estimated manufacturing costs, determined time standards, recommended tooling and process improvements for new and existing scientific equipment and systems.
Introduced and executed numerous process improvements via electrical and control upgrades, resulting in substantial cost savings throughout the facility.

10. Corrective Action

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use corrective action:

Investigated customer returns to identify root cause of manufacturing defects and developed irreversible corrective actions to protect customer from further interruptions.
Performed ISO9000 audits, generated audit reports and corrective action reports; conducted follow-up audits and verified corrective action implementation.

11. Product Quality

Product quality is the basic element of a business. It means to add features in a product or service in such a way that it meets the needs and wants of the customers. Enhancing the product quality also means improve the goods from any existing defects to ensure customer satisfaction.

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use product quality:

Implemented various mechanical designs and performed audits at local and overseas manufacturers to ensure high product quality in tooling.
Design and implemented small test fixtures that improved product quality and increase productivity efficiently to reduce costs.

12. CNC

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. It is a subtractive manufacturing technique that usually uses computerized controls and machine tools to strip layers of material from a stock piece.

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use cnc:

Justified, purchased and installed new assembly automation and CNC machining cells-converting batch manufacturing operations to lean.
Planned and managed process-improvement projects and supported production methods and processes for manufacturing center and CNC processes.

13. SR

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use sr:

Manufacture Planner Sr. for metal bonding: Coordinated and ordered bond fixtures for the autoclave and oven curing.
Hired initially as a contract Sr. Manufacturing Planner, I supported the research and development programs.

14. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use product development:

Coordinated new product development and introduction as well as program generation and stencil design for Surface Mount Technology equipment.
Repaired manufacturing assembly equipment and assisted the design engineering department during the product development to full manufacturing phase.

15. ISO

Here's how senior manufacturing engineers use iso:

Develop and/ or revise manufacturing procedures for new products following Quality Systems Regulations and ISO standards.
Developed and authored documentation addressing environmental, health and safety concerns and ISO compliance.

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What skills help Senior Manufacturing Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on senior manufacturing engineer resumes?

Charles Jenckes

Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

For new graduates
1.Where the candidate went to school and what was studied
2.GPA
3.Any successful internships
4.Projects completed by the student

What soft skills should all senior manufacturing engineers possess?

Bryant Harrison

Instructor, Murray State University

Engineers are constantly working with a variety of people on a project. These people could be other engineers in the same department or other departments, managers, stakeholders, and customers. The ability to communicate both on a technical and non-technical level with these people is likely the most important soft skill for a design engineer.

What hard/technical skills are most important for senior manufacturing engineers?

Bryant Harrison

Instructor, Murray State University

Designing, prototyping, testing, and iterating are likely the most important skills for a design engineer. This is what we strive to teach at Murray State in our Design Engineering Technology program. Many sub-skills would fall into these categories, such as CAD, design for manufacturing, 3D printing, and destructive/non-destructive testing.

What senior manufacturing engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Richard Onyancha

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Department Head, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

For students who would like to consider taking a gap year, depending on what their goals after graduation are, they could consider enhancing their skills in any of these areas:
- Technical hands-on skills such as CAD/CAM, simulation, design, and fabrication
- Global competency
- Public policy
- Job shadowing
- Preparing for and taking professional exams if, for example, considering medical school or law school

What type of skills will young senior manufacturing engineers need?

Andy Gerrick

Associate Professor and Chair, Embry-Riddle, Prescott

Most important is the ability to pull together the problem-solving skills learned in the different engineering courses to solve real-world, multidisciplinary, engineering problems. This requires a clear understanding of the problem and the requirements, and it requires a thorough understanding of engineering concepts. Memorizing problem solutions is of no value because no one will pay you to solve a problem that has already been solved. An engineer's ability to communicate is also extremely important. Engineering is a collaborative endeavor, so if you are not able to communicate your ideas, you are not contributing.

What technical skills for a senior manufacturing engineer stand out to employers?

David Blunck Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Associate School Head for Undergraduate Programs, Oregon State University

Employers like students who have engineering-related experience. Experience can come through internships, research, jobs, and extra-curricular activities. Graduates need to realize that they will likely apply to jobs where all of the other applicants have the same degrees. So students need to identify ways that they can differentiate themselves. Experience can be a great differentiator.

Do you want to know more?

List of senior manufacturing engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a senior manufacturing engineer resume and required skills for a senior manufacturing engineer to have include:

Lean Manufacturing
Continuous Improvement
Sigma
Project Management
CAD
Lean Six Sigma
Solidworks
Process Control
Process Improvement
Corrective Action
Product Quality
CNC
SR
Product Development
ISO
Product Design
Cost Reduction

FDA
Production Equipment
GD
Technical Support
Design Engineering
Engineering Support
Medical Devices
Shop Floor
Kaizen
FMEA
R
SPC
Engineering Drawings
DFM
Process Validation
Value Stream
Capital Equipment

Production Processes
Laser
IQ/OQ/PQ
Assembly Line
Process Documentation
Product Line
Test Procedures
PLC
Production Floor
Assembly Processes
Manufacturing Support
Test Equipment
CAPA
Process Flow
DOE

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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