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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Manufacturing Analyst

💰 $75,000 - $115,000

ManufacturingOperationsData AnalysisProcess Improvement

🎯 Role Definition

The Manufacturing Analyst is a critical linchpin between the factory floor and strategic business objectives. This role is dedicated to diving deep into production data to uncover hidden efficiencies, solve complex operational challenges, and drive a culture of continuous improvement. By translating raw data into actionable insights, the Manufacturing Analyst empowers leadership and production teams to make smarter, faster decisions that directly impact cost, quality, and productivity. This is a hands-on position for a curious and analytical individual who is passionate about understanding how things are made and how they can be made better.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Data Analyst or Business Analyst
  • Industrial Engineering Intern or Graduate
  • Production Coordinator or Supervisor

Advancement To:

  • Senior Manufacturing Analyst or Lead Analyst
  • Continuous Improvement Manager
  • Operations Manager or Plant Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Supply Chain Analyst
  • Quality Assurance Manager
  • Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Analyze complex manufacturing data sets to identify trends, performance bottlenecks, and opportunities for process optimization and cost reduction.
  • Develop, maintain, and enhance dynamic dashboards and reports to visualize Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), cycle time, scrap rates, and first pass yield.
  • Conduct thorough root cause analysis on production disruptions, equipment failures, and quality deviations to recommend and help implement robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
  • Champion and support the deployment of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles across the facility, using data to guide and validate improvement initiatives.
  • Prepare and deliver compelling presentations and detailed reports for senior management, clearly communicating operational performance, analytical findings, and strategic recommendations.
  • Perform in-depth cost analysis of manufacturing processes, including materials, labor, and overhead, to pinpoint significant cost-saving opportunities and support budget planning.
  • Monitor and analyze inventory levels, including raw materials, work-in-process (WIP), and finished goods, to optimize stock turns and minimize carrying costs.
  • Collaborate with engineering and operations teams to develop, validate, and standardize operating procedures (SOPs) based on best practices discovered through data analysis.
  • Act as a power user of the company's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) to extract, transform, and analyze large volumes of production data.
  • Support production scheduling and capacity planning efforts by providing data-driven models and analytical insights into machine utilization, labor efficiency, and production constraints.
  • Lead and actively participate in cross-functional continuous improvement (Kaizen) events, providing the analytical framework to guide team efforts and quantify the impact of changes.
  • Develop simulation models of production lines or value streams to test process change hypotheses and predict their impact on performance before physical implementation.
  • Track, measure, and report on the financial impact and ROI of all process improvement projects, ensuring that initiatives deliver tangible business value.
  • Partner with the supply chain and procurement teams to analyze supplier performance data and its direct impact on production efficiency and material availability.
  • Design and implement robust data collection systems and strategies on the shop floor to improve the accuracy, timeliness, and quality of manufacturing data.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis from various departments to answer pressing business questions.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader data governance and data strategy initiatives, advocating for data quality and accessibility.
  • Act as a liaison between business units and IT/engineering teams to translate operational data needs into technical requirements for system enhancements.
  • Participate actively in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and other agile ceremonies if working within an agile data or operations team.
  • Train and mentor production personnel and junior staff on new data collection tools, analytical methods, and the interpretation of performance dashboards.
  • Conduct time-and-motion studies to establish accurate baseline performance metrics and identify opportunities for ergonomic and efficiency improvements.
  • Assist the Quality Assurance department by providing statistical analysis for Statistical Process Control (SPC), capability studies, and quality trend monitoring.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced Excel Proficiency: Mastery of Excel, including complex formulas, pivot tables, Power Query for data transformation, and VBA for automation.
  • Database & SQL: Strong proficiency in writing SQL queries to extract and manipulate data from relational databases (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle).
  • BI & Data Visualization: Hands-on experience creating insightful dashboards and reports using BI tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Qlik.
  • ERP/MES Systems: Deep familiarity and practical experience with major ERP systems (SAP, Oracle NetSuite, etc.) and Manufacturing Execution Systems.
  • Statistical Analysis: Knowledge of statistical methods and software (e.g., Minitab, JMP, R, Python with pandas/scipy) for process control, regression, and hypothesis testing.
  • Continuous Improvement Methodologies: Solid understanding and practical application of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma (Green Belt certification is a strong plus), and Kaizen principles.
  • Process Mapping: Ability to create clear and detailed process flow diagrams and value stream maps using tools like Microsoft Visio or Lucidchart.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical & Critical Thinking: An exceptional ability to dissect complex problems, evaluate information from multiple sources, and identify logical solutions.
  • Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven talent for presenting complex technical data to non-technical stakeholders in a clear, concise manner.
  • Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong team player with outstanding interpersonal skills, capable of building relationships and working effectively across all levels of the organization.
  • Inquisitive & Proactive Mindset: A natural curiosity and a drive to ask "why," constantly seeking out opportunities for improvement without being prompted.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous and thorough in data analysis and reporting, ensuring accuracy and reliability in all outputs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree or relevant professional certification (e.g., Six Sigma Black Belt, APICS).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Industrial Engineering
  • Operations Management
  • Business Analytics or Data Science
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Statistics or Mathematics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-5 years of experience in an analytical role within a manufacturing, industrial, or supply chain environment.

Preferred: Direct experience in a relevant manufacturing sector (e.g., automotive, aerospace, electronics, CPG) and a portfolio of successfully completed projects demonstrating measurable improvements in cost, quality, or efficiency.

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