MES Solution Engineer

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

We are seeking a MES Solution Engineer for First Quality Enterprises, LLC working remotely. 

The Manufacturing Solution Delivery team provides input into the strategic direction, technical/functional expertise, and product management for First Quality’s manufacturing systems The MES Solution Engineer, as a key member of the Manufacturing Solution Delivery team, provides functional and technical leadership for the definition, design, and delivery of First Quality’s manufacturing systems.

Solution Engineers are assigned one or more specialization area(s) such as MES, Quality, etc. This position is responsible for understanding the overall architecture, product management, and delivery of the assigned systems. The person in this role will interact with team members at manufacturing sites to define business requirements, scope solutions, develop specifications, and oversee delivery of solutions including integration to other FQ systems and the success knowledge transfer to the First Quality support organization.

This position is the go-to contact for their assigned system specialization and, as such, serves as the support escalation point for their assigned system(s).  The person in this position owns their assigned system(s) and interacts with all divisions within First Quality. This position will be held accountable for the training, education, and execution of manufacturing systems with the goal to fully utilize their capabilities. The person in this position will work closely with the leaders and Solution Architects of the following areas: Manufacturing Systems, Planning & Architecture, Business Systems, Analytics, Software Quality Assurance, Enterprise Application Integration, and Solution Support to maintain a complete end-to-end manufacturing systems lifecycle (Architecture to Support). As such, proven evidence of being a team player is critical for success in this role.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Focuses on prioritized  initiatives and plans; is proactive, anticipatory, and driving in nature to provide significant value to divisions/functions.

• Plays a lead role in enabling the business to achieve their objectives through the effective use of technology.

• Work with business leadership to document a clear vision of a business problem/opportunity and how it supports the business plan.

• Works with the Campus/Divisions to understand business strategy and define system requirements.

• Ensures sound integration of processes and assigned systems across FQ.

• Leads/manages delivery of Class B Manufacturing Systems projects/solutions (medium size/complexity) on time, within budget and to customer expectations.

• Ensures adherence to IT Architecture principles and guidelines.

• Ensures optimal application performance and maintainability of assigned systems thus enabling scalability and continuous updates from software vendors.

• Stays current on emerging manufacturing technologies.

MES Responsibilities:

• Provides input into the overall direction, development, and integration of MES systems.

• Works with plant personnel and Divisional IT Leaders to understand and address business requirements.

• Serves as  a Subject Matter Expert for MES systems in the areas of:

• Execution: Supports and optimizes the MES systems (GE Proficy, PARCview) as well as

  • MES bolt-on solutions (i.e., Loftware, NiceLabel, etc.)

• Knowledge of: GE Proficy Plant Applications, GE Proficy Historian, OPC Servers, MS SQL Server, Windows Server products, TCP/IP, Citrix Server, Visual Basic 6 / .Net, VB Script.

• Experience with SSRS reporting, Power BI or other analytics and reporting  platforms

• Integration. Manufacturing Systems integration to Business Systems (ERP), Analytics/Reporting, MHE equipment, and Shop Floor Data Acquisition Equipment

• Analytics: Ensures relevant manufacturing systems data is available in First Quality Analytics platform (PARCview)

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field

• Manufacturing Systems experience (GE Proficy – Plant Apps )

• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills with excellent written and verbal communications skills.

• Seven plus years of progressive IT experience with at least  5 years in Manufacturing Systems

• Ability and desire to engage with assigned business functions of the Enterprise to understand and articulate the business requirements as well as the IT capabilities and requirements.

• Experience implementing software used in 24x7 shop floor environments.

• Knowledge of standards and methodology of Project Management

• Ability to work within a 24/7 environment across multiple time zones.

• Results oriented, customer focused, team player, proactive.

• Highly motivated

• Problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level

• Excellent organizational and time management skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate to both business and technical individuals.

• Ability to influence and lead change.

• Strong influencing skills – ability to deliver without direct reporting relationships.

• Proven ability to deliver despite obstacles.

• Excellent listener & communicator

• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with business and IT colleagues.

• Acts as an ambassador for business system needs and technology requirements.

• Shows consistent and appropriate responsiveness to both urgent and non-critical matters.

• Ability to travel on average 25%

For MES:

• Exposure to MES technologies, including automated data collection, visualization, quality, efficiency, SCADA, DCS, automated decision control, workflow, scheduling, and interface to ERP systems.

• At least 5 years’ experience working hands-on experience with the GE

• Proficy suite of application including Historian, Plant Apps, Portal, and Workflow

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities

• Paid time off (three-week minimum)

• Medical, dental and vision starting day one

• 401(k) with employer match

• Paid parental leave

• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)

• Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)

• Tuition assistance

• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

• ...and more!