Product Specialist

Job Title

Position Overview

Support major technical initiatives within the Residential division by providing specialized Initial operations knowledge. Collaborate with engineers on the innovation of new products, evaluating and verifying acceptance of new raw materials, and initiating process and/or raw material modifications that will result in cost savings for existing products to increase Shaw’s competitive edge. Communicate results and provide recommendations to all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities:

• Lead development of new products from concept to commercialization.

• Develop and maintain process specifications for tufting operations.

• Evaluate and approve raw materials and equipment for production use.

• Coordinate lab and pilot work, including XR’s, MTR’s, and trials.

• Audit and maintain standard machine setups for existing and new products.

• Serve as a subject matter expert in tufting, yarn, and facial constructions.

• Provide technical support for quality and downtime investigations using Lean tools (e.g., Root Cause Analysis).

• Approve NSPs for manufacturing runs based on machine capability and product specs.

• Monitor and analyze process control trends using tools like TMS3.

• Identify training needs and coordinate training sessions for associates.

• Provide performance feedback to team members and support evaluations.

• Help associates understand and implement the “flow to work” concept.

• Lead or participate in special projects (e.g., Green Belt, Kaizens, WPIT, EIT).

• Serve as an expert user of manufacturing software (e.g., Tuftco, CMC, Microsoft 365, GLink).

• Submit and manage process/procedure changes in SMS (via AODocs).

• Collaborate with maintenance planners and engineers to resolve mechanical/electrical issues.

• Assist with PM and machine maintenance as needed.

• Ensure a safe working environment and actively participate in team meetings.

Competencies:

• Collaborate

• Continuous Improvement

• Solve Problems

• Communicate Effectively

Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in carpet manufacturing and/or product development.

• Extensive process knowledge in tufting or related manufacturing departments.

• High school diploma required; technical certifications or further education preferred.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Glink, Shop Flex, and other relevant systems.

Work Shift