Packaging Engineer

Comfort starts with our 13,000+ team members across the globe, who are transforming the power of comfort every day. Our employees have the power to change lives, in our homes, work and communities. We foster an inclusive environment while honoring a legacy built on family, where everyone can be themselves.

If you are ready to join an industry leading organization where our people are the most important asset, and innovation propels us into the future, you're ready to take your seat at La-Z-Boy Incorporated.

WE BELIEVE IN THE TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER OF COMFORT

Job Summary:

JOB SUMMARY:
The Packaging Design Engineer supporting new product launches, develop test plans and continuous improvement. The Packaging Engineer designs, tests, and implements packaging that are an integral part of the organization's product development process. They also review and improve existing packaging designs. This individual develops and improves pack design, tests standards and guidelines for developing packaging solutions. They work with internal resources and suppliers to achieve functional packaging and reduce damage. They contribute to product introduction teams to launch successful projects.

Job Description:

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (other duties as assigned):

• Understand distribution system and handling methods from the factory to the customer. Understand manufacturing constraints such as line layout and conveyer size and position. Oversee and manage complete packaging development process, including the creation of packaging designs, prototype development, and performance testing. Knowledge of ship testing and ISTA standards.
• Design packaging materials and manufacturing techniques for multiple factories, RDCs and delivery methods. Develop packaging for automation in mind. Assist automation efforts with understanding packaging issues and implementing design changes to improve productivity, cost and yield.
• Create and analyze engineering drawings and specifications of product to determine physical characteristics of item, special handling, environmental and safety requirements, and types of materials required for packaging.
• Work with factories to implement design changes both large and small. Understand labeling importance, size, position and content.
• Implement and drive damage reduction projects working with a cross-functional team.
• Troubleshoot new and existing packaging problems involving designs, materials and processes and provide creative, timely, and cost-effective solutions and support product lines. Work with product design engineers to understand structural aspects of the frame and mechanisms of the product.
• Communicate design changes, create evaluation plans with factories and distribution centers with solid input, and qualify new designs, do first pieces, report evaluation results and coordinate pilot runs with factories and distribution centers.
• Concisely present conclusions and clear recommendations to management team.
• Manage multiple projects and still meet critical project milestones.
• Communicate with all levels and drive positive change. Experience with leading design and technical reviews. Experience with implementing design changes & support project management.
• Perform engineering studies to fully validate design concepts with a data driven approach

SCOPE & IMPACT:

The packaging engineer's designs will integrate into a wide variety of materials, including corrugated, bags, films, tapes, honeycomb, straps and skids to protect the product from the manufacturing plant to the customer. They design and specify conventional and e-commerce packaging materials for the residential division. They design, specify, or qualify some packaging for Joybird and Floyd. They work collaboratively with procurement team to build supplier requirements and improve the effectiveness of our raw material spending to protect product worth approximately $1 billion per year. They act as a packaging expert with the quality team and RDCs to investigate, resolve and reduce material handling damage with both internal and external customers such as Wayfair, or QVC.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's Degree in Packaging Science, Mechanical, or Materials Science Engineering and 4-6 years of packaging design experience
• Knowledge of ship testing equipment and ISTA standards.
• Experience designing and specifying parts with corrugated material, plastic films and bags, and tapes.
• Must be able to balance manufacturing, distribution, technical requirements, and external customer feedback in design.
• Review and interpret standards (ISTA. ASTM, ANSI, BIFMA, ISO, UL, NEC, MFG, etc.)
• Experience with an "APQP-type" quality system, PPAP, 8D problem solving process, and gauge R&Rs.
• Microsoft Office (Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Solidworks or similar CAD software.
• Ability to travel up to 30% may be with little advanced notice.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• High volume durable consumer product packaging
• Experience in cost reduction initiatives in a design/manufacturing environment
• Experience designing products for e-commerce including products delivered directly to the consumer
• Product fragility testing of consumer durable goods
• Experience designing and specifying parts with open and closed cell foams, polystyrene, skids, and straps
• Experience with product fragility investigations and testing
• Experience with material handling and warehouse equipment
• Experience with inbound packaging and dunnage
• Data logging of products through testing and warehousing

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

CORE ATTRIBUTES:

Communicate Transparently

Lead the Team

Impact and Influence

Deliver Results

Coach and Develop

OTHER DUTIES: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the incumbent for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Weekly Hours:
40

Work Shift: