About Us
At Abbott, we are committed to helping people live more fully at all stages of their lives. As a global healthcare leader, our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritional products, and branded generic medicines.
We employ around 113,000 colleagues across more than 160 countries, making a daily impact on the lives of people worldwide. In Ireland, we have over 6,000 employees across ten sites, with six manufacturing facilities located in Clonmel, Cootehill, Donegal, Longford, Sligo, and a third-party manufacturing management operation in Sligo.
We also have commercial, support operations, and shared services in Dublin and Galway, and have been making a difference in the lives of Irish people since 1946.
Our Commitment to Healthcare
At Abbott, we are dedicated to advancing the future of healthcare through innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Our commitment is reflected in our new manufacturing facility in Kilkenny, which will serve as a centre for world-class engineering, quality, medical device manufacturing, and other science-based professionals.
This state-of-the-art facility will enable us to produce life-changing technologies that enable people with diabetes to live the best and fullest lives they can. At Abbott in Kilkenny, you can shape your career as you help shape the future of healthcare.
Your Role in Making a Difference
As a Materials Engineer Lead, you will work closely with the Materials Engineering Manager and the wider Technical Services team to support the introduction of new or changed materials/components to the site.
You will troubleshoot and resolve material-related challenges by completing investigations, determining root cause, reporting out findings, and proposing solutions. You will identify component-related opportunities to optimize yield and OEE for daily operations and support sustaining of materials/components for the site.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Identify root causes of component-related manufacturing issues using structured problem-solving techniques.
2. Develop Design of Experiments (DOEs), conduct testing, analyze data, and report findings for continuous improvement initiatives.
3. Perform empirical and experimental analyses to inform decision-making based on data insights.
4. Collaborate with site operations to resolve material-related challenges and meet site goals.
5. Support validation activities related to material changes and R&D material trials, providing constructive feedback.
6. Monitor the performance of parts and implement actions to enhance performance.
7. Evaluate proposed changes and alternative components/designs for efficacy and efficiency.
8. Assist in resolving Quality Incidents and Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA).
9. Capture materials-related learnings from initial production lines to inform future processes.
10. Apply LEAN methodologies to drive operational excellence throughout the organization.
11. Contribute to the delivery of site-specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and maintain visual dashboards for reporting.
12. Engage in cross-functional activities to promote continual improvement, safety, and compliance.
13. Analyze complex processes and problems, identifying areas for improvement and risk mitigation.
14. Use data analysis to identify trends and opportunities for improvements while ensuring compliance with industry standards and global regulations.
15. Propose and support new methods or materials to enhance quality and efficiency.
16. Provide technical support to fellow engineers and mentor junior associates within the team.
17. Assist relevant site teams with Bills of Materials (BOMs) and Agile-related work.
18. Cultivate a strong understanding of Abbott Quality Policy and Procedures.
Requirements
To be successful in this role, you will need:
* A minimum NFQ Level 8 qualification in Engineering, Science, or a related discipline.
* At least 7 years of experience in a manufacturing environment; GxP experience preferred.
* Proficiency in working with materials/components, including electrical, molded, or mechanical systems.
* Demonstrated experience in resolving technical challenges on high-volume automation lines.
* Familiarity with root cause analysis tools such as 6M, Ishikawa, DMAIC, and Six Sigma methodologies.
What We Offer
As a Materials Engineer Lead at Abbott, you can expect an attractive compensation package that includes competitive pay, as well as benefits such as:
* Family health insurance
* Life assurance
* Fantastic new facility
* Growing business plus access to many more benefits.
Abbott is an equal opportunities employer.