Showa Performance Head of Industrialization

Description

Summary

The Head of Industrialization will establish and lead the industrialization function for SHOWA Performance Group. This role is responsible for translating innovative suspension designs into robust, scalable manufacturing solutions, while ensuring alignment with corporate systems, standards, and operational excellence frameworks.

Operate with clarity and urgency in a fast, ambiguous environment. Be decisively collaborative - set expectations, make trade‑offs, prototype quickly, document choices, and close loops. Maintain brand integrity and compliance while doing what it takes to help the team deliver. Most importantly, this individual must be able to contribute to a fun and productive environment, maintain a positive attitude, and develop strong working relationships with colleagues and team members.

Key Responsibilities

Division Build & Industrialization Strategy

Build and lead the industrialization organization for SHOWA Performance Group
Define and execute a scalable industrialization strategy aligned with divisional goals and corporate manufacturing standards
Establish processes, KPIs, and governance that align with enterprise frameworks while enabling speed and flexibility

New Product Introduction (NPI) Leadership

Lead industrialization from design freeze through Start of Production (SOP)
Ensure compliance with corporate stage-gate and APQP processes
Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) integration early in development
Oversee all APQP deliverables, including PFMEA, control plans, and validation builds

Manufacturing Integration & Footprint Strategy

Define optimal production strategy (internal plants, greenfield, or external suppliers)
Leverage existing corporate manufacturing sites, capabilities, and shared services
Lead plant readiness, line setup, and launch coordination across locations

Process Development & Production Readiness

Develop robust manufacturing processes for suspension components (shocks, struts, assemblies)
Define tooling, equipment, and automation strategies aligned with corporate standards
Oversee process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), capacity planning, and ramp-up execution

Cost, Efficiency & Continuous Improvement

Deliver industrialization within cost and capex targets
Apply lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies
Drive cycle time reduction, yield improvement, and productivity gains
Identify cross-division synergies to optimize cost and performance

Quality & Compliance

Ensure alignment with corporate quality management systems and regulatory standards
Partner with Quality to implement robust validation, inspection, and testing processes
Lead structured root cause analysis and corrective actions during product launches

Cross-Functional & Enterprise Collaboration

Serve as the primary bridge between R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, and corporate functions
Report progress, risks, and launch readiness to senior leadership

Qualifications

Experience

12–15+ years of experience in industrialization, manufacturing engineering, or operations within a global organization
Proven success launching new products or divisions within an established company
Experience working within structured corporate systems (APQP, stage-gate, global quality standards)
Automotive or complex mechanical systems experience strongly preferred; suspension expertise highly desirable
Experience leading cross-site or global manufacturing programs

Technical Expertise