product engineer ...what does it do?

[meek851]

Good morning to all,

I had a job offer as a product engineer at a large automotive company (mechanical transmissions). I am currently a mechanical designer, but in a small company, where this figure is not there and the roles as you can imagine are not so feeble... they have described the role to me, in practice it is:

- to manage all the technical aspects of the component during the entire life cycle.
-development of feasibility studies of the product, manage the prototype and release in production of the same.
- define test programs and validate the product
-cooperate with other departments for cost reduction (production engineers, designers etc.)
-make product presentations to the customer

Sincerely, they all seem to me a little vague, so I ask you what this figure is about? Is it an industrializer or a paper mill? ...I am afraid that my current work (projectist) is very different from this and that it is a little "practical" but very bureaucratic. .

any info is well accepted. thank you!

 

[Stan9411]

I'm here. are those that make the initial concept of the component. of the type: “It has to perform this function, occupying this space to the fullest, with gross target weight, returning to this budget” .. then define the maximum parameters (usually using spreadsheets or scripting languages) and then begin to interface and coordinate all other more specific business functions: what draws it to you, what selects the materials, what makes you structural verification, what prototyps you and heads you ... all will have some problems and will force you to return to others to correct something.. and you have to know everything a little.. because you are the product referent. while perhaps the designer can take care of details that are important for testing.. You're the way.

Maybe it's not hyper-technical, hyper-practical, but, for what I see, it's a work that scratches your head gives you plenty.

Then obviously every company and every person interprets it in a different way .. there are those who are behind the pc only to fill out excels with deadlines and send them to the working group.. and who is there to confront and help everyone

 

[meccanicamg]

in fact depends very much on the company reality. for me they are all terms that fill their mouths but then they have to fall into the company reality.
not all use particular tools, some make imposition without having specific technical skills and here comes the minks and paradoxes.
ask the company directly.

 

[meek851]

In fact.. my fear is precisely to end up doing a sort of "maggiordomo" (discuss the term) that moves from one table to another at the service of the room se..I don't know if I made the idea (obviously nothing against the butlers and who does this job eh)...there is to those who like to do this in the company (the butler I don't mean) and maybe download everything on others (responspons). So I hope it's not just about compiling excel and passing mail... I shoot myself... is there any question I should ask to "seat" possibly the approach that the company has towards this figure? (if this is one or the other case). .

ono those who make the initial concept of the component

i.e. in practice in my case (metalmechanical company) makes a sort of initial dimensioning (preliminary design) and takes care of making it producible at the lowest costs by interfacing with experts from all departments if I understood correctly. At least on paper:unsures:

 

[ceschi1959]

Here I am: product engineer at a medium company in an automotive industry.

the company decides to launch a product, innovative or a reseling of an existing one.

So I: -development feasibility studies of the product, manage the prototype and release in production of the same.after agreeing and/or established with testing to what tests to subject the product or the simple component: - define test programs and validate the productconceiving the product or the particular in order to allow its realization (closes, deforms...) and assembly: - working with other departments for cost reduction (production engineers, designers etc. I have highlighted the term because I am essentially a designer(!).
if there is a mould to be made, or a new machine comes to the company with the possibility to optimize machining. . . - to manage all the technical aspects of the component during the entire life cycle.this never done, we think of other business realities: -make product presentations to the customer.

style is defined by other colleagues.

I don't feel like nobody's butler.

Hi.

 

[TETRASTORE]

Sincerely, they all seem to me a little vague, so I ask you what this figure is about? Is it an industrializer or a paper mill? ...I am afraid that my current work (projectist) is very different from this and that it is a little "practical" but very bureaucratic. .

It is absolutely not a paperwork job but can be challenging as long as you are also available to a continuous training that expands your knowledge that you certainly already hold in the design field. requires personal skills and experience such as: orientation to the result, spirit of initiative, problem solving, analytical thinking, predisposition to work in team and interpersonal relationships, strong sense to innovation and change.
By integrating the information you have already provided in previous posts, based on the points you have reported, I expound them to facilitate the understanding of individual tasks (which may have variations from one company to another).
- to manage all the technical aspects of the component during the entire life cycle.the product engineer has the responsibility to ensure the design of new products in line with the expectations of customers.
the projects can be of two types (of course depends on the type of product and company): complete standard projects that lead to the development of a new product but within an existing family; non-standard complete designs that lead to the development of new products until final drawings are prepared.
the sales department will assign specific new product development projects and transmit through the product sheet all the basic information and specifications to allow the start of the design activity in full autonomy.
the product engineer will update on the state of progress work in compliance with the agreed timing and, in the case of non-respect, to share new ones.
the product engineer has the responsibility to define design solutions and propose any innovations in relation to the achievement of product specifications, define functional and structural characteristics and realize the individual phases of design. if necessary, it performs static and/or dynamic finite elements analysis and processes calculations related to the functional performance of the product to be designed.
it will then follow the product during the entire life cycle evaluating any improvements or corrective interventions based on feedback from users.
it may be required, or may decide on its own, to go to users to verify applications both as a pre-sale and after-sale service.
-development of feasibility studies of the product, manage the prototype and release in production of the same.
- define test programs and validate the productthe product engineer must coordinate or perform in person, the feasibility study and has a support function in the activity of prototyping and testing, so it follows the analysis of prototypes for their validation. if necessary it interfaces with colleagues in the testing area to conduct and monitor the practical tests required by the customer to homologate or approve the project.

-cooperate with other departments for cost reduction (production engineers, designers etc.)with the support of buyers, maintains relations with suppliers for the definition of materials and components in the design phase.
collaborates with the process engineering (if present) for improvements and process innovations both from requirements related to new products and for innovations that can lead to better production efficiency.

-make product presentations to the customermust produce all the necessary documentation (slide, power point, movies, catalogues, manuals, etc.) to illustrate the product and its characteristics so that other corporate bodies (sales, product manager, marketing, etc.) can in turn have the necessary tools to present the product and its peculiarities.
he may also be responsible for submitting the product in the context of trade fairs or with customers.

Is there any question I should ask to "seat" the approach that the company has towards this figure?

the first question you could ask to whom you will have to account, in practice your position in the corporate organization; the answer will make you understand the level of responsibility you will be required.
another question, in my opinion, you have to ask yourself:
are you willing to commit yourself to grow and have future (even economic) satisfactions by putting on the plate your will to learn new things and not to consider fractioned time as if you were a normal executive employee? This last point I'll take it back because in case you get the call that highlights a problem 5 minutes before the end of your turn, on Friday night, you will have to be available to face it immediately.

If you take this activity enthusiastically you will not be the butler of anyone and you will surely face problems that you will overcome with commitment, imagination, experience, perseverance and collaboration, but you will also have many satisfactions.

 

[stevie]

I think they are doing a lot of speculation without knowing basically anything about what should go to do and without knowing anything about the company (the same position in two different companies basically involves completely different professional figures). .

the thing that "wonders me" is that:
manage all the technical aspects of the component during the entire life cyclethat means everything and nothing... that a single figure can handle "all technical aspects" of a component is a utopia not to say worse

careful then when an Italian company adopts an English terminology. . .

 

[meek851]

Good morning and thank you all for the answers. you were very kind. the company is a large company (about 2000 people) but it is of foreign mother's house (north america). I should go to the Italian branch which essentially produces automotive changes for vehicles (but not only): .... however in two days I have the second interview .. I will let you know better.in the meantime any other info and well accept :d ..thank you again!

 

[IronMike87]

If I can tell you my ... I changed in July this year and I went from manufacturing engineer to product, always automotive. is an oem supply company, but in fact it is as if we were an oem in our turn since we provide a finished product, fully engineered inhouse, deriving from non automotive applications in other sectors.

probably being the referent of a production site towards the mother's house (made in use) the work is not exactly the pure one that is meant. I have in charge all the process of homologation of local suppliers, management documentation and distinct, monitoring of some costs, supervision of certain activities.
in general, the "real" products that are part of the engineering team in use manage the technical evolution of the product. model 3d components. contact and manage critical component suppliers (but not only). evaluate efficiency solutions or cost reduction. are in constant contact with the customer who is served by their product line.

Since you're still at the beginning, dispassionate advice, don't scare yourself into asking for clarifications to those who interview you. company headhunters and hr are there for that, and from a certain point of view they simply provide a service. and often do not have clearly the role tasks when they draw up job-description. or remain deliberately on the vague.
ask with graciousness that they describe you more in detail what you will do, and see if the answer they will give you is satisfactory, and if it meets your expectations. Needless to jump into something without having the picture as much as possible outlined (then obviously the gold lacquer that is linked to every search for staff)