Prototype Specialist II

Company Overview

Nippon Seiki is a world-class manufacturer of instruments for vehicles, agricultural, and construction equipment. Established in 1945, Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Japan, with numerous facilities worldwide. N.S. International, Ltd. ("NSI"), a group company of Nippon Seiki, located in Troy, MI, is a tier one supplier of instrument clusters and head-up display units for FCA US, General Motors, BMW, Honda, Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Polaris, Arctic Cat and other OEM's.

Purpose of Job

The Prototype Specialist is responsible for managing all prototype build activities including developing and communicating Prototype development schedules & build plans based on Engineering Specifications, Bills of Materials (BOM), and program timing.  Responsibilities apply to new developmental programs during development and Pre-production phases. Collaborating with multiple teams across Nippon Seiki North America (NSNA) locations to assure prototype deliverables are met. Resolve issues affecting component shortages, quality, delivery, functional requirements, and timing. The Prototype Specialist will map out a detailed plan of component strategies, defining requirements, obtaining quotes for production tools & Electrical components. This role will interface with different engineering disciplines to determine the release of specifications, drawings, BOM, and assembly process flow. Other responsibilities include developing Prototype Process Control plan, detailed process & functional check instructions including Quality control charts to ensure flawless build and delivery performance. Responsible for continuous improvement initiatives focused on prototype scrap cost reduction, proto assembly capacity enhancement, and Proto specific KPI performance (Quality, Cost, & Delivery).

Major Duties/Responsibilities

Top duties or activities in a given year. Not all tasks/steps performed are listed.

• Develop and manage the overall prototype timeline based on Engineering (ED, DV) and Customer build schedules.
• Create and manage BOMs in PLEX ERP for Mechanical & Electrical components.
• Maintain component tracking system and manage inventory transactions in PLEX.
• Coordinate DFM reviews before tooling kick-off to ensure design and dimensional readiness.
• Proactively manage part shortages and supply chain risks; develop recovery plans to protect build timing.
• Balance urgent prototype requests with cost control and scrap optimization.
• Interface with SW & System Engineering Teams to develop functional test, and SW Flash instructions, and develop “first article acceptance” criteria for PCB A. Provide training for SMT supplier operators related to performing “functional check” inspection procedure.
• Ensure PCB builds are completed with 100% AOI inspection and functional checks prior to build events
• Review and respond to Request for Prototyping (RFP) by developing detailed timing and commitment plans.
• Collaborate with NS Japan Tooling Division and other overseas tooling supplier (NS-Thai) to plan for production tooled sourced components, quotes, and delivery schedule.
• Conduct weekly review meetings with NS Japan Proto, Business Development, and Engineering teams to monitor tool status, obtaining component quotes, component delivery status, and Optical Jig quotes and timing.
• Interface with Mechanical Engineering teams to obtain Assembly Process Flow. Based on this, Develop Control Plan, Prototype Process Plan (PFMEA) including quality control charts (Go/NoGo Visuals) to ensure compliance to Customer / IATF requirements.
• Collaborate with Mechanical Engineering teams to develop process guidelines for HUD Optical Inspections for the Prototypes prior to the DV build phase.
• Conduct pilot trials to validate the process, confirm cycle times, and ensure prototypes meet functional requirements for DV and customer builds. Work with Engineering to improve cycle time and increase daily prototype assembly capacity.
• Ensure prototypes meet all functional and optical requirements. Address non-conformances promptly by partnering with Engineering to perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions.
• Track trial results, document improvement opportunities, and share findings with affected teams to drive corrective actions.
• Maintain the Lessons Learned database and manage prototype quality issues through 5-Phase and 8D reporting to drive continuous improvement.
• Assess delivery, cost, and quality performance for each program and publish monthly prototype related KPI performance reports.
• Monitor key activities regularly and prepare prototype weekly status reports for Engineering Management review. Maintain Prototype Specific Open Issue List (OIL) for weekly status review with Senior Manager. 

Education, Experience and Knowledge

Required and/or preferred level of education, knowledge and skills that are necessary.

Additional Information

DISCLAIMER

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

N.S. International, Ltd. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Candidates must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years to comply with labor laws and job responsibilities.