USA-OK-El Reno
Industrial Engineer
Job Description
Dexter is the premier manufacturer and supplier of axles, suspension, brakes, doors, venting products, trailer parts, accessories, and towing components serving the commercial trailer, RV, heavy-duty, marine, agriculture, and manufactured housing markets has an opportunity for an Industrial Engineer at our manufacturing facility located in El Reno, Oklahoma.
Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, Dexter has manufacturing and distribution locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Employing state-of-the-art robotics, precision welding equipment, and automated machining processes, Dexter has achieved many years of success through a commitment to the principles of superior quality, continuous improvement, and unparalleled customer service.
For more information about our company, access Dexter's web site at www.dextergroup.com.
The Industrial Engineer partners with plant management and frontline supervisors to
drive measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, and cost (SQDC).
With a balance of technical expertise and leadership influence, the role
advances Dexter’s continuous improvement culture by aligning Lean and Six Sigma
practices with Dexter’s values: Execute with Determination, Connect with
People, and Do the Right Thing.
Key Responsibilities:
Process
& Technical Expertise
Lead continuous improvement
projects across assigned areas.
Conduct value stream mapping,
time studies, and process flow analysis to optimize throughput, takt
time, and resource allocation.
Design and implement ergonomic
workstations and assembly lines to improve operator safety,
efficiency, and quality.
Develop and maintain labor
standards, capacity models, and production forecasts to support
planning and scheduling accuracy.
Optimize material flow, internal
logistics, and line-side delivery systems to reduce handling,
downtime, and waste.
Implement visual management
systems (kanban, Andon, production boards) to improve shop floor
communication and accountability.
Lead root cause analysis and
structured problem-solving (8D, A3, FMEA) to drive permanent solutions
to production challenges.
Partner with welding departments to
advance robotic welding automation, weld sequence optimization, and
fixture/tooling design.
Support automation and
technology integration (PLC-controlled systems, robotics, smart
manufacturing, IoT-enabled equipment).
Apply statistical process
control (SPC) and advanced data analytics to monitor quality and
process performance.
Collaborate with
Maintenance/Engineering teams on Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) to improve equipment uptime and reliability.
Work with New Product Engineering
to integrate Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly
(DFA) into new axle and suspension designs.
Identify and implement cost
reduction initiatives in direct labor, indirect labor, scrap, rework,
and utilities.
Standardize best practices
across regions, ensuring sustainability and replication of
improvements.
Leadership
& Influence
Act as a local CI coach and
trainer, mentoring plant managers and supervisors.
Facilitate Kaizen workshops and
problem-solving events.
Track and report KPIs (OEE,
scrap, safety, cost savings).
Promote best practice sharing across departments to reduce variation.
Drive Dexter’s Lean culture through engagement with both leadership and frontline employees.
Competencies
Customer Focus – aligns CI work with Dexter’s
product reliability and customer commitments.
Collaboration – effective across plants, union
environments, and functional teams.
Operational Excellence – uses Lean/Six Sigma to drive
sustainable results.
Communication – able to translate CI strategy
from plant floor to executive level.
Change Leadership – drives adoption of CI culture in
established operations.
Minimum Qualifications
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial
Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field
Experience: 1-3+ years in manufacturing
(axle, chassis, suspension, automotive/trailer components preferred).
Technical Skills:
Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt
preferred).
Welding knowledge (manual/robotic,
MIG, TIG, resistance).
Time studies, labor standards, and
plant layout design.
ERP/MES (Oracle, Plex, SAP) and
data analytics.
Dexter Fit: Collaborative, safety-first,
hands-on problem solver who thrives in a manufacturing environment.
We care for our people. Here are some of our great, comprehensive Benefits:
- Dexter offers a competitive wage
- Full benefits package including Health, Dental, Vision, Life, STD, LTD, FSA, HSA
- 3% profit sharing in our Safe Harbor program
- 401(k) Plan with company contributions
- Opportunities for internal career development and growth
Apply now to join an industry leader and make a difference in what we do for the customers we serve!
Equal Opportunity Employer
Offers of employment are contingent upon successfully passing a background check and drug screen. Dexter Axle Company is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for positions without discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
Work Authorization
Dexter will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States or Canada. This position does not provide sponsorship. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1 (including those with OPT or CPT), H-1, H-2, L-1, B, J or TN, or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.