Cost Estimating Manager

**Please note that this position could be located in Grand Rapids, MI or Holland, MI**

COMPANY BACKGROUND/CULTURE

GNS Automotive Company was founded in 1971 in South Korea. The footprint expanded rapidly beyond East Asia to North America. Today GNS North America which is a wholly owned subsidiary, has its corporate headquarters in Grand Rapids, MI with manufacturing facilities in Canton, MI, Holland, MI and San Jose Iturbe, Mexico.

GNS North America was established in 2009 initially by aquiring a company with core capabilities in conventional stamped parts for customers in the automotive industry. GNS NA quickly established capability for hot stamping of press hardened steels with the intention of growth in this newly expanding technology at the time. GNS NA is primarily a Tier 1 Hot Stamping parts and assembly supplier to the automotive industry with product applications that include structural parts, roof reinforcements, bumper components, pillars, and door beams. GNS has the number 1 position with its largest customer for door beam supply. GNS’ tool and die capabilities offer simulation and full design and build activities for its hot stamp business. GNS North America revenue grew extensively in the first 10 years. GNS North America's two Michigan plants account for approximately 70% of total revenues in North America.

GNS is highly committed to providing the best value for its customers in product quality and customer service and takes great pride in the abilities of its people and their commitment to excel in innovative techniques and processes. In line with these commitments, GNS NA has won the coveted Supplier of The Year award from General Motors ten times including the past 3 years. GNS NA has also been awarded Industry’s Best and Brightest Employer the past 2 years in Metropolitan Detroit and the past 8 years in West Michigan.

GNS North America employs an extensive range of skills in application and manufacturing of new products, including primarily hot stamping equipment that caters to automotive metals requirements across a variety of materials. GNS North America also provides conventional stamping solutions. GNS is also a recognized leader in the user of laser technologies for cutting, trimming, and hole piercing, utilizing multi-axis laser equipment for both prototyping and large volume production. The company’s welding and assembly cells are automated, employing robots to perform complex, precise operations to achieve maximum cost optimization while producing highest quality products for customers.

SUMMARY

Develops and maintains internal costing for all projects. Manages, organizes and maintains quotations through the entire quoting process. Calculates material and labor time including tooling/investment. Analyzes cost differences material between engineering estimates and quotations with Engineering and Sales. Prepares material / labor time breakdowns to support sales with customer negotiations as needed. Estimates value of components, as required, and reconciles customer component pricing. Evaluates new processes and components to provide accurate pricing to Sales.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

include the following: Other duties may be assigned. In each of the duties listed below the employee is expected to perform to the highest standards of quality, to strive for maximum customer satisfaction, and to continually look for ways to improve the methods, practices and procedures of this position. Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in an effective manner with customers, clients, suppliers, and employees.

• Develops and maintains internal costing to develop consistent and accurate internal estimations.
• Organizes and presents all relevant costing documentation with assumptions to AQPQ group as business is awarded.
• Works with cost estimators to establish accurate costing and development of new costing strategies.
• Focused on leading, development and success of cost estimating group through training and reviews.
• Calculates material and labor times based on drawings or proposed engineering changes.
• Evaluate capacity constraints with plant operations and engineering for new opportunities or customer changes to quantify impact and/or capital investment required.
• Enters required information into customer supplied formats.
• Analyzes print details, corresponding notes, and appropriate engineering specifications for inclusion in RFQ.
• Analyzes cost differences between engineering estimates and quotations with Engineering and Sales.
• Provides various reports and analysis out of the calculation system to support other job functions.
• Supports new business quotations.
• Acquires internal and external suppliers component cost to support engineering estimates and quotations.
• Estimate value of components as required to support customer timing.
• Analyzes component print details, corresponding notes, component drawings, engineering specifications.
• Reconciles customer component pricing.
• Maintains the component price/cost databases for accuracy in the cost estimating tool.

Technical Knowledge and Customer Negotiations

• Generates ideas to achieve cost saving targets.
• Participates in external and internal VA/VE workshops.
• Prepares material and labor time breakdowns for negotiating drawing attributes, material quantities, labor times and tooling with customers.
• General process understanding of metals manufacturing, specifically stamping, laser trimming, and assembly.
• Understand and maintain customer specific requirements for all quoting aspects.
• Supports sales with customer negotiations as needed.
• Accompanies lead (engineering, quality, etc.) for internal manufacturing plant visits to compare the labor time calculations vs. actual manufacturing processes.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises Cost Estimating support staff as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Excellent working knowledge of production costs and processes.
• Ability to formulate business plans with measurable desired outcomes, translates action plans into quantifiable and realistic goals.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and leadership skills.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering or related field preferred; 7-10 years of cost estimating experience (preferably in the automotive industry); 1-3 years of strong business acumen and project management skills required; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The Company will meet all legal obligations related to reasonable accommodation.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet but can be loud at times.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance