Now that you’ve secured a Manufacturing Engineer interview, it’s time to prepare for the common questions that Manufacturing Engineers receive throughout the process. Doing a little bit of interview prep can boost your confidence and minimize the unexpected.
So how can you prepare yourself for your upcoming Manufacturing Engineer interview? Regardless of whether this is your first interview or one of many, planning ahead by reading this guide will serve you well. This article lays out the top Manufacturing Engineer interview questions you can expect and some sample answers so you can put your best foot forward.
Top Manufacturing Engineer Questions
- Why did you decide to become a manufacturing engineer?
- How do you keep up to date with manufacturing engineering trends?
- What type of challenges have you dealt with in previous projects?
- Give us an example of when you implemented a process change that improved product quality. How did you identify the change you made?
- Tell us about the most complex manufacturing product or project you’ve worked on in the past. What were your day-to-day responsibilities?
- What methods do you employ to evaluate manufacturing processes?
- Do you have any experience in a leadership role in which junior manufacturing engineers report to you?
- Give us an example of when you implemented a process change that improved product quality. How did you identify the need for that change?
- How do you fix a situation when a product experiences poor quality, unexpected costs, or creates a bad reputation for the company?
- Tell us about the most complex manufacturing product or project you’ve worked on in the past. What were your day-to-day responsibilities?
- What methods do you employ to evaluate manufacturing processes?
- Do you have any experience in a leadership role in which junior manufacturing engineers report to you?
Manufacturing Engineer Interview Answers
Why did you decide to become a manufacturing engineer?
A question like this is typically geared towards getting to know you better as a job candidate. These questions are designed to understand your previous experience. This includes school projects or accomplishments & projects in previous jobs. You’ll also be able to convey your enthusiasm for the role with this question.
When answering, share your future goals and current interests to make sure that the job you’re interviewing for is a good fit. Try to tie your answer back to the company you’re interviewing for, like mentioning production or the industry they’re a part of.
Sample Answer: I want to be a Manufacturing Engineer because manufacturing is a vital part of the economy. I enjoy completing work that's valuable for so many people. It's also a dynamic field that's constantly evolving and changing with new systems and technology updates, and I find that exciting. I am passionate about manufacturing technology and have always wanted to contribute to the manufacturing process. I think it's pretty incredible to say that I contributed to the process of making a product that impacts people. I am interested in this role in particular because I love being able to work towards producing medical parts. I’m also passionate about equipment that helps people live their lives fully despite a medical condition.
How Do You Keep Up to Date with Manufacturing Engineering Trends?
An interviewer might ask this question to check whether or not you're informed of the latest technology in the company’s particular industry. They want to know if you are aware of the big themes and trends in your field. In a specific career and role level, it's expected that you'll keep up with industry news and have your finger on the pulse. How you answer this question will help an interviewer understand where your interests in manufacturing are. It can also help them gauge whether you’re genuinely passionate about manufacturing engineering as a field while testing your general knowledge.
Sample Answer: “I subscribe to newsletters from mainstream and industry publications like Manufacturing Today and The Manufacturer. Plus, I try to attend at least one big conference a year. I find that conversations with peers can be as valuable as the keynote speakers and workshops at these events. I also follow Jill Jusko, the senior editor at Industry Week, because she always shares interesting manufacturing stories on topics like just operations, leadership, company culture, and industrial tech. Dave Blanchard, Chief Editor of EHS Today, is another person I follow for his insights on leadership, safety, marketing, and technology concerning manufacturing and supply chain issues.”
Give us an example of when you implemented a process change that improved product quality. How did you identify the need for that change?
This question gives interviewers an idea of your creativity and problem-solving skills. It also demonstrates how experienced you are with process changes and your ability to take the initiative to make improvements rather than waiting around for changes to be implemented. An interviewer will be looking for your answer to demonstrate your knowledge of manufacturing process design, how to analyze quality issues, and experience with implementing new process changes.
Sample Answer: “At my previous job, we worked with older machinery and kept experiencing issues with stripped bolts on the assembly line. After analyzing the equipment, I suggested to my superior that we switch to a different power tool that could decrease the defects we were experiencing. My point of view was that this would increase the speed of our assembly line. Once the changes were implemented, we experienced less disruption, which increased production and improved efficiency across the board.”
How do you fix a situation when a product has experienced poor quality or cost issues that could harm the company's reputation?
Manufacturing Engineers are responsible for designing a production process that’s as cost-effective as possible without disregarding product quality. Sometimes problems relating to human error, poor testing procedures, or unsuitable machines occur during production, and it’s your responsibility to determine a solution. When you answer, you should demonstrate your knowledge of corrective action procedures and how you’d thoroughly investigate what’s taking place on the production line.
Sample Answer 1: “If it was a quality issue, I would investigate the production process from start to finish to determine where the gaps affect quality. If there was customer feedback, I would review it to see if it would help determine where the production process was going wrong. After identifying the issue, I would establish corrective action to resolve the problems and prevent future problems from occurring again. I would also suggest implementing product testing procedures to help catch any problems earlier on.”
Sample Answer 2: “When it comes to evaluating a product with cost issues, I will perform a cost analysis to determine which measures would reduce costs without sacrificing quality. I would have to look at the current process while accounting for a few factors contributing to the cost issue. This can include the cost of labor, raw materials, factory overhead, and other indirect costs. Evaluating all these factors helps paint a picture of costs and where adjustments can be made.”
What methods do you employ to evaluate manufacturing processes?
An interviewer might ask you this question to test your critical thinking skills and problem-solving capabilities while also assuring them of your work ethic. It also gives them an understanding of your work process. Depending on the question and whether or not you’re interviewing for a junior or senior role, they may also test your interpersonal and management skills.
Sample Answer: When evaluating manufacturing processes, my focus is on developing more efficient methods for design and production, specifying the appropriate supplies and resources at the lowest possible cost, and decreasing the timeline for producing products. I review multiple factors that affect the manufacturing process, such as the cost of raw materials, labor, equipment, unique parts, and factory overhead. I also focus on improving waste reduction and quality assurance, all of which can help reduce the costs and boost the efficiency of manufacturing. To measure quality, I use a quality management system like ISO 9001. I believe that regular testing and inspection can help save costs. In my last position, I consistently found ways to improve the efficiency of every component of the manufacturing equipment the company maintained. I also oversaw the factory's overhead to ensure production stayed within budget.
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Now that you’ve got a general sense of what you could be asked during your Manufacturing Engineer interview, you can feel more at ease when answering questions comes. Remember that the questions above may not be the same questions you’re asked during the interview word-for-word, so don’t get thrown off if the questions you get asked sound different.
The questions above are intended to demonstrate the way interviewers think and what they really are looking to find out about you. As long as you have a plan of the main points you want to get across, there are different ways to express that based on how the question gets asked. All this to say, it’s not realistic to think that you can read off a script during the interview.
If you’re still feeling nervous, don’t sweat it; nerves can get the best of us! As much as you may want to land that job, don’t forget that you’re also interviewing the company. An interview allows you to ask questions and learn about the company to ensure that it’s also the right fit for you. You’ll be spending a lot of time working for this company, so make sure they align with your goals, values, and priorities.
After the interview, if you’ve decided to continue to explore your job options - you can visit our job board for opportunities with top manufacturing companies. We’re here to guide you to build a more robust and brighter future. Contact our Career Coach to get a specific career blueprint according to your goals and skills.
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