Industrial Engineer

The Work Study / Industrial Engineer (IE) at shoefabrik is responsible for optimizing production processes, improving efficiency, and reducing manufacturing costs across footwear operations. This role contributes to the development of manufacturable and cost‑efficient footwear products while ensuring alignment with brand standards for quality, comfort, and sustainability.

This position plays a critical role in achieving cost targets, quality requirements, and delivery commitments through data‑driven analysis, industrial engineering methodologies, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Acting as a key interface between Product Creation, Product Costing, and Factory Operations, the role translates design intent into efficient, scalable, and industrialized production solutions that support successful commercialization.

Process & Productivity Engineering

• Conduct time studies, and capacity analysis to establish standard times for all operations.
• Analyze and optimize footwear manufacturing processes across cutting, stitching, assembly, and finishing.
• Balance production lines to achieve target output while minimizing bottlenecks and idle time.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) across development milestones to production.
• Support early-stage product development by providing manufacturability and productivity input during design and engineering phases.

Factory Engineering

• Drive labor efficiency and productivity improvements aligned with cost targets.
• Identify and eliminate non-value-added activities through lean manufacturing principles.
• Drive standardization of best practices across the supplier network.
• Production materials consumption optimization.
• Ensure labor assumptions align with real factory capabilities
• Support production layout design, line balancing, and manpower planning.
• Work closely with strategic supplier factories to improve line efficiency, labor utilization, and output.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead or support continuous improvement projects across production area.
• Create a centralized and reliable dataset for benchmarking and future improvement.
• Support automation or mechanization initiatives where applicable.
• Train supervisors and operators on standard methods and productivity techniques.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with Production, Product Development, Costing, and Supply Chain teams.
• Communicate engineering findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Support cross-functional problem-solving initiatives in factory environments.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
• 3–5 years of Industrial Engineering experience in footwear or consumer goods manufacturing.

Technical Expertise

• Time & motion study methodologies.
• Deep understanding of footwear construction and assembly processes. Experience with comfort, lifestyle, or performance footwear is a strong advantage.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies is an advantage.
• Solid understanding of labor costing, capacity planning, and production KPIs.
• Proficiency in Excel; experience with PLM and ERP systems is a plus.

Soft Skills & Mindset

• Strong analytical and cost-conscious thinking.
• Able to challenge designs constructively with data.
• Excellent communication skills — able to work effectively with factory floor operators and senior management alike.
• Proactive, structured, and improvement driven.