Overview
as the lead, you will head a technical team that goes onsite to plants and supplier locations. Your mission is to thoroughly evaluate environments, assess material flow, define data architecture for rfid, enable suppliers with necessary technology, and collaborate with supply chain and facilities experts. You will design and oversee the implementation of rfid gtl solutions, assess feasibility for specific sites, and document observations and plans. You are the technical expert responsible for the "how" and the feasibility of bringing rfid-driven automation into our material tracking, laying groundwork for intelligent inventory and streamlined receiving processes. The role requires strong technical skills, exceptional project leadership, and deep knowledge of rfid technology and supply chain logistics.
qualifications
* educational foundation: bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field (e.g., electrical, computer, industrial engineering, supply chain engineering) or related technical discipline.
* industry experience: proven experience in manufacturing, production, or logistics/warehousing facilities with strong understanding of material handling and supply chain operations.
* automation & aidc expertise: direct and significant rfid experience, including deep understanding of rfid principles (uhf gen2), hardware (readers, antennas, inlays, printers), and software (middleware), data encoding, and global label standards (e.g., gtl).
* system integration: experience with warehouse management systems (wms) and erp systems; sap ewm familiarity is required; knowledge of sap or cmms and loftware spectrum is highly beneficial.
* technical leadership: demonstrated leadership of technical teams or complex initiatives; ability to coordinate tasks, guide team members, and ensure safety and efficiency onsite.
* site evaluation & implementation: experience conducting technical site surveys for rfid deployment and assessing infrastructure (rf environment, network, power) and its impact on rfid performance.
* analytical & problem-solving: strong analytical skills to define data architectures, analyze material flow, identify integration points, troubleshoot rfid systems, and quantify data related to material movement and read rates.
* communication & collaboration: excellent verbal and written communication; ability to collaborate with plant personnel, suppliers, and leadership; experience conducting interviews or workshops to gather requirements.
* solution design & feasibility: ability to translate business requirements into rfid solutions, assess technical/operational feasibility, compare rfid platforms, and select best-fit options for facility constraints.
* documentation & reporting: experience creating technical reports and diagrams (data flows, system integrations, specifications) and presenting findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
* travel: willingness and ability to travel onsite to manufacturing facilities and supplier locations as required.
* software & tools: proficiency with microsoft 365 (including ms project); familiarity with spectrum loftware, sap ewm, cmms, and ariba is advantageous.
* manufacturing/industrial experience: proven ability to navigate real-world plant and warehouse environments during technology implementations.
* leadership & collaboration: demonstrated ability to lead and motivate technical teams and coordinate diverse activities with stakeholders across functions.
* analytical & problem-solving skills: strong ability to dissect complex problems, analyze data, and design effective technical solutions.
deep company knowledge (internal candidates): familiarity with ford’s internal processes, existing systems (wms, mes, erp), and relationships with key personnel across departments (plant it, mp&l, engineering) is an asset and can accelerate collaboration and timelines.
responsibilities
we are seeking a skilled technical solutions lead to join as the global transportation label/rfid lead. You will define and deploy the rfid-enabled global transportation label (gtl) standard and automate receiving processes. You will lead a team of technical specialists onsite (and remotely) and work with plant personnel and suppliers to define, design, and implement rfid gtl solutions, assess feasibility, and document findings to enable automation and improved inventory visibility.
* lead & manage technical implementation team: manage onsite and remote teams focused on rfid gtl rollout and autonomous receiving; coordinate tasks; ensure design, deployment, and testing quality and efficiency; provide technical guidance; uphold safety and protocols.
* rfid data architecture & gtl standardization: define data architecture for unique inbound handling unit identifiers, including data flows for readers, middleware, cmms, and sap ewm; specify inlay data content and memory storage standards; determine standard rfid inlay/label media for handling units (including metal handling); define processes for spectrum loftware to integrate rfid data into gtl templates and deploy to suppliers.
* supplier rfid enablement & printer rollout: strategy and execution for providing rfid-enabled label printers to the global supplier base; specify standard printers/configurations; plan procurement, kitting, and rollout; establish single-source models for suppliers to order inlay/label media and printer supplies; monitor printer health and software updates.
* automated receiving solution design & implementation: design and implement automated rfid receiving solutions to eliminate manual scans in sap ewm; select rfid capture solutions based on environment (gates, handhelds, fixed readers); define device configurations and data retrieval methods to middleware and adjacent systems; design rfid infrastructure and network/power requirements at ford locations; plan device configuration, testing, go-live, and support.
* system integration & business rules: define business rules for rfid events to mirror and enhance ewm processes; specify how reads are communicated to middleware and how events trigger sap ewm transactions and asn updates; contribute to end-user experience for receiving operations and evaluate equipment such as ruggedized tablets and mobile computers; determine requirements for manual rfid/barcode capture devices; evaluate reprinting unreadable or damaged labels and printer options.
* implementation enablement & change management: support communication plans and training for plant users, supervisors, and leadership; oversee creation of technical design documents for rfid gtls, data architectures, supplier enablement, and autonomous receiving solutions; document proposed rfid solutions with data flows, system integrations, and specifications; prepare feasibility reports outlining recommended hardware/software and risks; maintain records of data and analyses performed during evaluation and design phases.
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