Paint Process Engineer

Description

**Paint Process Engineer at KI Industries Inc.** **About KI Industries Inc.** KI Industries, founded in 1964, specializes in the design and manufacturing of decorative plastic and die-cast components for the automotive and appliance industries. Our focus on aesthetics and technical expertise creates components that deliver a high-quality user interface experience to end consumers. These elements establish KI as a trusted leader in the decorative parts industry. For more information, visit our website at www.kiindustries.com or call \+52 (442\) 139 0879 **About the Position.** As a **Paint Process Engineer** at KI Industries Inc., you will be responsible for applying water-based and solvent-based paints onto engineering plastic parts, ensuring quality standards, efficiency, and regulatory compliance within a high-precision manufacturing environment. You will achieve expert-level capability in identifying contaminants in the painting process, provide a sufficient continuous flow of data to statistically determine root causes of issues, and effectively communicate identified problem causes across the organization while defining corrective actions to be implemented. This position offers a unique opportunity for professional growth and development within KI. **Responsibilities** * Manage optimal operation of paint booths, including airflow balancing and control of environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, differential pressure) * Monitor and adjust filtration systems to ensure a controlled environment * Implement cleaning and preventive maintenance protocols for paint booths per cleanroom standards * Supervise formulation and preparation of water-based and solvent-based paints according to technical specifications and customer requirements * Calculate precise proportions of chemical components for paint mixtures * Control and adjust viscosity, density, and rheological properties of materials * Expertly operate 2K and ProMixh systems for automated component mixing * Configure and optimize application parameters (pressure, flow rate, distance, speed) * Program and calibrate automated metering and application systems * Establish baking and curing cycles according to material requirements * Implement statistical process control (SPC) systems for critical variables * Program and optimize axial and reciprocating FANUC robots for paint application * Develop robot trajectories that maximize transfer efficiency and minimize waste * Configure and adjust atomization parameters, electrostatic charge, and application speed * Perform preventive maintenance and fault diagnostics on robotic systems * Develop and update operational standards for all painting processes * Analyze and implement continuous improvements to increase efficiency and quality * Conduct process capability studies (Cp, Cpk) and repeatability & reproducibility (R\&R) analyses * Optimize material consumption and reduce the environmental impact of the process * Perform root cause analysis of defects (dirt in paint, cracks, sagging, etc.) * Implement problem-solving methodologies (8D, DMAIC, A3\) * Conduct adhesion, chemical resistance, impact, and aging tests * Verify compliance with color, gloss, and texture standards using measurement equipment * Ensure compliance with IATF 16949 and CQI\-12 (Coating Quality System) standards * Maintain detailed records of process parameters and material traceability * Participate in internal and external audits related to painting processes * Implement corrective and preventive actions arising from audits and quality analyses **Experience** Minimum 5 years in a similar position. **Competencies and Technical Knowledge:** * Chemical knowledge of water-based and solvent-based paints for engineering plastics * Principles of colorimetry and color formulation * Physicochemical properties of plastic materials and their interaction with coatings * Paint application technologies (HVLP,) * Atomization technologies and parameters affecting finish quality * Operation of paint booths and pressure balancing * Programming of FANUC robots and automated application systems * Ability to identify and diagnose paint defects * Proficiency with statistical process control software and data analysis tools * Experience with automated 2K and ProMixh systems * Calibration and maintenance of application equipment * Optimization of process parameters to maximize efficiency and quality **Education** Degree: Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field. Zc4H5cRKC7