Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Jayce
Schmidtknecht

Engineering leader driving operational excellence through Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.

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About

Building better processes,
leading stronger teams.

With over a decade of experience in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, I specialize in transforming production operations through data-driven decision making and Lean principles.

From managing $3.2M production lines to implementing ERP/MRP systems and automation, I bring a hands-on engineering mindset to leadership. I believe the best results come from empowering teams, optimizing processes, and never stopping the pursuit of improvement.

Years Experience

$2M+

Budget Managed

40%

Production Scope

ISO

9001 Certified

Experience

Where I've made an impact.

Sept 2025 — June 2026

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

AprilAire, Division of Research Products Corporation

Develop and manage Manufacturing Engineering and Maintenance functional areas responsible for Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) of the entire air filtration production
Manage functional area budget of $2+ million annually, reducing variance while achieving production and continuous improvement goals
Lead and support cross-functional continuous improvement projects in safety, quality, and new product development
Create, review, and approve acquisition requests for plant-wide capital investments

May 2019 — Sept 2025

Manufacturing Manager

Extreme Engineering Solutions, Inc.

Develop, manage, and train a team responsible for up to 40%, $3.2 million annually, of product used in downstream assemblies and internal prototyping
Implement large-scale projects including ERP/MRP software and automation systems using PLC programming, robotics, and CNC milling machines
Coordinate professional development opportunities in communication and Lean practices
Establish and monitor KPIs in efficiency, utilization, quality, and on-time delivery
Maintain ISO 9001 compliance through routine audits

May 2016 — May 2019

Mechanical Engineer

Extreme Engineering Solutions, Inc.

Supervise as the lead programmer, peer reviewer, and trainer of CAM software
Design thermal management systems, structural enclosures, and production fixturing using standard GD&T practices
Liaise between Mechanical Engineering and Machine Shop on design improvements
Research vendors for MIL-SPEC metal plating and painting operations

Expertise

What I bring to the table.

Manufacturing

Lean Manufacturing Continuous Improvement OEE Process Optimization Production Planning

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Product Design Root Cause Analysis Capital Projects

Leadership

Personnel Management Cross-Functional Collaboration Coaching Budget Management Safety & Quality

Education & Certifications

Foundation of knowledge.

B.S. Mechanical Engineering

University of Wisconsin–Madison

May 2016

Certificate in Thermal Energy Systems

Six Sigma Green Belt

In Progress

Expected 2026

Process Improvement Methodology

Passion Project

Crafting the perfect cup.

Outside of engineering, I pour the same dedication into coffee. From dialing in espresso shots to perfecting pour-over ratios, I'm always chasing that next great cup. It's a daily ritual of precision, patience, and a little bit of art.