Local officials are welcoming Gestamp Automocion, LLC’s decision to hire an additional 40 workers at its Union County plant over the next year.

The Spanish-owned global stamping company acquired LSP Automotive Systems, LLC in October. The acquisition included LSP’s manufacturing facility located between Union Commerce Park and the H. Mac Johnson Industrial Park off U.S. 176.

The 395,000 square-foot plant plant, which began production in 2007, manufactures large Class A precision body structure stampings and assemblies for the BMW plant in Greer. The plant currently employs 135 hourly and salaried employees but that’s about to change.

Gestamp announced Tuesday it will hire an additional 40 employees over the next year to support the launch of BMW’s new X3. The new employees will work in the addition the company is building to the existing structure to accommodate the new production line.

The announcement was welcomed by Union County Supervisor Tommy Sinclair who said the new jobs come at a time when the county really needs them.

“It’s good news indeed,” Sinclair said. “It’s needed in the county. We’re in an economic crisis like the rest of the state and the rest of the nation. So 40 new jobs is good news indeed.”

Union County’s unemployment rate stood at 20.8 percent in August.

Andrena Powell-Baker, executive director of the Union County Development Board, also welcomed the announcement as a sign of the county’s ability to attract industry.

“This is definitely a positive shot in the arm for Union County,” Powell-Baker said. “For a company the size of Gestamp to make an investment in Union County demonstrates that we are attractive to industry. I think their decision to make the investment in Union County will go a long way to help us in the future as we recruit other industries.”

To secure the needed personnel, Gestamp officials attended the October Upstate Workforce Expo in Spartanburg, have contacted local economic development boards, local chamber of commerce centers, will be working with area technical colleges and plans to utilize the new apprenticeship training center located in Union County where feasible.

The company will also be seeking experienced applicants for specific positions at the Greenville Job Fair on Thursday at the Greenville Marriott (1 Parkway East) from 5-8 p.m. The positions are: Production Manager, CNC Operator, Tool and Die Repair, Controls Engineer, Tooling Engineer, Continuous Improvement Program Engineer, Cost Account and Quality Engineer.

Resumes will be accepted and beverages will be provided.

Employment inquiries for specific openings are available online at Careerbuilder.com and applications for all positions when posted will be available at the Workforce Investment Board offices located in Spartanburg, Gaffney and Union.

With its purchase of the Union facility and the construction of a plant in Chattanooga, TN, Gestamp Automocion’s North American Division will have eight operating plants in Alabama, Michigan, South Carolina, Tennessee and Mexico.

• Production Manager – Press (exempt)

Duties: Reporting to the Plant Manager directly manages two salaried shift supervisors and manages the day-to-day activities of the press room including: the updating and reporting of daily production schedules, staff scheduling based upon production needs and inventory levels, leading continuous improvement efforts based upon key performance indicators , managing departmental budgets, is a member of the plant leadership team, is responsible for the safety of press room staff, and administers with the supervisors the performance evaluations of hourly press department employees.

Qualifications: Bachelors degree (Mechanical or Metallurgical Engineering preferred) with five years automotive manufacturing supervisory experience or a Skilled Trade certification with 10 years automotive supervisory experience (Class A experience preferred), knowledge of Class A,B,C press and assembly operations, and experience with metallurgy, product launch, and rework.

• CNC Operator – Tool & Die (hourly non-exempt)

Duties: Reporting to the Tool & Die Manager with minimal supervision operates and changes established programs for precise tolerance 3X and 5X CNC milling machines. Primary tasks include: set-up of small and large tooling for machining, selection, set-up, and inspection of cutting tooling based upon material and machining conditions, analyzes CAD files and selects milling specs according to established drawings. According to tool & die and assembly instructions performs milling, drilling, lathing, and surface and circular grinding, machining engineering changes, verifying CNC files, 2D drill, contour and 3D surface programs, addressing error codes, inspecting work with precision measuring instruments, performs regular and preventative maintenance, and supports maintenance department as requested.

Qualifications: High school diploma or GED with completion of CNC apprenticeship and 5 years demonstrated experience utilizing CNC mills, drills, lathes, and grinding machines. Knowledge of tool & die repair and quality assurance with preference given to automotive manufacturing experience specifically with Class A stampings and or experience with Heidenhain and FIDIA controllers and ENOVIA and TEBIS software.

• Tool & Die Repair (hourly non-exempt)

Duties: Reporting to the Tool & Die Manager under general supervision performs the repair, maintenance and service of large and small tools and dies according to established specifications or engineering changes.

Primary tasks include: Preventative maintenance involving drilling, tapping, milling, turning, and grinding of dies in the Tool Room and servicing repairs of dies and support equipment in the Press Shop or in the press during failure. Also welds and re-constructs dies and is responsible for the maintenance of spare parts in stock.

Qualifications: High school diploma or GED with completion of Tool & Die Repair or Maker apprenticeship and 5 years demonstrated experience utilizing mills, drills, lathes, and grinding machines. Knowledge of pneumatics, CAD drawing, press operation, and quality assurance with preference given to automotive manufacturing experience specifically with Class A stampings.

• Controls Engineer (exempt)

Duties: Reporting to the Maintenance Manager provides the technical expertise to identify, trouble-shoot, and repair programmable logic equipment necessary to operate robotic and press equipment, independently manage new product equipment launches and budgets, manage spare part inventory and budgets, and performs training for all operators forwarding records to HR.

Qualifications: Engineering degree (preferably electrical or electronics) or completion of Electronics apprenticeship and 5 years demonstrated experience of maintaining and or programming PLC’s. Preference given to automotive manufacturing with specific experience working with Beckhoff, TwinCat, Siemens S7, Win CC, and/or KUKA equipment.

• Tooling Engineer (exempt)

Duties: Reporting to the Tool & Die Manager performs the complete scope of program management tasks associated from tooling design through buy-off and all future changes to meet customer requirements in a qualitative, timely and cost effective manner. Specifically, these tasks include: ensuring all tooling is built to contractual standards, manages the outsourced tool shop utilizing realistic timetables, tracks and reports milestone activity to Tool & Die Manager, ensures all proper information, check fixtures, gauges, and tryout material are purchased, received and functional upon receipt of the finished tooling.

Qualifications: Engineering degree or completion of Tool & Die Maker apprenticeship and 5 years demonstrated experience of tooling program management preferably in automotive manufacturing and specifically with a background in stamping/welding/assembly. Additionally, an applied understanding of project management involving large stamping dies, parts processing, assembly, and check fixtures. Must be able to work independently, in a team environment, have the ability to communicate with all levels of the organization, and effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Continuous Improvement Program Engineer (exempt)

Duties: Reporting to the Engineering Manager coordinates Continuous Improvement (CI)and Preventative Action (PA) activities in compliance with TS-16949 and ISO-14001 certification. Specifically, these tasks include: generating key performance indicators (KPI), tracking and analyzing KPI’s for process improvements, administering the daily walk-around and 5-S program, and coordinating process improvements, efficiency gains, and quality improvements with the customer.

Qualifications: Engineering degree (industrial, Mechanical or Electrical) with 5 years demonstrated experience with program management in a manufacturing environment preferably automotive and specifically with large class A stampings with a working knowledge of production press lines and sheet metal assembly.

• Cost Accountant (exempt)

Duties: Reporting to the Plant Controller provides budgeting and accounting expertise to functional departments in order to plan, measure, and report strategic product cost analysis and inventory reconciliation. Specifically, these tasks include: tracking and reconciling departmental budgets and actual costs through weekly and monthly reports, developing and maintenance of budget and cost accounting reports for plan/actual/variance, creation and maintenance of capital equipment depreciation schedules, reviews cost ledger transactions weekly, determines WIP values inclusive of development of standard costs for overhead, labor, and purchased parts, assists with annual physical inventories, makes monthly and annual closing entries including reconciliations.

Qualifications: Bachelor degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business (given an Accounting major) and 3 years demonstrated cost accounting experience with preference to automotive manufacturing. Extensive experience with ERP systems, exceptional skills with Excel and MS Office suite, strong problem solving skills, and the ability to work independently with multiple tasks.

• Quality Engineer (exempt)

Duties: Reporting to the Quality Manager interacts with the customer and or suppliers in performing quality assurance tasks and analysis in support of the quality management system identified within TS-16949. Specifically, these primary tasks include: administering the APQP and PPAP processes, performing 8-D’s, initiate and track quality alerts, visits the customer to address quality concerns and establish corrective actions, conduct supplier surveillance, utilize process flow diagrams (PFD), failure mode effects analysis (FEMA), SPC and GD&T to evaluate, report, to develop and maintain an inspection process.

Qualifications: Either a technical degree with three years applicable QE experience in automotive manufacturing or five years working in manufacturing having had product launch as well as customer representation/supplier surveillance experience.