SAP SME Manufacturing

What to Expect

The SAP Subject Matter Expert – Manufacturing (SME) will serve as the internal expert for manufacturing execution and shopfloor processes enabled by SAP and integrated systems (MES Bridge, SCADA, EWM, QM, PM, and scheduling systems). This role is responsible for maintaining the manufacturing process template, guiding and developing local SMEs and Power Users (PUs), and driving continuous improvement in production execution, quality, maintenance integration, and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate combines strong SAP manufacturing expertise with hands-on shopfloor experience to ensure standardization and scalability across all sites.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Act as the internal expert and primary contact for SAP manufacturing processes, including production execution and integration with MES Bridge, SCADA, EWM, QM, PM, and scheduling systems.
• Maintain and continuously improve the manufacturing process template to ensure alignment with business requirements and best practices.
• Provide guidance, training, and coaching to local SMEs and Power Users (PUs) to strengthen process capabilities and system utilization.
• Propose and evaluate improvements to manufacturing processes and system integrations, focusing on automation, standardization, and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, and IT teams to ensure seamless end-to-end process integration.
• Support and monitor SAP Manufacturing Integration (MES Bridge), ensuring reliable data exchange across SAP and connected systems.
• Ensure proper integration and usage of SAP QM and PM within manufacturing processes.
  Support integration with manufacturing scheduling and specification systems to align planning, sequencing, and execution.
• Support troubleshooting and resolution of production-impacting issues (e.g., COGI, queues, integration failures), operating within the Control Tower framework and coordinating across SAP, MES, and infrastructure teams.
• Support testing, validation, deployment, documentation, and continuous improvement of SAP manufacturing processes and system performance.

Job Profile

• This is typically career level
• Uses best practices and knowledge of internal or external business issues to improve products or services
• Solves complex problems; takes a new perspective using existing solutions
• Works independently, receives minimal guidance
• Solves complex problems by taking a new perspective on existing solutions; exercises judgment based on the analysis of multiple sources of information
• Impacts a range of customer, operational, project or service activities within own team and other related teams; works within broad guidelines and policies
• Explains complex, difficult and/or sensitive information; works to build consensus

Keys to Success

• Requires in-depth knowledge and experience
• Requires conceptual and practical expertise in own area and general knowledge of related areas
• Has knowledge of best practices and how own area integrates with others; is aware of the competition and the factors that differentiate the company in the market

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None
• Acts as a resource for other team members; may lead projects with limited risks and resource requirements
• Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience
• Coordinate and provide functional leadership to site-based Shopfloor SMEs and Power Users (PUs) across EMEA, ensuring alignment with the global manufacturing template and consistent process execution

Requirements and Preferred Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 5 tp 7 years total work experience, including 3 to 5 years of experience working with SAP Manufacturing (PP / PTP) in a manufacturing environment.
  Experience with SAP QM and PM integration is preferred.
• Experience with shopfloor system integration, including MES Bridge, SCADA, scheduling systems, and specification systems.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, material flows, and production processes.
• Experience maintaining or improving SAP process templates and documentation.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on process optimization.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence across functions and sites.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment

Travel: 

• Ability to travel regularly (up to ~40%) across EMEA, including extended site visits of up to 2 weeks out of 5 as required