Continuous Improvement Engineer

The Continuous Improvement Engineer acts a change agent to collaborate, design, and implement the operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. The goal of these initiatives is to improve cost, capacity, efficiency, and working capital across the business. Additionally, the CI Engineer will be responsible for developing capability and transferring knowledge at every level in the organization.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads and facilitates continuous improvement projects aimed at reducing waste, increasing productivity, and optimizing processes across the plant.
• Analyzes current production processes and workflows, identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
• Develops, implements, and maintains Lean manufacturing practices, such as 5S, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping.
• Collaborates with leadership and plant personnel to create a culture of continuous improvement, providing training and support where needed.
• Tracks and reports on key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring that improvements are measurable and sustained.
• Conducts root cause analyses and implements corrective actions for process issues and quality concerns.
• Supports the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ensures compliance with safety and quality standards.
• Leads cross-functional teams in problem-solving and brainstorming sessions to identify process bottlenecks and improvement opportunities.
• Drives cost reduction initiatives by improving process efficiency and reducing variability in production.
• Ensures all improvement initiatives align with the company’s long-term strategic goals and contributes to a culture of operational excellence.
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience conducting root cause analysis.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and lead change across the organization.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and systems, including workflow optimization and waste reduction techniques.
• Ability to analyze data and provide actionable insights to drive performance improvements.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, with a strong focus on continuous improvement.
• Proficiency in Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma tool kits.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple improvement projects simultaneously.
• Experience in a large-scale manufacturing environment, particularly in high-volume production settings a plus.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis tools, such as Minitab or similar software.
• Experience with ERP systems and data analysis tools.
• Production system implementation experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Moderate to frequent exposure to shop environment; may be exposed to dust, odors, oils, fumes, chemicals, noise and moving parts. Work requires the use of PPE on the facility’s production floor