Lean Manufacturing Specialist – CI Specialist

Want to be part of a family-owned, award-winning company with an entrepreneurial culture and strong family spirit?

Then you came to the right place! Our core values drive all we do here at Anita’s. As our company grows, we seek enthusiastic, capable professionals to fill various positions across every facet of our organization.

Description:

The Lean Manufacturing Specialist is responsible for leading and driving continuous improvement within manufacturing operations, ensuring cost efficiency, enhancing quality, and optimizing operational performance. This role focuses on implementing Lean principles, managing improvement projects, preparing capital plans, and developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance manufacturing outcomes and support organizational goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead process improvement initiatives to drive lean manufacturing principles and cultural change across operations. Facilitate workshops and training sessions to foster a continuous improvement mindset among staff.
• Planned, managed, and executed continuous improvement projects, ensuring alignment with business goals. Oversaw project timelines, deliverables, and budgets to ensure successful and on-time completion.
• Develop and manage project budgets, including capital expenditures. Conduct cost analysis to evaluate improvement initiatives' feasibility and financial impact and validate ROI post-project completion.
• Collaborate with leadership to identify, plan, and justify capital investments. Recommend equipment upgrades and facility improvements that align with lean manufacturing goals, reduce costs, and improve quality.
• Create, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to standardize best practices and ensure consistent execution of manufacturing processes. Ensure SOPs support lean initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
• Develop and conduct compliance audits and program evaluations to ensure adherence to lean principles and company policies, particularly in areas like waste reduction, sanitation, safety, and add quality programs.
  Develop and conduct compliance audits and program evaluations to ensure adherence to lean principles and company policies, particularly in areas like waste reduction, sanitation, safety, and add quality programs.
• Work closely with plant management teams to establish and maintain a Continuous Improvement (CI) calendar, including Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), training sessions, and self-assessments.
• Negotiate with suppliers and vendors to purchase necessary equipment, materials, and services that support continuous improvement and lean initiatives.
• Design, organize, and maintain records, reports, and logs to support work processes. Maintain spreadsheets and other documentation to track progress, costs, and performance metrics.
• Perform additional responsibilities as needed.

What We Offer:

• Competitive wages
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
• Life Insurance
• 401k matching
• Career growth opportunities
• Paid holidays
• Vacation and sick time pay
• Paid day off for birthday
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Referral program
• A family-owned environment with leaders who care

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, problem-solving and analytical skills
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong leadership skills, ability to learn and apply new concepts, and overcome obstacles with change
• Ability to work with and influence others in a fast-paced environment.

Physical Demands:

• Frequent sitting and some walking and standing
• Lifting up to 25 lbs. occasionally
• Exposure to spices (allergens), including but not limited to soy and wheat
• Occasional exposure to loud noise levels and cold and hot temperatures
• Occasionally walk on uneven ground and wet or slippery floors
• Travel to other business locations occasionally
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Core Values— Knowledge, creativity, courage, honesty, accountability, competency, and safety guide every aspect of our operations, ensuring excellence and fostering a culture of trust and collaboration.

About Anita’s:

The Robles Family acquired Anita’s in 1978; since then, Anita's has become recognized for producing snack foods on the West Coast. The plant has various manufacturing lines that produce a wide range of fried tortilla chips, pallet snacks, and taco shells. In 2013, Anita's moved into its new state-of-the-art facility in San Bernardino, CA. In 2014 Anita’s received the state’s U.S. Small Business Persons of 2014 award for growing company revenues more than 100 percent over the past three years and first runner-up for the national U.S. Small Business Persons of 2014 award.

About La Reina:

Founded in 1958 by Mauro Robles, La Reina began as a family-owned business specializing in flour tortillas. Mauro's determination to bring customers diverse, authentic Mexican products became a reality within several years. Our business prides itself on providing the highest quality and innovative tortillas, flatbreads, and Artisan snacks. La Reina's philosophy is to service our customers by working with them as a true partner to develop new products, recipes, and eye-catching packaging.

From our humble beginnings, La Reina continues to grow and diversify into multiple product lines, channels, and offerings as a family-owned and operated business.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Anita’s Mexican Foods is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under protected law. EEO/AA employer nondiscrimination policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and The Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is the policy of Anita’s Mexican Foods to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or candidate with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship for Anita’s Mexican Foods. The Policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our Human Resources Department.