Continuous Improvement Specialist

Title:                Continuous Improvement Specialist

Department:      Engineering 

Reports To: Refer to location organizational chart

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At Mennel, we believe in doing right and bringing our best to our people who are helping to feed the world. We promote teamwork and recognize the individual contribution everyone plays in the overall success of the company.

JOB SUMMARY:

In this role, you will help sustain Mennel’s tradition of excellence established in 1886 as well as support our food safety programs and mission to reliably deliver superior quality, uniformity, and service.  The Continuous Improvement Specialist will be responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency, quality, and productivity within the flour milling plant. This role requires a strong analytical mindset, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams. The role will provide process improvement solutions across the facility and will include leading cross functional teams in providing those solutions as necessary.

PRIMARY WORK SHIFT: Typical work hours are Monday through Friday 8AM – 5PM; however, hours will vary, depending on workload. May be required to work off shift as needed. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without accommodation. 

Follow all food and personal safety rules and regulations in respect to GMP’s, OSHA, HACCP, the Global Food Safety Initiative, the US FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as stated in the FS&Q Statement, and sanitation guidelines as set forth by the company as listed in Corporate Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) and attend all required training sessions. 

• Maintain the department/facility in an everyday audit ready condition.
• Partner with the operations department to oversee and drive various training programs.  Will be responsible for verifying all “Demonstration of Ability” (DOA’s) are completed and accurate.
• Completes data analysis using Redzone software, including monitoring production metrics and KPIs.
• Provides education and mentoring to employees on Lean principles, Redzone software, and job specific duties during onboarding of new employees.
• Facilitates and leads the continuous improvement process by identifying training needs and providing training by using process improvement principles. Ensures open communication throughout the organization by keeping management informed of project status and ensuring coordination of activities.
• Analyze current manufacturing processes and identify areas for improvement. 
• Identifies areas with other functional leaders, employees and customers to develop process improvement/cost savings opportunities throughout the organization. 
• Develops and improves line layouts and makes line modification recommendations to improve efficiency. 
• Partners with operations and maintenance to determine process improvement RCA’s. 
• Works closely with hourly and salary staff to achieve production and engineering goals. 
• Utilize process improvement methodologies to drive operational excellence.
• Manages the planning, facilitation and completion of  projects to support cost reduction objectives and process improvements. 
• Monitors activity level of Redzone Huddles, monitor those correct actions and useful data is being inputted into Redzone and support shift team champions. 
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to resolve production issues.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the effectiveness of improvement initiatives.
• Supports efforts to provide a safety-focused working culture, including supporting environmental and safety projects.
• Maintains current knowledge of lean performance principles and practices and keeps the organization informed. 
• Other duties may be assigned. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position coordinates and directs plant personnel and mechanics as needed to support process improvement projects. This position has no direct reports. 

QUALIFICATIONS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform this job. 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Industrial engineering, or a related field is preferred. 
• Continuous improvement related certifications a plus.
• Proven 3 to 5 years' experience in a continuous improvement role within a manufacturing environment, preferably in the food industry. Such as experience in scrap reductions, improving line efficiencies, etc.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and/or other process improvement methodologies.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate with all levels of the organization.
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical software.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, memos, procedures and plans. Ability to write, complete checklists and other basic documentation and correspondence. Ability to effectively present information or data in one-on-one and small group situations to co-workers, supervisors, and managers.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: 

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

REASONING ABILITY:

Must use solid judgment when making decisions. Must have ability to quickly recognize and plan for changing work duties and events.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to perform maintenance tasks, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, twist, crouch, or crawl, and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds or more. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environmental characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to conditions that are typical of a fast- paced manufacturing environment, including: moving equipment and machinery, dusty, hot/humid, and cold conditions; employee must be willing to work in all weather conditions, at heights, and in the presence of airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment usually requires the use of hearing protection. Work involves exposure to common wheat allergens.