What are the responsibilities and job description for the Continuous Improvement Specialist position at Thrive Foods?
Job Title: Continuous Improvement Specialist
Department: Supply Chain
Location: Onsite Oak Creek, WI
Thrive Freeze Dry, a rapidly growing freeze-dried food company, has an excellent opportunity for a Continuous Improvement Specialist in its manufacturing operation. This role will be hands on in developing and executing plant strategies that result in eliminating waste and improving customer satisfaction.
A successful Continuous Improvement Specialist brings process improvement experience in manufacturing and/or supply chain operations, including several years of experience executing process improvement projects using Lean, Six Sigma and other continuous improvement principles. Additionally, this role requires hands-on knowledge of manufacturing, warehouse, logistics and distribution and a keen understanding of how process improvement impacts financial results.
Essential Functions Include:
- Collaborating effectively with Plant Leaders and Team Members to develop, facilitate and implement continuous improvement initiatives and strategies
- Cultivating a continuous improvement culture within the manufacturing operation by coaching and role modeling lean/CI mindset and behaviors
- Developing “Lean” leaders within the operation through teaching and coaching lean principles and tools
- Using metrics to provide support to process owners in linking projects to short and long-term objectives
- Building and managing an “idea chest” of plant improvement initiatives
- Evolving lean/CI tools currently in use to reflect changing operations and business needs
- Identifying best practices across the manufacturing network and adapting them to other manufacturing plants within the network
- Other duties as assigned
Preferred Qualifications include:
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations, Business Administration or relevant experience
- Three – five years of experience in a Continuous Improvement role for a food manufacturer
- Proficient in continuous improvement disciplines (Lean, Six Sigma, Shingo, etc.)
- Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
- Strong technical skills to be self-sufficient in building metrics, data analysis, and tracking tools
Product Safety & Quality:
- Place high priority on food safety, quality, and sanitation by understanding and executing Thrive Freeze Dry’s food safety, quality, and sanitation policies and procedures.
- Hold self and others accountable to Thrive Freeze Dry’s food safety, quality, and sanitation guidelines and policies by communicating any food safety or quality incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates.
- Adheres to and ensures Product Safety and Quality standards are followed.
- Adheres to and ensures GMP’s regarding food contact packaging as it pertains to the employee.
- Adheres to and ensures Thrive’s food safety, product defense standards and quality objectives complies with all SQF system requirements.
Physical Requirements – Must be able to perform the following functions with or without accommodations:
- Ability to travel overnight up to 25% of the time
- Ability to work with multiple plant locations
- Consistent and reliable attendance
- Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and frequent fine finger dexterity.
- 50% or more sitting, 50% or more walking, and 40% or more standing.
- The job is performed under occasional temperature variations and in a food manufacturing production environment.
- Unrestricted visual and audio abilities are required for the safety of all employees. The ability to lift to 40 lbs. is required.
