Continuous Improvement Engineer

The position plays a key role in the Lean culture transformation. This person facilitates the deployment of the Lean strategy for the site; Delivers training and workshop (kaizen) facilitation to deliver improvements to targeted customer focused teams; Works hands-on with leadership and cross-functional teams to execute continuous improvement projects; Performs administrative tasks tied to Lean projects; Identifies and shares best practices for broader adoption across other customer focused teams in the site; Develops the Lean skills of the site to create Lean facilitators.

Responsibilities include:

• Work with the Lean Site Lead to determine the Customer Focus Team level action plan that supports the strategy deployment plan for Lean Six Sigma at the site.
• Mentor / develop the skills of candidates for future Lean Facilitators.
• Execute their assigned deliverables from the Site Strategy Deployment plan. This includes the delivery of training and providing facilitation of kaizen and workshops for cross-functional teams.
• Identify best practices and share with their department members for possible deployment in other teams within the site.
• Participate in and/or lead the Gemba (“go and see”) activities with the senior team at the site.
• Regularly assist in providing training and work guidance to others (while doing similar work) on job content or work methods and procedures.
• Train Site on Lean Concepts.
• Assist in facilitating Kaizen Events.
• Manage/Drive Lean projects and key performance indicators.
• Drive SQDCM communication/metrics board development and activities.
• Lead and/or participate in time/load studies, process flow mapping, value stream mapping sessions, spaghetti diagram exercises, workload analysis, built in quality activity, 5S.
• Define process problems that lead to throughput or quality issues, evaluates cause of problem, implements solutions to stabilize processes, evaluates results.
• Automate where ever possible.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies:

• Lean/Six Sigma knowledge, workshop/kaizen facilitation, proven competency to deliver introductory training, change management
• Drive business results through the application of Lean methods
• Strong project management skills and ability to multitask
• Ability to inspire, motivate and lead cross-functional team members
• Quick learner, hungry for knowledge
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills
• Passion for challenging status quo and driving continuous improvement
• Engineering foundation competencies
• Knowledge of industry and quality standards
• Good organization skills
• Ability to evaluate, diagnose and troubleshoot problems
• Knowledge of materials and components used in the construction of systems and subassemblies
• Knowledge of industry and quality standards for incoming materials
• Ability to evaluate materials, gather and analyze data and determine root cause of problems
• Ability to effectively communicate with a variety of internal and external customers
• Competency with MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint; Solidworks and Minitab knowledge a plus
• Successful experience in cross-functional collaboration
• Competency to deliver introductory training

Experience:

• 3+ years of experience working in a Continuous Improvement capacity in a manufacturing environment
• Hands-on involvement in delivering kaizen projects
• Experience executing cost reduction projects

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial, Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering or other applicable engineering degrees
• Green Belt or higher certification a plus