Continuous Improvement Engineer III

Position Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree required, ideally in industrial or continuous improvement engineering or four to eight years’ equivalent experience

Experience | Skills:

Required: Eight plus years’ experience in Lean manufacturing related work. Demonstrated leadership skills with emphasis on cross-functional team development. Experience implementing Continuous Improvement and working knowledge of TPS philosophies utilizing the Kaizen culture. Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage Kaizen teams while obtaining sustainable results. Highly proficient in Microsoft Office tools including Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Demonstrated ability to manage KPI targets and critical metrics.

Preferred: Strong mechanical aptitude with ability to learn and adapt to new processes are a plus. Experience with nationally recognized testing laboratories such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories). Background in sheet metal manufacturing, welding, paint systems, and electrical/electronic component assembly a plus. Proficient in blueprint reading.

Duties and Responsibilities

Employee Training and Awareness:

• Assist and lead Continuous Improvement projects/Kaizen Events across the organization with a focus on both corporate and specific focus areas as directed by the CI Manager.
• Coordinate the deployment of key Lean manufacturing tools including, but not limited to, 5S, Kaizen, kanban, visual factory and standard work in the corporate office and in specific areas as directed by the CI Manager.
• Assist in the development of organization wide Lean & Continuous Improvement training materials and standard work.
• Lead the development and maintenance of manufacturing work instructions associated with the product including fabrication, welding, paint, final assembly, and special processes. Will focus on achieving consistently and standardization across sites.
• Develop into the role of internal Lean consultant for all major departments in the organization.
• Provide world-class manufacturing techniques to support lean manufacturing and continuous improvements.
• Lead and/or participate in PIT (performance improvement team) activities.

Build a Lean Manufacturing Culture:

The Continuous Improvement Engineer will act as a lead change agent for Lean manufacturing implementation, process improvement, and improvement of the capabilities of people and equipment. Candidate will foster a Lean transformation and sustainment culture while facilitating and educating Lean manufacturing tools and techniques in both corporate office and union environments.

• Assist with the deployment of Lean process audits across the organization to ensure continued sustainment of reintegrated tools and methodologies. Will work closely with CI Manager to identify culture specific challenges to sustainment and development strategies to resolve.
• Partners with the CI Manager to act as key facilitator and planner for department specific Continuous Improvement projects/Kaizen events. Will strive to identify and develop key resources in supporting and sustaining improvements.
• Identifies and focuses on both process and cultural gaps within the organization’s Lean sustainment.
• Assists in the support of fellow CI Engineers and will collaborate with them directly.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement. Thinks independently, shows initiative, and anticipates and prevents problems. Resourcefulness in accomplishing objectives and completing tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work well in a team environment. Ability to work effectively with multiple departments and employees at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to handle large projects, including CapEx projects and bring to conclusion. Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize resources and project timelines.
• Competency in drawing interpretation, spreadsheet analysis, database research and presentation skills
• Aid in the selection of new machines, tooling, automation, and processes required to meet productivity objectives.
• Work with other departments and units in the corporation to ensure cost reduction efforts are being addressed, implemented, and sustained.
• Lean Six Sigma Belt preferred.

Continuous Improvement/Lean Enterprise:

• Work with the CI Manager to learn and deploy new and/or revised Lean tools and methodologies. Focus on best practicing successful processes of other businesses/consultants and implement key learnings from internal testing.
• Identify opportunities for process consistency between sites and subsequently work with fellow CI Engineers to develop and deploy standard work accordingly.
• Aid in the selection and subsequent integration of the latest and greatest Lean best practices within industry (techniques, strategies, tools, software).
• Establish and utilize frameworks and systems, including tools such as visual management, problem solving, standard work and Kaizen.
• Adhere to and promote the HR Pledge.
• Cooperate and commit in a team environment to achieve goals and deliverables.
• Resolve difficult or complicated challenges using the problem-solving process.
• Actively embrace our core principles.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not supervise others on a routine basis. On occasion, however, this individual may be asked to fill in for absent production supervisory personnel. In this role, responsibilities include assigning and directing work, addressing complaints, and resolving problems.

Competencies

Continuous improvement and manufacturing at Milbank are team endeavors; communication and teamwork are essential to who we are and how we succeed.

• Speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, demonstrate group presentation skills and ability to conduct meetings.
• Embrace and enjoy a diverse working environment, understanding the strengths the differences each of us bring to the team.
• Involve the hourly production team members in problem solving and process improvement.
• Foster and encourage an atmosphere of responsibility, quality, and pride in all who function on the team.
• Ability to develop into a supervisory role through a skills development plan.

A Continuous Improvement Champion will:

• Be a leader, coach, mentor, and subject matter expert regarding Lean manufacturing initiatives and their development, documentation, and implementation.
• Develop cross functional Kaizen teams to address organizational wide continuous improvement initiatives. Lead Kaizen events focused on efficiency improvements and cost reduction efforts, report progress to management. Follow-up Kaizen events and ensure proper metrics are installed to ensure sustainment of improvements.
• Have a fundamental understanding of supplier relations and performance, leadership, training, interpersonal relationships, improvement systems, and professional ethics.
• Be able to plan, control, and assure product application, including design, manufacturing, and construction.
• Have a thorough understanding of problem-solving and Lean manufacturing tools and techniques.
• This includes knowledge of management and planning tools, quality tools, preventive and corrective actions, and how to overcome barriers to manufacturing improvements.
• Be able to acquire and analyze data using appropriate standard quantitative methods across a spectrum of business environments to facilitate process analysis and improvements.

Travel Required: Approximately 10%. A valid driver’s license and ability to insure employee as a driver under the company auto policy is required.

Hours: Regular 40-hour workweek. Overtime as needed.

Working Conditions: Office and/or manufacturing plant floor setting. Required to sit, stand, and frequently move about the facility. Required to use safety glasses and other PPE in specific areas. May occasionally be required to lift or move up to 50 lbs.