Continuous Improvement Manufacturing Engineer

Defence iQ; Bolton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company based in Bolton is seeking a Continuous Improvement (CI) team member to enhance operations. The successful candidate will drive waste and defect reduction initiatives to increase productivity while ensuring efficient logistics and process management. Experience in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies is essential, alongside strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Formal further education certificate to HNC or equivalent required.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing & Six Sigma methodologies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required.

Responsibilities

• Support and lead waste/defect reduction activities.
• Facilitate improvement activities within manufacturing & logistics facilities.
• Implement process controls based on critical stores and logistics processes.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Education

HNC or equivalent in a relevant subject

Tools

Minitab

Job description

Overview of department: Manufacturing department

Based in Bolton Manufacturing facility.

The Opportunity

An opportunity is now available in the CI team.

The successful candidate will support the MBDA Assembly Operations business by developing, optimising, and improving internal Stores and Logistic processes to aid the delivery of missile systems to our UK & international customers. They will support and lead waste/defect reduction activities that will increase productivity as we drive towards trebling our production rates while reducing costs. The role requires liaising with other functions within MBDA to ensure awareness of ongoing improvement activities. Provide leadership, direction, and support across Assembly Operations at all levels of the organisation.

Main responsibilities of a CI Team member:

• Set up, support, and govern CI reviews, ensuring they are robust and sustainable.
• Facilitate and run CI plans to enable the implementation of corrective & preventative actions.
• Support root cause analysis for externally supplied detail products.
• Reduce defective issues within the stores area, including rework and non-conformances, using an 8D / A3 methodology.
• Implement process controls & process capability based on critical stores and logistics processes driven by internal and external customers.
• Facilitate PPS for root cause analysis within manufacturing & Logistic facilities.
• Facilitate improvement activities within manufacturing & logistics facilities.
• Provide technical expertise on Lean tools and change management.
• Manage improvements into the business.

What we're looking for from you:

• Formal further education certificate to HNC or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Skills and experience ideally include:
• Strong manufacturing & warehousing background (preferable but not essential).
• Awareness of supply chain goods receiving practices (preferable but not essential).
• Understanding of MRP & Just in Time principles (preferably in a stores environment).
• Experience working in or supporting operations in a fast-paced production environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence teams outside of your direct reporting structure.
• The ability to form and maintain productive relationships across functions.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing & Six Sigma methodologies.
• Experience with CI & Quality tools.
• Leading practical problem-solving exercises with multi-functional teams.

The role also requires the ability to produce, maintain, and interpret data using a structured approach, manage projects or improvements from start to finish, and have a sound understanding of manufacturing, logistical, and engineering processes, including experience with Lean systems tools and Minitab software.