Continuous Improvement Specialist

JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS; Plentong; On-site; MYR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meal subsidies

Wellness benefits

Unlimited coffee & tea

Career progression allowances

Job summary

The Continuous Improvement Specialist at JDE Peet’s will drive manufacturing excellence by deploying Lean, Six Sigma, and related problem-solving methods, partnering with plant leadership to cut losses, raise productivity, and deliver sustainable cost savings while building a high-performance CI culture.

You will lead strategic initiatives, use BI tools to guide decisions, support MOS and Industry 4.0 programs, and collaborate with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to achieve

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, IT, Data Analytics, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or related fields.
• Fluent in local language with strong English proficiency (written and spoken).
• 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, digital transformation, continuous improvement, business intelligence, or related areas.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, RCA and problem-solving methodologies.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and facilitation skills across shopfloor and management levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, DMAIC, SMED, RCA, 5S and problem-solving initiatives on site.
• Identify productivity losses and bottlenecks through data analysis and shopfloor engagement.
• Drive loss elimination to improve OEE, productivity, quality, and performance.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, training, and improvement projects across manufacturing operations.
• Develop dashboards and reports, monitor KPIs, and drive data-driven decisions using BI tools.
• Collaborate with Production, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance and SHE to meet CI objectives.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Problem Solving

Data-driven decision making

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/IT/Data Analytics/Manufacturing

Tools

Power BI

Grafana

Azure Data Explorer

Microsoft Power Platform

Job description

JDE Peet’s*- now part of Keurig Dr Pepper – is the world’s leading pure-play coffee company, with a presence in more than 100 markets.

Guided by our ‘Reignite the Amazing’strategy, we are focused on brand-led growth across three big bets: Peet’s, L’OR, and our 10 strategically selected local icons, which includesSuper,Moccona, Old Town.In 2025, JDE Peet’s generated total sales of EUR 9.9 billion and employed a global workforce of more than 21,000 employees.

It’s amazing what can happen over a cup of coffee. AtJACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS (JDE), we’ve made it our mission to find out. Our people have been raising the bar since day one, thinking fast and acting even faster to make an impact that’s felt around the world. JDE is the home to some of the most well-known coffee brands in the world.

For more than 265 years, we have been inspired by the belief. Today our coffee & tea portfolio is available in over 140 countries around the world through iconic household names including: Jacobs, Tassimo, Moccona, Senseo, L’OR, Douwe Egberts, Super, Kenco, Pilao & Gevalia etc.

Discover more about our journey to deliver a coffee for every cup and a brand for every heart atwww.jdepeets.com

Job Description

The Continuous Improvement Specialist is responsible for driving manufacturing excellence through the deployment of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, problem-solving methodologies, and digital solutions. This role partners with plant leadership and functional teams to identify opportunities, eliminate operational losses, improve productivity, and deliver sustainable cost savings while building a high-performance continuous improvement culture.

The incumbent will lead strategic improvement initiatives, facilitate capability development, utilize business intelligence tools to drive data-based decisions, and support the achievement of key business objectives in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People engagement. The role requires strong analytical skills, project leadership capabilities, and a passion for operational excellence and transformation.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

Lead and facilitate Continuous Improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, DMAIC, SMED, RCA, 5S, and Problem-Solving methodologies.

Identify productivity losses, process inefficiencies, and operational bottlenecks through data analysis and shopfloor engagement.

Drive loss elimination programs to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), productivity, quality, and operational performance.

Conduct root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.

Facilitate Kaizen events, workshops, and improvement projects across manufacturing operations.

Support implementation and sustainability of Manufacturing Operating Systems (MOS) and operational excellence programs.

Process Optimization & Performance Improvement

Analyze manufacturing processes, line performance, capacity utilization, labor productivity, and resource efficiency.

Develop and implement initiatives that improve throughput, reduce waste, optimize workflows, and lower operational costs.

Partner with Production, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and SHE teams to deliver improvement objectives.

Monitor key operational KPIs and develop action plans to close performance gaps.

Support annual productivity, savings, and cost optimization targets.

Develop and maintain performance dashboards, reports, and analytics tools using Power BI or equivalent platforms.

Drive data-driven decision-making across manufacturing teams.

Identify opportunities for automation, workflow optimization, and digital transformation.

Support implementation of Industry 4.0 initiatives and digital manufacturing solutions.

Translate operational data into actionable insights that drive business performance.

Project Management

Lead cross-functional improvement projects from opportunity identification through implementation and sustainment.

Manage project timelines, stakeholder engagement, risk assessment, and business benefits realization.

Ensure project governance, documentation, and reporting standards are maintained.

Present improvement outcomes and recommendations to plant leadership teams.

Capability Building & Culture Development

Promote a strong Continuous Improvement culture throughout the organization.

Deliver training and coaching in Lean Manufacturing, Problem Solving, Root Cause Analysis, and CI tools.

Support competency development and employee capability-building initiatives.

Encourage idea generation and employee involvement in improvement programs.

Act as a change agent to foster innovation, teamwork, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Engineering, IT, Data Analytics, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or related fields
• Fluent in the local language with strong English proficiency (written and spoken)
• 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, digital transformation, continuous improvement, business intelligence, or related areas

Good to have:

• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and facilitation skills across shopfloor and management levels
• Solid experience in capability development, training coordination, and competency frameworks
• Hands-on knowledge of manufacturing operations and Continuous Improvement methodologies (Lean, Kaizen, 5S, RCA, Autonomous Maintenance)
• Proficient in data analytics and visualization tools such as Power BI, Grafana, Azure Data Explorer, and Microsoft Power Platform
• Experience driving digital solutions, automation, and data-driven improvement initiatives
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate business needs into practical solutions
• Understanding of manufacturing data, systems, and performance management concepts
• Proven ability in project management, cross-functional collaboration, and developing training materials/SOPs
• Passion for continuous learning, digitalization, and operational excellence

Additional Information

Are you ready toUnleash Your Possibilitywithin JDE Peet's?

Ready to take your career to the next level? Join a global coffee & tea company where your ideas matter, your growth is prioritized, and your impact is real.

Why JDE Peet’s?

We’re not just offering a job — we’re offering an experience. At JDE Peet’s, you’ll find a culture that inspires you to grow, innovate, and thrive.

What you can expect:

• A vibrant, forward-thinking, and collaborative work environment
• Strong career progression and development opportunities
• Attractive allowances designed to support your lifestyle
• Meal subsidies — because great ideas start with great fuel
• Sports and wellness benefits to keep you energized
• Unlimited access to premium coffee & tea — become your own Barista!

JDE Peet’s - now part of Keurig Dr Pepper – is the world’s leading pure-play coffee company, with a presence in more than 100 markets. Guided by our ‘Reignite the Amazing’ strategy, we are focused on brand-led growth across three big bets: Peet’s, L’OR, and our 10 strategically selected local icons led by Jacobs.