Continuous Improvement Analyst

Stryten Energy; Salina (KS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Stryten Energy in Salina, Kansas seeks a Continuous Improvement Analyst to drive plant-wide CI initiatives. You will lead projects using Lean and Six Sigma to improve OEE, quality, waste, energy, safety, and operating costs. You will build champions and teams and transfer learning across the site.

You will apply DMAIC and 5S approaches, mentor hourly and salaried staff, and coordinate with department managers to justify cost savings. This role is on-site at the Salina manufacturing site.

Qualifications

• 4-year degree preferred; relevant experience considered in lieu of education.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification or equivalent Lean certification.
• Project management experience.
• Experience working in industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading site-level CI efforts using Lean, 5S, and DMAIC methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as project lead on complex projects. Define and manage project scope and objectives to include identification and recommendation of creative solutions.
• Develop, maintain, and monitor project plans and deliverables. Report on project progress to key stakeholders and adjust timelines to meet project deliverables.
• Proactively identify and prioritize opportunities to maximize efficiency and effectiveness by utilizing lean concepts.
• Develop continuous improvement strategies for the plant including goals, timetables, action plans, and leader enlistment strategies.
• Train and mentor team members on CI principles, methods, and applications to ensure CI becomes part of change management.
• Coordinate and manage CI initiatives to optimize resources and minimize redundancies.
• Conduct time and motion studies to establish production standards and costs.
• Develop and utilize value stream mapping to identify flow opportunities and initiate improvements.
• Work with training to develop, audit standardized work and work instructions.
• Foster development of CI teams and participate in training on environmental, health and safety issues.
• Follow written and verbal instructions, procedures, SOPs, and directions with/without supervision.
• Attend meetings and training; undertake projects as directed by Plant or Department Manager.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma Green Belt

Project management

Industrial manufacturing

Change management

Communication skills

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or related field

Tools

MS Project

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

The Stryten factory in Salina, Kansas is one of the largest lead‑acid battery manufacturing sites in North America with 800 employees capable of producing more than 35,000 quality batteries per day. These batteries can be found in your car, in your boat or RV, or, in your lawn and garden equipment. Stryten proudly supports the local community by regularly participating in Project Salina, the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, and providing more than 100 volunteers for the Smoky Hill River Festival.

The Continuous Improvement Analyst will be responsible for developing and implementing a plant‑wide team system to develop a culture of improving key performance indicators such as manufacturing OEE, product quality, waste reduction, energy conservation, safety, and operating costs. The Continuous Improvement Analyst will utilize both Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, techniques, and tools to facilitate the transfer of such learning in the plant, develop individual champions and teams necessary to support continuous improvement activities consistent with achieving business goals.

Responsibilities

• Serve as project lead on complex projects. Define and manage project scope and objectives to include identification and recommendation of creative solutions. Develop, maintain, and monitor project plans and deliverables. Report on project progress to key stakeholders and adjust timelines to meet project deliverables.
• Proactively identify and prioritize opportunities to maximize efficiency and effectiveness by utilizing lean concepts.
• Develop continuous improvement strategies for the plant to include specific goals, objectives, timetables, action plans, and key leader (hourly and salaried) enlistment strategies.
• Train and mentor team members on the principles, methods, and applications of the Stryten Energy continuous improvement process to ensure that CI efforts become part of change management process.
• Coordinate and manage continuous improvement initiatives to ensure optimum use of resources and minimize redundancies.
• Coordinate with department managers, supervisors, team leads and hourly associates on improvement opportunities within the plant and develop justifications to substantiate potential cost savings.
• Conduct time and motion studies to establish and validate production standards as well as production costs.
• Develop and utilize value stream mapping/process charting to identify product flow opportunities and initiate improvement activities to streamline workflows.
• Work with training department to develop, and audit standardized work as well as work instructions.
• Foster and support the development of continuous improvement teams.
• Participate in training and development programs including all areas of environmental, health and safety issues, especially those dealing with proper handling of hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
• Must be able to follow written and verbal instructions, work procedures, standard operating practices, and directions with or without immediate supervision.
• Perform other work as assigned by management including 5S cleaning.
• Attend all meetings and training as scheduled.
• Undertake assigned projects as directed by Plant or Department Manager.

Education, Experience, Skills Required

• 4-year degree preferred; relevant experience will be considered in lieu of required education.
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification or equivalent Lean certification.
• Project management experience.
• Experience working in industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience in leading site level continuous improvement efforts using Lean, 5s, and DMAIC methodologies.

Competencies, Skills, Knowledge

• Ability to identify process efficiency improvements and drive implementation cross‑functionally.
• Strategic mindset with strong skill to manage change, ambiguity, complexity, and drive for results.
• Strong and effective verbal and written communication skills, effectively presenting complex topics in a concise manner to audiences at various levels and in diverse sizes.
• Microsoft Office experience. (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Project)

Physical Requirements

• Sitting, standing, walking, bending, twisting, pushing, and pulling, as necessary.
• Exposure to extreme environmental conditions. (hot, cold, humid)
• Occasional lifting from grams up to fifty pounds.
• Required to be on site 5 days a week.

Equipment Used

• General office equipment, PC, and various software.
• Personal protective equipment as required.

Travel

• Occasional domestic travel may be necessary to fulfill business needs and support various projects and initiatives.