Continuous Improvement Engineer

Tarkett; Chagrin Falls (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Tarkett is seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineer to drive operational excellence across our manufacturing operations. You will lead and implement improvement initiatives to boost productivity, process stability, equipment reliability, and overall plant performance using Lean, structured problem solving, and data‑driven decision making.

You will partner with production, maintenance, engineering, and quality teams to deliver SQDC outcomes, maintain a strong floor presence with frontline

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Mechanical/Chemical engineering or equivalent.
• 3+ years in manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma in production.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with data.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to engage with frontline employees on the shop floor.

Responsibilities

• Lead CI initiatives to boost productivity, efficiency, and process stability.
• Analyze processes to identify waste and improvement opportunities with Lean.
• Facilitate cross-functional projects and Kaizen events.
• Maintain floor presence to observe operations and support teams.
• Partner with production, maintenance, engineering, and quality to resolve issues.
• Analyze data to identify trends and root causes of variation.
• Monitor OEE, scrap, throughput, cycle time, and downtime.
• Lead structured problem solving using 5-Why, Fishbone, FMEA, A3.
• Support equipment and process optimization via capital and process projects.
• Train and coach personnel on Lean tools and continuous improvement.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Data Analysis

Problem Solving

Cross-functional Collaboration

On-floor Presence

Kaizen

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Mechanical/Chemical engineering or related field

Tools

Power BI

Job description

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement Engineer is responsible for driving operational excellence by identifying, leading, and implementing improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations. This role focuses on improving productivity, process stability, equipment reliability, and overall plant performance through the application of Lean manufacturing principles, structured problem solving, and data-driven decision making. The Continuous Improvement Engineer works closely with production, maintenance, engineering, and quality teams to support plant objectives related to Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC). A strong presence on the production floor and engagement with frontline employees is essential for success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance manufacturing productivity, efficiency, and process stability.
• Analyze manufacturing processes to identify waste, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement using Lean methodologies.
• Facilitate cross-functional improvement projects and Kaizen events to drive measurable operational improvements.
• Maintain a strong presence on the production floor to observe operations, identify issues, and support frontline teams.
• Partner with production, maintenance, engineering, and quality teams to resolve operational challenges and improve process performance.
• Analyze production and quality data to identify trends, performance gaps, and root causes of variation.
• Monitor and improve key operational metrics, including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), Scrap and rework rates, Throughput and cycle time, Changeover efficiency, Downtime reduction.
• Lead structured problem-solving efforts using tools such as 5‑Why Analysis, Fishbone Diagrams, A3 Problem Solving, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
• Support equipment and process optimization through collaboration with engineering and maintenance teams, including participation in capital and process improvement projects.
• Train and coach plant personnel on Lean tools, structured problem solving, and continuous improvement methodologies to support a culture of operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement roles.
• Experience applying Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies in a production environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret operational data.
• Experience facilitating improvement projects or Kaizen events.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to work effectively on the production floor and engage with frontline employees.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt).
• Experience in high volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and production throughput.
• Experience using Power BI or similar data visualization tools to develop operational dashboards and performance reporting.

What We Offer

• Competitive benefits including: Medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with company match Paid time off and paid holidays Life and disability insurance Career growth, stability, and flexible work arrangements.

Responsible Manufacturing – Protecting Our Planet for the Future

We utilize renewable energy and a closed loop recycled water process. We are committed to reducing greenhouse emissions and water consumption. We are the only flooring company recognized by the Asthma and Allergy foundation.

Who we are:

With a history of more than 140 years, Tarkett is a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sport surface solutions, generating turnover of €3.3 billion in 2025. The Group has close to 12,000 employees, 25 R&D centers, 8 recycling centers and 33 production sites. Tarkett creates and manufactures solutions for hospitals, schools, housing, hotels, offices, stores and sports fields, serving customers in over 100 countries. To build “The Way to Better Floors,” the Group is committed to circular economy and sustainability, in line with its Tarkett Human‑Conscious Design® approach. www.tarkett-group.com Tarkett is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in backgrounds and in experiences and promote an inclusive workplace where all employees can perform at their best.

As a worldwide leader of the flooring industry, we design, manufacture and provide our customers the most innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions.

At Tarkett, we cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship with respect and trust.

We make conscious choices, for people and for the planet and we commit to be next to your every step of the way.

At Tarkett we help create great spaces. We believe in taking care of our people, our customers and our planet.

We believe in being agile and performance-driven in everything that we do in order to find the best flooring and sports surface solutions.

https://www.tarkett.com/