Continuous Improvement Engineer

Who's On the Move; Georgetown, Northern (SC, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Who’s On the Move seeks a Continuous Improvement Engineer to work cross-functionally with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to identify root causes, develop solutions, and sustain improvements.

The role leads lean initiatives, analyzes data, conducts root-cause analyses, and drives ROI through Kaizen events, standard work, and process controls in a fast-paced manufacturing environment in the United States.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (industrial/manufacturing/mechanical) or related
• Experience in a manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement principles
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects focused on process efficiency, productivity, quality, cost reduction, and waste elimination.
• Analyze production data, downtime, scrap, labor, cycle times, and other metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
• Conduct root-cause analysis using 5 Why, Fishbone, Pareto, FMEA, and other problem-solving techniques.
• Implement Lean tools including 5S, Kaizen, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, Visual Management, SMED, and TPM.
• Develop and track project KPIs to measure improvement results and ensure sustainability.
• Partner with operations and maintenance to improve equipment reliability and OEE.
• Develop and maintain standard work, process documentation, and work instructions.
• Identify opportunities for automation, ergonomic improvements, and material waste reduction.
• Lead Kaizen events and facilitate cross-functional improvement teams.
• Develop business cases and ROI analyses for improvement projects.
• Support new equipment, tooling, product launches, and process changes.
• Collaborate with Quality to reduce defects and customer complaints.
• Train employees on Lean principles and standardized processes.
• Ensure improvements meet safety, quality, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Report on project status, risks, and recommendations.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Data Analysis

Project Management

Communication Skills

Excel Proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ERP/MES

CAD

PLC/SCADA

Job description

The Continuous Improvement Engineer works cross-functionally with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and other departments to identify root causes, develop solutions, and ensure improvements are sustained over time.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects focused on process efficiency, productivity, quality, cost reduction, and waste elimination.
• Analyze production data, downtime, scrap, labor, cycle times, and other operational metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
• Conduct root-cause analysis using 5 Why, Fishbone, Pareto, FMEA, and other problem-solving methodologies.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing tools including 5S, Kaizen, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, Visual Management, SMED, and TPM.
• Develop and track project KPIs to measure improvement results and ensure long-term sustainability.
• Partner with operations and maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability, uptime, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Optimize manufacturing layouts, material flow, workstations, staffing, and production processes.
• Develop and maintain standard work, process documentation, work instructions, and process control plans.
• Identify opportunities for automation, ergonomic improvements, labor optimization, and material waste reduction.
• Lead Kaizen events and facilitate cross-functional improvement teams.
• Develop business cases and calculate ROI, cost savings, labor savings, and payback for improvement projects.
• Support new equipment, tooling, product launches, and process changes.
• Collaborate with Quality to reduce defects, rework, scrap, and customer complaints.
• Train employees and supervisors on Lean principles, problem-solving techniques, and standardized processes.
• Ensure improvement projects meet company safety, quality, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Report on project status, results, risks, and recommendations to management.
• Establish controls and follow-up activities to ensure improvements remain effective.
• Engage fully in plant safety protocols and environmental compliance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze data and convert findings into practical engineering solutions.
• Strong project-management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while coordinating with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience with OEE, SPC, FMEA, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, SMED, and TPM.
• Experience with manufacturing automation, robotics, or process controls.
• Experience with ERP/MES systems and manufacturing data analytics.
• CAD experience and knowledge of manufacturing layouts.
• Experience developing capital-investment proposals and ROI analyses.
• Previous experience leading cross-functional improvement projects.

Equal Opportunity Employer Veterans/Disabled