Continuous Improvement Engineer

Tarkett; Ohio; On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarkett is seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineer in the United States (Ohio) to lead operational excellence across manufacturing. You will drive Lean/Six Sigma initiatives, analyze processes, and collaborate with production, maintenance, engineering and quality teams to improve OEE, scrap reduction, and throughput.

You will mentor frontline staff on Lean tools, participate in capital and process improvement projects, and help build a culture of data-driven problem solving on the plant floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in IE, ME, CHE, or equivalent.
• 3+ years in manufacturing or continuous improvement.
• Experience applying Lean/Six Sigma in production.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent cross-functional communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to boost productivity and stability.
• Analyze processes to identify waste using Lean methods.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and cross-functional projects.
• Observe operations on the production floor and support frontline teams.
• Analyze data to identify trends and root causes.
• Coach plant personnel in Lean tools and problem solving.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Data analysis

Kaizen

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

On-floor presence

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent

Tools

Power BI

MS Excel

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*** A commitment that Safety is #1* 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.