Continuous Improvement Lead

Viwinc; Morgantown (PA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Viwinco is seeking a Continuous Improvement Lead to drive and sustain process improvements on the production floor, focusing on efficiency, productivity, quality, and safety. You will guide hourly teams and partner with maintenance, production, and quality to implement Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, and Kaizen initiatives.

The role demands strong communication, hands-on problem solving, and the ability to coach employees, lead Kaizen events, Gemba walks, and daily huddles to achieve measurable performance

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience collaborating with employees in a manufacturing or operational setting.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to lead hourly teams and present results to leadership.
• Experience in root cause analysis and solving operational challenges in a collaborative, team-based environment.
• Ability to lead and motivate hourly employees in continuous improvement projects.
• Strong time management skills to handle multiple projects and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead continuous improvement projects focused on reducing waste, increasing productivity, and improving quality.
• Work directly with production floor employees to understand pain points and develop practical solutions.
• Provide training on Lean principles, 5S, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement tools; coach teams.
• Lead daily improvement huddles, Kaizen events, and Gemba walks to drive small, incremental changes.
• Use problem-solving techniques (5 Whys, Fishbone) to identify root causes and develop sustainable solutions.
• Ensure improvements are implemented and maintained; develop SOPs and ensure best practices.
• Ensure improvements align with safety and quality standards and compliance.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and empower employees to contribute ideas.
• Collaborate with maintenance, production, quality to align efforts across teams.

Skills

Lean principles

Six Sigma

5S

Kaizen

Root cause analysis

Team leadership

Hourly workforce engagement

Problem-solving

Communication

Job description

Viwinco is searching for a Continuous Improvement Lead to lead and support process improvement initiatives on the production floor, focusing on enhancing efficiency, productivity, quality, and safety. This role will guide employees in implementing continuous improvement strategies using Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to optimize daily operations. The Continuous Improvement Lead will act as a key liaison between management and department team members, ensuring that improvement efforts are effectively communicated, implemented, and sustained.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and lead continuous improvement projects focused on reducing waste, increasing productivity, and improving quality in manufacturing or operational processes.
• Work directly with employees on the production floor to understand pain points, gather input, and develop practical solutions for process improvements.
• Provide training to employees on Lean principles, 5S, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement tools. Coach team members to encourage engagement and ownership of improvement initiatives.
• Lead daily improvement huddles, Kaizen events, and Gemba walks to identify opportunities and drive small, incremental changes on the production floor.
• Use problem-solving techniques, such as 5 Whys or Fishbone diagrams, to identify root causes of issues and work with teams to develop sustainable solutions.
• Ensure that improvements are successfully implemented and maintained, developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and ensuring best practices are followed.
• Ensure that all improvements are aligned with safety standards and quality requirements, and that team members are always working in compliance with company policies and industry regulations.
• Promote and develop a culture of continuous improvement among employees, ensuring they are actively engaged and empowered to contribute ideas and solutions.
• Work with other departments (e.g., maintenance, production, quality) to align improvement efforts and ensure successful implementation across teams.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience collaborating with employees in a manufacturing or operational setting.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to lead and engage hourly teams, explain technical concepts in a clear and understandable way, and present results to leadership.
• Experience in root cause analysis and solving operational challenges in a collaborative, team-based environment.
• Ability to lead and motivate teams of hourly employees, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment in continuous improvement projects.
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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