Continuous Improvement Leader

MW Components, Inc.; Anaheim, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

MW Components, Inc. seeks a Continuous Improvement Leader to drive Lean initiatives across multiple sites, partnering with General Managers to identify improvements and lead Kaizen events and value-stream mapping.

This role requires extensive travel, strong facilitation, and data-driven decision making to deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery and cost, while coaching leaders. Develop site roadmaps, track KPIs, promote standardization, and sustain gains through cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in engineering, operations or related field.
• 7+ years of manufacturing, operations, Lean, or continuous improvement experience.
• Proven success leading Lean transformation or operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience facilitating Kaizen events and process improvements.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, labor productivity, quality systems, and KPIs.
• Experience working with plant leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to travel extensively to support multiple locations.
• Experience in multi-site manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting automation and KPI scorecards.

Responsibilities

• Partner with General Managers to evaluate performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead Lean initiatives focusing on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, process improvement workshops, and problem solving.
• Collaborate with Automation Engineer to target productivity gains and reduce labor content.
• Develop and execute site-specific improvement roadmaps.
• Drive standardization of best practices and processes across facilities.
• Analyze data and KPIs to identify trends, bottlenecks, and opportunities.
• Coach plant leadership on Lean principles and problem-solving methodologies.
• Implement and sustain Lean systems (5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, Kaizen).
• Establish targets and track project results.
• Lead cross-functional teams to sustain gains across locations.
• Promote accountability and continuous improvement culture.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Facilitation

Analytical skills

Influence without authority

Communication

Project management

Coaching

Operating systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Pay or shift range: $95,000 USD to $100,000 USD
  The estimated range is the budgeted amount for this position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

Description

SUMMARY:

The Continuous Improvement Leader is responsible for driving operational excellence initiatives across multiple manufacturing facilities through the deployment of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and performance management methodologies. This role partners closely with the Automation Engineer, General Managers, and site leadership teams to identify improvement opportunities, reduce waste, increase productivity, improve quality, and enhance overall operational performance. The Continuous Improvement Leader serves as a change agent, coaching leaders and employees in Lean principles while creating sustainable systems and processes that deliver measurable business results. This is a highly collaborative, travel-intensive role requiring strong facilitation, analytical, and leadership skills.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with General Managers and site leadership teams to evaluate operational performance and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping exercises, process improvement workshops, and problem-solving activities.
• Work alongside the Automation Engineer to identify opportunities where process improvements and automation solutions can improve productivity and reduce labor content.
• Support the development and execution of site-specific operational improvement roadmaps.
• Drive standardization of best practices, work methods, and operational processes across facilities.
• Analyze operational data and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
• Coach and mentor plant leadership teams on Lean principles, problem-solving methodologies, and continuous improvement tools.
• Implement and sustain Lean systems including, 5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, Kaizen, etc.
• Establish measurable improvement targets and track project results.
• Lead cross-functional teams to execute improvement projects and ensure sustainability of gains achieved.
• Promote a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Support integration and replication of successful improvements across multiple locations.
• Ensure all improvement initiatives align with safety, quality, and operational objectives.
• Prepare and present progress updates, project results, and performance metrics to senior leadership.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• Strong expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Excellent facilitation and workshop leadership skills.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and influence without direct authority.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect operational improvements to financial results.
• Effective project management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to coach leaders and frontline teams through process and cultural transformation.
• Experience developing and implementing sustainable operating systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Power BI, and data analysis tools.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field) or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of manufacturing, operations, Lean, or continuous improvement experience.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean transformation or operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience facilitating Kaizen events and process improvement projects.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, labor productivity, quality systems, and operational metrics.
• Experience working directly with plant leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to travel extensively to support multiple manufacturing locations.
• Experience in multi-site manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting automation
• Experience implementing operational management systems and KPI scorecards.
• Prior leadership or management experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; reach with hands/arms; lift and/or lower; push and/or pull; and use hands to finger, handle, feel and/or finely manipulate objects. The employee must frequently lift/move and/or push/pull up to 20 lbs. and occasionally lift/move and/or push/pull up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Use of vision correction is acceptable, if necessary; however, any vision correction apparatus must meet all safety guidelines for the area of activity.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.