Continuous Improvement Leader - Lean & Kaizen Expert

KMT Waterjet; Baxter Springs (KS); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training & career advancement

Competitive salary

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Shape Technologies Group in Baxter Springs, KS, seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager to lead CI initiatives across our manufacturing operations. You will partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and HR to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance at the Baxter Springs facility.

The role requires a strong Lean/Six Sigma background, cross-functional leadership, and hands-on problem solving.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field.
• 5 to 10 years of manufacturing experience preferred.
• 3 to 5 years of continuous improvement or operational excellence experience preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, Certified Lean Practitioner, or Project Management certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute site continuous improvement initiatives aligned with business goals.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and process improvement projects.
• Identify and eliminate waste, improve workflow, and support standard work across machining, fabrication, welding, assembly, and support areas.
• Establish, monitor, and report key performance metrics, including safety, quality, productivity, labor efficiency, scrap, OEE, on-time delivery, and cost savings.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering to support corrective actions, reduce defects, and improve process capability.
• Train and coach supervisors and employees on Lean, problem-solving, and continuous improvement tools.
• Support employee engagement through idea generation, CI participation, and development of CI champions.
• Assist with layout, material flow, capital improvement, safety, and facility optimization projects.
• Ensure continuous improvement activities support safety, compliance, and operational excellence objectives.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Value Stream Mapping

Root Cause Analysis

Cross-functional Leadership

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving

Excel

ERP systems

Reporting Tools

Manufacturing Environment

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Shape Technologies Group in Baxter Springs, KS, seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager to lead CI initiatives across our manufacturing operations. You will partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, and HR to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance at the Baxter Springs facility.

The role requires a strong Lean/Six Sigma background, cross-functional leadership, and hands-on problem solving.