Continuous Improvement Leader: Lean Six Sigma & SQDC

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas, Inc.; Lansing (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Earned bonus structure (annual merit +

Paid holidays (11)

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee recognition programs

Company events

Job summary

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. (NPAA) is seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist to lead sustainable improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost. You will partner with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, implement solutions, and sustain results, fostering accountability and operational excellence.

The role focuses on 5S leadership, process optimization, and data-driven decision-making to drive measurable gains throughout the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of IATF16949 and/or ISO9001 standards.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Proven success in project management and cross-department process improvements.
• Strong planning, organization, and leadership abilities.
• Ability to adapt in a dynamic environment and lead multiple initiatives.
• Desirable: Lean/Six Sigma training or certification.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPAA's 5S initiative across the organization for workplace organization and safety.
• Manage cross-functional projects to optimize operations and business processes.
• Conduct operational studies on cost control, inventory, productivity, and records systems.
• Develop plans to improve operating methods and overall performance.
• Collaborate with teams to implement cost, quality, and efficiency improvements.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and continuous improvement activities.
• Apply Lean and Six Sigma to identify root causes and sustain gains.
• Use data analysis to evaluate performance and support data-driven decisions.
• Monitor KPIs and prepare monthly reports with insights and corrective actions.
• Maintain documentation, tracking logs, and status reports for improvement projects.
• Present findings and recommendations to management and cross-functional teams.

Skills

Project management

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Leadership

Organizational skills

Flexibility in dynamic environment

Communication

IATF16949 knowledge

ISO9001 knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a technical field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. (NPAA) is seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist to lead sustainable improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost. You will partner with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, implement solutions, and sustain results, fostering accountability and operational excellence.

The role focuses on 5S leadership, process optimization, and data-driven decision-making to drive measurable gains throughout the organization.