Continuous Improvement Manager

The Planet Group; Sioux City (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off/vacation

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

A leading manufacturer in North America is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager in Sioux City, Iowa. This role will lead efforts to implement Lean manufacturing principles, drive safety, quality, and cost improvements, and coach employees on continuous improvement methodologies. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of experience in Lean Manufacturing. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package and a dynamic work environment with growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• 3+ years of Lean Manufacturing experience.
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt preferred.
• Experience leading Kaizen events and value stream mapping.

Responsibilities

• Lead deployment of Lean manufacturing tools and facilitate kaizen events.
• Analyze manufacturing KPIs and drive sustainable countermeasures.
• Train and coach employees on CI tools and promote engagement.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Problem-solving

Excellent analytical skills

Team leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Management

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Continuous Improvement Manager

The Continuous Improvement Manager leads and sustains a culture of continuous improvement across manufacturing operations. This role drives performance improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale by deploying Lean, Six Sigma, and problem-solving methodologies. The position partners closely with production, engineering, quality, supply chain, and leadership to identify opportunities, eliminate waste, and standardize best practices.

Our company, Inc., is North America’s leading manufacturer for commercial and residential applications, the largest manufacturer in their industry within the United States.Our company is a family-owned that offers a dynamic work environment and continues to invest in state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and processes, as well as growth and development opportunities for its team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment of Lean manufacturing tools (5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Visual Management, SMED).
• Facilitate kaizen events and cross-functional improvement workshops.
• Identify waste and variation in manufacturing processes and drive sustainable countermeasures.
• Develop and maintain plant CI roadmap aligned with business objectives.

Performance Improvement

• Analyze manufacturing KPIs (safety, quality, OEE, throughput, scrap, cost).
• Lead root cause analysis using structured problem-solving tools (A3, 5 Whys, Fishbone).
• Support cost reduction, productivity, and capacity improvement initiatives.
• Ensure improvements are standardized, documented, and sustained.

Coaching & Culture

• Train and coach employees at all levels on CI tools and problem-solving methods.
• Build CI capability within operations teams and frontline leaders.
• Promote employee engagement and idea generation programs.
• Act as a change agent to reinforce a continuous improvement mindset.

Project & Change Management

• Lead CI projects from concept through implementation and follow-up.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain on process improvement initiatives.
• Track project progress, savings, and performance impact.
• Support new product introductions and process changes from a CI perspective.

Job Responsibilities

• Work Closely with the General Manager/Plant Manager to understand and improve the business
• Improve safety, quality, productivity, and delivery in all departments
• Drive all aspects of the MDI (managing for daily improvement) program throughout the facility
• Collaborate with the GM/PM to set yearly Plant Lean Progression goals and create an execution plan.
• Be an accountability partner with the management team for completion of daily Leadership Standard Work; help team understand the importance
• Attend and help drive Gemba Walks; challenge and mentor team to improve effectiveness
• Maintain Improvement tracking on CI Dashboard
• Attend and contribute to the weekly plant Gemba walks with Executive Team
• Plan, execute, lead, and follow-up on kaizen events
• Keep Event Calendar up to date
• Improve processes and eliminate waste in key constraint areas
• Follow-up assessment (5 Why’s) and action item owner/assigner
• Assign action items and the improvements that are listed on the SQPD boards
• Complete capacity analysis for all work cells
• Create and maintain standard work instructions, SOPs, 5S Checklists, and standard work audits
• Continue to refine LEAN Philosophy in all department activities
• Interact with production management and team members to identify waste and improvement opportunities
• Create and maintain value stream maps for the facility
• Mentor and train staff on lean concepts and practices
• Drive measurable continuous improvement

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree – Prefer Engineering or Management
• 3+ years’ Lean Manufacturing experience
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt Preferred but not required
• Experience leading Kaizen Events
• Value Stream Experience is a plus
• Able to drive and lead change
• Experience with leading teams
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to multi-task
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Fluent with Microsoft word and excel
• All team members are expected to follow the Code of Conduct to the highest standards as well as to adhere to the Attendance Policy of Our company.

Competitive Compensation and Benefits

Comprehensive benefit package including, but not limited to, health, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with company match, employee assistance program, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, paid time off/vacation, tuition reimbursement, and more!