Continuous Improvement Specialist

Dawson; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Dawson in Columbus, OH is seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineer to design and launch our CI program across Production, Inventory, Sourcing, Quality, Maintenance and Warehouse.

You will lead Lean initiatives, apply Six Sigma tools, train teams in 5S and standard work, and partner with operations to raise throughput and reduce waste while ensuring safety and quality. This role requires 2–4 years in CI or industrial engineering with strong data analytics and project management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing or Business.
• 2–4 years of experience in continuous improvement, operations or industrial engineering in manufacturing, warehouse or distribution.

Responsibilities

• Design and launch our CI program across Production, Inventory, Sourcing, Quality, Maintenance and Warehouse.
• Drive Lean manufacturing initiatives and continuous improvement best practices.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, waste reduction and cost optimization.
• Train team members in 5S, standard work, root cause analysis, A3 and kaizen, and coach supervisors to lead improvements.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase manufacturing efficiency and streamline workflows.
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for operational challenges.
• Analyze production data, KPIs, labor performance, downtime and scrap to identify improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain standardized work instructions, procedures and operational best practices.
• Partner with Operations to improve throughput, labor utilization, process consistency and plant performance.
• Support facility layout improvements, workflow optimization, capacity planning and material flow initiatives.
• Assist with new equipment implementation, process startups and operational scaling projects.
• Support employee training on process improvements, Lean tools and standard operating procedures.
• Drive change management and promote a culture of accountability, problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Develop, monitor and report on KPIs, project performance, cost savings and improvement results.
• Present project updates and improvement recommendations to leadership.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Continuous Improvement

Data Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

WMS software

Job description

• Design and launch our CI program across all divisions including Production, Inventory, Sourcing, Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse
• Drive Lean manufacturing initiatives and continuous improvement best practices
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, waste reduction, and cost optimization
• Train team members in 5S, standard work, root cause analysis, A3 and kaizen, and coach supervisors to lead their own improvements
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase manufacturing efficiency and streamline workflows
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for operational challenges
• Analyze production data, KPIs, labor performance, downtime, and scrap to identify improvement opportunities
• Develop and maintain standardized work instructions, procedures, and operational best practices
• Partner with Operations to improve throughput, labor utilization, process consistency, and overall plant performance
• Support facility layout improvements, workflow optimization, capacity planning, and material flow initiatives
• Assist with new equipment implementation, process startups, and operational scaling projects.
• Support employee training on process improvements, Lean tools, and standard operating procedures
• Drive change management efforts and promote a culture of accountability, problem-solving, and continuous improvement
• Develop, monitor, and report on operational KPIs, project performance, cost savings, and process improvement results
• Present project updates and improvement recommendations to leadership

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business
• 2–4 years of experience in continuous improvement, operations or industrial engineering within a manufacturing, warehouse or distribution setting
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, Six Sigma Yellow or Green Belt, or in process of obtaining
• Experience in CPG, personal care or high speed packaging operations
• Kowledge of TPM, SMED, OEE
• Experience with Power BI or Tableau; WMS software
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, communication, and project management skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive cross-functional initiatives
• Experience in nonwovens, textiles, paper converting, packaging, or other continuous-flow manufacturing environments preferred
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Kaizen certification and/or practical experience
• Experience supporting high-growth manufacturing operations
• Hands-on experience partnering directly with production teams and plant operations

About Dawson

Dawson is a trusted staffing partner in Central Ohio. We help job seekers grow their careers with fast feedback, personalized support, and access to multiple employers through one application.