Continuous Improvement Specialist

NPAA; Lansing (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual merit increases

Incentive bonus plan

11 paid holidays

401(k) match

Tuition reimbursement

Employee recognition programs

Job summary

NPAA is seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist to drive SQDC improvements across our manufacturing operations. You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams to implement effective solutions and sustain results, fostering a culture of accountability and operational excellence.

The role focuses on eliminating waste, improving quality, reducing costs, and ensuring on‑time delivery through data‑driven decisions and standardized methods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a technical field is preferred or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years relevant experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of IATF16949 and/or ISO9001 standards.
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Lead NPAA’s 5S initiative, promoting organization, standardization, safety, and discipline.
• Manage cross-functional projects to optimize processes and workflows.
• Conduct studies focusing on cost control, inventory, productivity, and records.
• Develop and implement plans to improve methods and business performance.
• Collaborate to identify opportunities and implement quality, efficiency, and cost improvements.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and Lean/Six Sigma initiatives.
• Apply data analysis to identify trends and drive data‑driven decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Planning & organization

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a technical field or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

At NPAA, we believe our employees are our greatest strength. We are proud to offer a generous and competitive rewards package, including:

• Earned Bonus Structure – annual merit increases, and an annual incentive bonus plan.
• Time Off & Holidays – 11 paid holidays each year, plus paid time off to support work-life balance.
• Health & Retirement – comprehensive health and welfare plans, along with a 401(k)program featuring an exceptional company match.
• Career Growth & Recognition – tuition reimbursement, employee recognition programs, and opportunities to grow within the organization.
• Culture & Community – as part of the NPAA family, you’ll enjoy company events throughout the year celebrating and appreciating our employees’ hard work and dedication.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Continuous Improvement Specialist will lead and drive sustainable continuous improvement initiatives across NPAA, delivering measurable improvements in Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC). This role will partner closely with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, implement effective solutions, and sustain results while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence throughout the organization.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead NPAA’s 5S initiative, promoting workplace organization, standardization, safety, and operational discipline across the organization.
• Lead cross-functional projects to analyze, design, and optimize sequences of operations, workflows, and business processes.
• Conduct operational studies focused on cost control, cost reduction, inventory management, productivity, and production record systems.
• Develop and implement plans and programs to improve operating methods, processes, and overall business performance.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify improvement opportunities and implement solutions that enhance quality, efficiency, productivity, and cost effectiveness.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and continuous improvement activities across all areas of the business.
• Participate in and lead multiple improvement initiatives utilizing Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to identify root causes, solve complex problems, eliminate waste, and build sustainable capabilities.
• Apply statistical data analysis techniques to evaluate operational performance, identify trends, assess process variation, and support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret operational and quality data to identify performance gaps, determine root causes, and recommend opportunities to improve process efficiency, productivity, quality, and cost effectiveness.
• Develop, monitor, and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with organizational goals, operational objectives, and continuous improvement priorities.
• Prepare and distribute monthly KPI reports, providing meaningful insights into performance trends, improvement opportunities, and progress toward established goals. Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to support corrective actions and performance improvement.
• Monitor, trend, and improve key areas of the quality management system, including change control, customer feedback and complaints, investigations, deviations, and on-time delivery.
• Identify and share best practices from Nippon Group companies, industry standards, and other relevant sources to strengthen NPAA’s continuous improvement practices.
• Document and measure before-and-after conditions for continuous improvement projects to demonstrate measurable impact, effectiveness, and sustainability.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation, tracking logs, metrics, KPI reports, and status reports for all active and completed continuous improvement projects.
• Present project findings, statistical analysis, KPI results, and improvement recommendations to management and cross-functional teams to support informed decision-making and sustained operational performance.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a technical field preferred or equivalent working experience
• Minimum of 10 years relevant experience in a manufacturing environment
• Working Knowledge of IATF16949 and/or ISO9001 standards
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Must have proven success in project management and ability to implement business process improvements affecting multiple departments.
• Strong planning and organization skills
• Capability to be flexible in a dynamic environment
• Successful leadership track record
• Excellent analytical, decision making and problem-solving skills
• A highly motivated self-starter that can work with minimal supervision
• Desirable: Training and certification in process improvement techniques, Lean Manufacturing, or Six Sigma

Nippon Paint Automotive Americas Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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.