Continuous Improvement Specialist

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

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.