Industrial Engineer (Continuous Improvement Specialist)

Clayton Homes (New); Waco (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401K with company match

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Volunteer time (Clayton Impact)

Job summary

Clayton is seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist to drive lean initiatives on the production floor. You will collect data, map processes, conduct root cause analyses, and support production leaders in applying 5S, visual management, standard work, and kaizen events.

This role partners with the Production Manager to sustain best practices, update SOPs, track KPIs, and promote engagement through daily huddles and cross‑training. A 4‑year degree and 1+ years CI experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience with process development and controlled documentation.
• Experience with lean principles and manufacturing systems.
• Highly proficient recording data and creating reports using Excel and MS Office.
• Strong computer literacy and proficient with technology.
• Ability to independently identify process documentation gaps and remedy quickly.
• Ability to create various spreadsheets for data and documentation tracking.
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain complex business processes.
• Willingness to learn, grow, and lead in the organization.

Responsibilities

• Conduct time studies, process mapping, and root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with production leaders to implement lean tools (5S, visual management, standard work, kaizen events).
• Maintain and update process documentation, including SOPs and work instructions.
• Track and report KPIs related to productivity, quality, and waste reduction.
• Facilitate daily or weekly improvement huddles with frontline teams.
• Support rollout of new equipment or process changes with training and documentation.
• Ensure real-time updates and visibility of performance metrics for leaders and teams.
• Assist in development and maintenance of skills matrix and cross-training.
• Promote continuous improvement through recognition programs and campaigns.

Skills

Lean principles

Process development

Documentation

Data reporting

Team engagement

KPI tracking

Education

4 Year Degree

1+ years CI experience

Tools

Excel

MS Office

Job description

Clayton is a leading single-family, values-driven home builder dedicated to attainable housing, sustainable practices and creating a world-class experience for customers and team members. Our company portfolio includes a broad offering of attainable housing, and as a vertically integrated home builder, we are uniquely positioned to serve customers through every stage of the homeownership journey – building, selling, financing, and insuring homes. From entry-level to more experienced positions, we're actively recruiting individuals who are passionate, positive, and eager to learn. We then equip you for success, whether you're in the office, in the field, or on the floor. As a member of our team you'll enjoy excellent benefits, opportunities for growth, and an encouraging culture that supports work / life balance.

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement Specialist plays a key role in executing and sustaining continuous improvement initiatives on the production floor. This role is focused on tactical implementation of lean tools, process documentation, and team engagement. The specialist supports the Production Manager by collecting data, facilitating improvements, and ensuring that best practices are followed at the operational level.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Conduct time studies, process mapping, and root cause analysis to identify inefficiencies in production workflows.
• Collaborate with production leaders to implement lean tools such as 5S, visual management, standard work, and kaizen events.
• Maintain and update process documentation, including SOPs and work instructions.
• Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to productivity, quality, and waste reduction.
• Facilitate daily or weekly improvement huddles with frontline teams to gather feedback and promote engagement.
• Support the rollout of new equipment or process changes by coordinating training and documentation.
• Ensure real-time updates and visibility of performance metrics to production leaders and team members.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of the skills matrix and job task analysis to support cross‑training and workforce flexibility.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by organizing recognition programs, suggestion systems, and improvement campaigns.
• Provide support for CI projects, including scheduling meetings, preparing reports, and documenting outcomes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience with process development and controlled documentation
• Experience with lean principles and manufacturing systems
• Highly Proficient recording data and creating reports using Excel and other MS Office programs.
• Strong computer literacy and proficient with technology.
• Ability to independently identify process documentation gaps and remedy quickly.
• Ability to create various spreadsheets for data and documentation tracking.
• Demonstrated ability to create and maintain complex business processes
• Continuous willingness to learn, grow, and gain understanding as a leader in our organization
• Effective motivation skills and techniques to encourage team to meet performance objectives
• Cultivate an environment of trust
• Ideal Team Player attributes – Humble, Hungry, Smart
• Positive influence with others
• 4 Year Degree is highly desirable
• 1+ years’ prior Continuous Improvement experience

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Work may require stooping, bending, crouching, crawling, pushing, and / or pulling
• Must be able to communicate with others via phone, email, and in person.
• Must be able to exchange accurate information with others.
• Work environment is not temperature controlled and may result in exposure to extreme temperatures.
• Work primarily involves sitting / standing, up to 4 hours at a time.

Why Clayton?

• Full-time team members have the flexibility to create their own health, dental, and vision benefits package.
• Clayton provides competitive 401K programs, including investment options and company matching for full and part time team members after one year to help our team members achieve their financial goals.
• Additional benefits include paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, Employee Assistance Programs, and more.
• As part of Clayton’s commitment to Opening Doors to a Better Life, Clayton is now providing paid time for Team Members to volunteer to causes that are meaningful to them through the Clayton Impact program.
• At Clayton, we encourage holistic wellness with physical, nutritional, social, financial, spiritual and occupational programs available online or in-person for team members.

Clayton is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Clayton is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

Business Unit - B00018 Clayton Manufacturing

The Clayton story began in 1956 with a simple but powerful mission – helping more hardworking families across America achieve homeownership. Clayton is committed to Opening Doors to a Better Life. We are a leading single family, values driven home builder dedicated to attainable housing, sustainable practices, and creating a world class experience for customers and team members. Our company portfolio includes a broad offering of attainable housing, and as a vertically integrated home builder, we are uniquely positioned to serve customers through every stage of the homeownership journey building, selling, financing, and insuring homes. Our success is in our team members – join our team and see how you can help us build a better tomorrow. As a shared service, Home Team team members support many functions across the Clayton enterprise. The Home Team includes wellbeing, internal audit, accounting/finance, marketing, legal, campus operations, and more. We believe our strength is our people. That's why we invest in opportunities for our team members to personally and professionally grow. As a leader in modern and attainable housing, Clayton is committed to delivering forward-looking technology solutions. With a dedicated team of over 500 technology professionals, we continue to evolve and innovate, ensuring we remain at the forefront of our industry. Our collaborative and innovative culture encourages team members to grow to their full potential. Our focus on team member experience, development and engagement is paramount, offering career pathing and leadership development opportunities to foster growth and success within our organization. Clayton Home Building Group has more than 12,000 team members across the United States, and built more than 59,000 homes last year. Home Building Group makes the dream of homeownership a reality every single day, delivering quality-built homes at an attainable price. We are dedicated to a world-class team member experience, environmentally responsible building practices and helping provide attainable housing for all. This business unit is comprised of Clayton Manufacturing, Clayton Supply, and Clayton Properties Group. With 2,900+ team members and 400+ Retail locations nationwide, our home consultants create a world-class home buying experience by assisting customers in identifying a floor plan, selecting options, and coordinating the construction process. Clayton Retail sells more than 25,000 homes annually, as we strive to help customers achieve homeownership across America.