Lean Manager

StaffBright; Sterling Heights (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

StaffBright partners with an innovative manufacturing company seeking a Lean Operations Manager to lead lean initiatives, improve performance, and drive structured problem-solving in a fast-paced production environment.

You will develop and execute the site's lean strategy, coach teams, lead Kaizen events, 5S, VSM, and TPM initiatives, and track KPIs across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement in a manufacturing setting.
• Hands-on experience implementing Lean methodologies in industrial environments.
• Strong understanding of value streams, process capability, and KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the site's Lean/continuous improvement strategy.
• Identify and execute opportunities to improve productivity, quality, lead times, and process flow.
• Lead Kaizen events, 5S, value-stream mapping, standardized work, root-cause analysis, OEE, Kanban, SMED, and TPM initiatives.
• Coach and develop employees and leadership on Lean principles and problem-solving.
• Track KPIs across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Finance.
• Support capacity planning, layout optimization, automation, and capital projects.
• Ensure improvements are standardized, sustained, and aligned with safety, quality, and environmental requirements.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Operational excellence

Production management

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional leadership

Problem-solving

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP

MES

Data analytics software

Job description

StaffBright is partnering with an innovative manufacturing company that is committed to operational excellence, continuous improvement, and delivering high-quality products in a fast-paced production environment. Our client is seeking a Lean Operations Manager to lead Lean initiatives, improve manufacturing performance, and build a culture of structured problem-solving and continuous improvement.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Lean professional who enjoys working cross-functionally, developing teams, and driving measurable improvements across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity

What You'll Be Doing

• Develop and lead the site's Lean/continuous improvement strategy.
• Identify and execute opportunities to improve productivity, quality, lead times, and process flow.
• Lead Kaizen events, 5S, value-stream mapping, standardized work, root-cause analysis, OEE, Kanban, SMED, and TPM initiatives.
• Coach and develop employees and leadership on Lean principles and problem-solving.
• Track KPIs across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Finance.
• Support capacity planning, layout optimization, automation, and capital projects.
• Ensure improvements are standardized, sustained, and aligned with safety, quality, and environmental requirements.

Must-Have Experience & Skills

• 5+ years of experience in Lean manufacturing, operational excellence, production management, or continuous improvement.
• Hands-on experience implementing Lean methodologies in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Strong understanding of production processes, value streams, and performance metrics.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional improvement initiatives and deliver measurable results.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred Experience & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Lean Six Sigma certification preferred; Green Belt or Black Belt is a plus.
• Experience with ERP, MES, data analysis, or continuous improvement software.
• Experience with kaizen events, value-stream mapping, OEE, 5S, standardized work, SMED, Kanban, TPM, or daily management systems.
• Experience coaching and developing frontline employees, supervisors, and managers in Lean principles.

StaffBright – Who We Are

StaffBright connects exceptional professionals with fulfilling opportunities in Finance, Human Resources, Engineering, IT, and Sales & Marketing. By partnering with industry-leading organizations, we help accelerate careers while delivering outstanding results for our clients. At StaffBright, we go beyond traditional staffing by fostering close collaboration with our clients, recruiters, and candidates to ensure talent needs are met efficiently. Our commitment to building long-term relationships and driving success sets us apart as a trusted partner in the staffing industry.