Lean Manufacturing Engineer: ERP & Shop Floor Optimization

Freudenberg Group; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Freudenberg Group is seeking a Manufacturing/Industrial Engineer to stabilize and improve shop-floor operations in Aurora, IL. You will own process definitions, standard work, and data accuracy, enabling safe, efficient production across multiple facilities and lines.

Responsibilities include developing routings in ERP/MES, establishing robust standard work, and leading Lean initiatives such as SMED, Kaizen, and Gemba walks. Travel up to 10% is expected; bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.

Qualifications

• Degree in Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering (technical background) strongly preferred.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in FMCG or similar manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work on-site in Aurora, IL, and travel approximately 10% (including global).
• Bilingual English / Spanish preferred.
• Working knowledge of SAP (or relevant ERP) and quality methods (e.g., SPC).
• Ability to build, monitor, and communicate KPI dashboards/metrics; data-driven decisions.
• Proven skills analyzing downtime, scrap, and rework and translating findings into countermeasures.
• Experience improving line/assembly layouts and creating standard work layouts.

Responsibilities

• Stabilize and improve manufacturing operations by owning process definition, standard work, and data accuracy to enable safe, efficient, and repeatable shop floor execution.
• Develop, validate, and control manufacturing routings within ERP/MES to support scheduling, costing, and performance.
• Establish and maintain robust standard work, work instructions, and packaging instructions with structured documentation.
• Develop and present A3 problem‑solving report‑outs and monitor KPIs to drive visibility and accountability.
• Develop and continuously improve assembly or general line layouts and create standard work layouts.
• Execute Lean principles by leading SMED, Kaizen, and Gemba walks to improve process.
• Support line performance issues by analyzing downtime, scrap, and rework trends and escalating countermeasures.
• Act as a technical problem solver during sustained performance gaps and partner with Quality on corrective actions.
• Drive cost‑reduction initiatives related to labor, scrap, packaging, and efficiency losses.

Skills

Lean Principles

Continuous Improvement

Problem Solving

Quality Collaboration

Education

Degree in Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

ERP Software

Job description

Freudenberg Group is seeking a Manufacturing/Industrial Engineer to stabilize and improve shop-floor operations in Aurora, IL. You will own process definitions, standard work, and data accuracy, enabling safe, efficient production across multiple facilities and lines.

Responsibilities include developing routings in ERP/MES, establishing robust standard work, and leading Lean initiatives such as SMED, Kaizen, and Gemba walks. Travel up to 10% is expected; bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.