Lean & Quality Manager

Engtal; Beaverton (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Engtal is seeking a manufacturing leader onsite in Beaverton, MI, focused on Lean and Continuous Improvement with 60/40 emphasis on CI and Quality Management. The role centers on driving proactive change rather than maintaining processes, leading Kaizen events, Kanban, and cross-department improvements across the plant.

The candidate will oversee the plant's quality initiatives while prioritizing measurable operational gains, and will coach production teams to sustain improvements.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience applying Lean principles in manufacturing.
• Proven track record delivering measurable operational improvements.
• Experience leading Kaizen events and cross-department projects.
• Formal Lean or Six Sigma certifications are valued but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives across the plant.
• Oversee quality systems and quality initiatives, with quality as a secondary focus.
• Drive Kaizen events, Kanban implementation, and process/workflow improvements.
• Coach and influence production teams; lead projects across departments.
• Collaborate with leadership to identify opportunities and sustain improvements.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Change leadership

Coaching

Kaizen facilitation

Kanban

Process improvement

Problem solving

Job description

This is a manufacturing leadership role focused on driving operational improvement across the plant, with approximately 60% of the position centered on Lean and Continuous Improvement and 40% on Quality Management. The company is reshaping the position following the retirement of the current Quality & Safety Manager, with the goal of creating a more proactive, improvement-focused role rather than simply maintaining existing quality systems.

The successful candidate will lead Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives across manufacturing, including Kaizen events, Kanban implementation, process and workflow improvements, waste and scrap reduction, lead-time reduction, and productivity improvements. They will work closely with production teams and leadership to identify opportunities, implement solutions, and create sustainable improvements throughout the operation.

The role will also provide oversight of the plant's quality systems and quality initiatives, although quality is the smaller component of the position. The ideal candidate does not necessarily need to come from a traditional Quality Manager background; the priority is someone with proven experience improving manufacturing operations and leading meaningful change.

Candidates should have hands-on experience applying Lean principles in a manufacturing environment and be comfortable leading Kaizens, coaching and influencing production teams, and driving projects across departments. Formal Lean or Six Sigma certifications are valuable but less important than a demonstrated track record of delivering measurable operational improvements.

This is an onsite position in Beaverton, Michigan, so candidates should be local, within a reasonable commute, or genuinely willing to relocate.