Lean Transformation Lead - Manufacturing & CI

Universal Packaging Systems, Inc.; Chino (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

PakLab in California seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager to build and run its CI engine on the manufacturing floor, delivering measurable savings and capacity gains. You will deploy Lean tools, lead cross-functional kaizen teams, and train supervisors, operators, and engineers to sustain continuous improvement from Chino to Batavia.

This hands-on role is initially individual-contributor, with no direct reports, advancing a portfolio of projects that improve throughput, quality, and efficiency

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead CI program with charter, governance, and stage-gates.
• Own the CI project pipeline from idea intake to sizing, prioritization, execution, validation, and sustainment.
• Turn the CTO's transformation priorities into a sized and funded portfolio of improvement projects.
• Deploy Lean and CI methodology across operation including value stream mapping, 5S, standard work, SMED, visual management, kaizen, TPM, and OEE.
• Maintain the prioritized CI project list with owners, milestones, and sustainment plans.
• Establish baseline manufacturing cost metrics with Finance and track savings.
• Lead kaizen events and improvement projects to completion with clear owners and stage-gates.
• Reduce batch cycle times, batch adjustments, and changeover times to release capacity.
• Improve labor productivity on filling and packout lines with line balancing and removing non-value-added work.
• Partner with Process Engineering on batch cycle times and process recommendations.
• Lead root cause analysis using A3, 5 Why, fishbone, DMAIC, and related methods.
• Drive labeling corrective action closure with proven effectiveness.
• Coach engineers, supervisors, and operators in structured problem solving.
• Implement tiered daily management with shift huddles, boards, and escalation paths.
• Establish KPI dashboards for cost, quality, productivity, capacity, and CI results.
• Partner with Maintenance to deploy TPM practices and autonomous maintenance.
• Use OEE loss data to target major downtime sources.
• Design and deliver CI training from Lean basics to Green Belt problem solving.
• Develop a network of CI champions across shifts and sites.
• Communicate results and recognize teams to sustain improvements.
• Collaborate with Operations, Plant Leadership, Process Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Planning, and Finance to align CI projects with priorities.
• Support Batavia future-state plan with CI input.
• Lead cross-functional CI teams without direct reporting authority.
• Support development of a CI team as program scales.
• Deliver cost savings and capacity gains validated by Finance.
• Manage CI project spending within CTO delegation and capex process.
• Work with CTO and site leaders to ensure measurable results on the floor.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Lean tools

Structured problem-solving

Data analysis

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial/Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering or related field

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification

Black Belt certification preferred

Tools

Excel

Power BI

ERP systems

Job description

PakLab in California seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager to build and run its CI engine on the manufacturing floor, delivering measurable savings and capacity gains. You will deploy Lean tools, lead cross-functional kaizen teams, and train supervisors, operators, and engineers to sustain continuous improvement from Chino to Batavia.

This hands-on role is initially individual-contributor, with no direct reports, advancing a portfolio of projects that improve throughput, quality, and efficiency