Manager – Continuous Improvement

Rehlko Company; Milwaukee (WI); Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Rehlko Company in Milwaukee, WI is seeking a Manager – Continuous Improvement to lead enterprise-wide improvement initiatives across Manufacturing, Planning, Purchasing, Sourcing, and Manufacturing Engineering. This role standardizes processes and deploys auditable methodologies to drive sustainable growth and efficiency.

You will spearhead AI-driven improvements, establish KPIs, and guide cross-functional teams while prioritizing safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 8+ years of manufacturing experience in engineering or operational leadership roles.
• Experience in electrical manufacturing and/or OEM environments preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% domestically and 20% internationally.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive continuous improvement strategy aligned with the organization's goals.
• Create standard work across direct and indirect functions and deploy visual management (Gemba boards and dashboards).
• Define and deploy standard MOR across all manufacturing locations empire-wide.
• Identify and deploy AI tools to drive speed, cost reduction, and quality improvements.
• Lead cross-functional teams, solicit data, perform root-cause analysis, and report progress to senior management.

Skills

Change agent

KPI measurements

Lean six-sigma

Leadership

Cross functional

Multitask

Problem-solving

Safety mindset

Quality mindset

Delivery mindset

Cost mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

DMAIC

SMED

5S

Kaizen

Value Stream Mapping

Job description

## Manager – Continuous ImprovementApply: Hybrid: Milwaukee, WI: Full time: Posted Today: R04907Why Work at RehlkoOur work is guided by our purpose: creating an energy-resilient world for a better future. This purpose embodies the legacy we bring, with more than 100 years as the global leader in energy resilience, delivering solutions critical to sustain and improve life.Our teams have the opportunity to provide a critical resource – energy – that ensures safety, security, and independence for people around the world. Our team members are focused on pushing boundaries, continuing to innovate in an ever-changing landscape, and keeping up with the pace required to create solutions for today’s world demands.Our product range includes engines, generators, power conversion, UPS systems, EV components and electrification solutions, microgrid controls and management, and clean energy solutions that serve a broad spectrum of OEM, residential, industrial, and commercial customers. At Rehlko, you have the freedom to identify, create, and deliver solutions – large and small – that help people and communities thrive in the moments that matter.At Rehlko, our team members are the essential energy that powers our organization’s success. We are committed to fostering a safe and sustainable work environment where safety is everyone’s responsibility. We empower every team member to actively participate in our Zero Is Possible safety culture by encouraging open communication, proactively reporting hazards, following protocols, and suggesting improvements. Join us in creating an energy resilient world for a better future!**What We Offer**At Rehlko, our Total Rewards programs are designed to accelerate growth, energize performance, and support a culture of inclusion at every stage of life and work. We offer total rewards that are easily understood, recognize results, enable career mobility, and reflect our commitment to valuing diverse needs in a fast-moving world. We provide:* Competitive compensation and benefits* Work-life flexibility* Recognition and rewards* Development and career opportunities* A safe and inclusive workplace**Why You Will Love this Job**As an organizational leader within Rehlko, the ***Manager – Continuous*** ***Improvement*** is responsible as a lead within continuous improvement. This role will develop and lead strategies that create sustainable and scalable operational growth. These strategies will include standardizing globally consistent processes throughout the Operational functions which include but are not limited to Manufacturing, Planning, Purchasing, Sourcing, and Manufacturing Engineering. This will be accomplished by defining and deploying documented auditable processes. Additionally, this role will be on the forefront of Rehlko’s journey of sustainable growth by defining and deploying new methodologies, tools, and solutions which will drive innovation across the Operations organization. This role will lead and instill a culture of continuous improvement, creating tangible improvements in cost, quality, and delivery. This role will partner cross-functionally across the enterprise engaging enterprise-wide stakeholders to execute the role. While executing the role a commitment to safety, compliance, and efficiency are paramount and align with Rehlko’s organizational goals. **Key Responsibilities*** In partnership with the operations strategy leadership team, develop and implement a comprehensive continuous improvement strategy aligned with the organization's goals and objectives.* Create sustainability and scalability through defining enterprise with processes* Create a plan for standard work in direct and indirect functions* Define and deploy standard MOR across all manufacturing locations enterprise wide* Define and deploy visual management at all levels of the enterprise such as Gemba boards and support function dashboards and control towers* Identify emerging tools, software’s, programs and general solutions and create implementation strategy* Identify and deploy AI throughout the enterprise driving speed of execution and decision making, cost reduction and efficiency, and quality improvements.* Identify key performance metrics and KPIs to measure and track improvements.* Analyze existing processes and workflows to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.* Develop a cost reduction program to deploy across all the functional departments.* Collaborate with teams to gather data, conduct root cause analysis, and define improvement goals.* Lead and facilitate cross-functional teams to implement process improvements.* Champion a culture of continuous improvement and lead by example* Utilize tools such as DMAIC, SMED, 5S, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping to streamline processes.* Stay current with industry best practices and emerging trends in continuous improvement via web research, trade shows, or other methods of research and insight* Engage and drive DFM functions aligning product Engineering outputs with Manufacturing needed and Manufacturing Engineering inputs* Prepare and present regular reports on the status and impact of continuous improvement projects to senior management **Requirements:*** Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operational execution, supply chain, business administration or another relevant field* 8+ years of experience within manufacturing organizations in engineering and/or operational leadership roles.* Demonstrated progression in responsibility, scope, and organizational impact throughout career advancement.* Experience in one or more of the following environments is preferred: Electrical manufacturing and assembly operations, OEM or blended OEM/contract manufacturing organizations, Large, matrixed organizations with multiple manufacturing facilities, Global manufacturing operations and/or unionized manufacturing environments* Candidates with a combination of engineering, operations, and manufacturing leadership experience in complex, multi-site organizations are strongly preferred.* Willingness to travel up to 20% domestically and 20% internationally. **Skills & Competencies*** Change agent - motivated, energetic and passionate about change with ability to sell change and gain buy in from stakeholders* Strong knowledge and approach of leveraging data and tangible information to drive improvements utilizing KPI measurements* Expertise in leveraging lean six-sigma tools and methodologies.* Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.* Cross functional partnering in a matrixed organization* Ability to multitask balancing both tactical day-to-day tasks and conceptual strategy development concurrently* Ability to identify and leverage resources outside of function to complete actions* Proven problem-solving and decision-making skills.* Commitment to People, Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost mindset. *Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.*The Salary range for this position is $107,650.00-$137,150.00.The specific Salary rate offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location.