Manufacturing Continuous Improvement Lead

Goodwin Recruiting; Lansing (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive bonus

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Health and welfare benefits

11 paid holidays

Job summary

Goodwin Recruiting seeks an experienced Continuous Improvement Specialist to drive operational enhancements in a manufacturing setting in Illinois. You will partner across production, quality, engineering, and leadership to elevate safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

You will lead 5S, Kaizen, Lean initiatives, analyze production data and KPIs, develop metrics, and deliver sustained results through cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant manufacturing experience.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent experience.
• Proven success leading continuous improvement or process improvement projects.
• Hands-on experience with Lean manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, and root cause analysis.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and/or IATF 16949.
• Strong analytical skills and data/KPIs to drive decisions.
• Strong project management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Lean/Six Sigma training or certification and SAP experience are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects focused on productivity, quality, cost reduction, workflow, and operational efficiency
• Drive 5S, Kaizen, Lean, and structured problem-solving initiatives across manufacturing operations
• Analyze production data, KPIs, and process variation to identify improvement opportunities and root causes
• Develop and track performance metrics and measure results before and after improvements are implemented
• Partner with cross-functional teams to improve manufacturing processes and quality systems
• Lead projects from problem identification through implementation and sustained results
• Present findings, project results, and recommendations to leadership

Skills

Lean manufacturing

5S

Kaizen

Root cause analysis

Data analysis

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical field

Tools

SAP

Job description

Goodwin Recruiting seeks an experienced Continuous Improvement Specialist to drive operational enhancements in a manufacturing setting in Illinois. You will partner across production, quality, engineering, and leadership to elevate safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

You will lead 5S, Kaizen, Lean initiatives, analyze production data and KPIs, develop metrics, and deliver sustained results through cross-functional collaboration.