Manufacturing Technology & Continuous Improve

Lex Products; Shelton (CT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Lex Products is looking for a Manufacturing Technology & Continuous Improvement Specialist to enhance manufacturing operations through technology and data analysis. This role involves developing solutions to improve material flow, planning, and overall performance.

The ideal candidate should have experience in a manufacturing environment and expertise in ERP/MRP systems, as well as strong skills in Microsoft applications like Power BI and Excel. Responsibilities include analyzing operational data and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably with a focus on operations and supply chain.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems that support multiple business functions.
• Advanced capability with Microsoft applications, including Excel and Power BI.

Responsibilities

• Develop and support technology-based solutions for manufacturing improvements.
• Analyze data to identify opportunities for process enhancements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on various performance metrics.

Skills

Data analysis

Continuous improvement

ERP/MRP knowledge

Lean manufacturing

Microsoft Excel

Collaboration skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Power BI

SQL

Microsoft 365

Job description

The Manufacturing Technology & Continuous Improvement Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and supporting technology-enabled solutions that improve manufacturing operations, material flow, planning, execution, communication, and overall business performance.

This role serves as a hands‑on continuous improvement and technology resource for the operation. The position combines manufacturing knowledge, data analysis capability, ERP/MRP understanding, Microsoft application expertise, and practical process improvement skills.

Analyze operational data, identify areas of opportunity, prioritize improvement actions based on business impact, and support implementation across multiple levels of the organization. Works directly with hourly production employees, supervisors, functional leaders, and executive leadership.

Strong understanding of how cross‑functional areas within a manufacturing business interact, including operations, supply chain, planning, purchasing, inventory, engineering, quality, finance, customer service, and IT. Solutions developed in this role must consider the full system impact, not just isolated process improvements.

This position is intended to be the technology‑savvy continuous improvement resource for the operation, with a particular focus on using data, systems, and practical process improvement to improve value delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Technology & Systems Improvement

Develop, implement, and support technology-based solutions that improve manufacturing operations, production visibility, planning, scheduling, material flow, inventory control, and performance management.

Use Microsoft tools, ERP/MRP systems, and other business applications to create practical solutions that improve speed, accuracy, visibility, accountability, and decision‑making.

Support the development of dashboards, reports, workflows, trackers, planning tools, and operational management systems that improve daily execution and leadership visibility.

Evaluate current processes and systems to identify gaps, manual workarounds, data integrity issues, reporting limitations, and opportunities for automation, standardization, or simplification.

Work with operations, supply chain, planning, engineering, quality, finance, customer service, and IT to ensure technology solutions address real business needs and can be sustained in daily operations.

Data Analysis & Opportunity Identification

Analyze manufacturing, inventory, supply chain, quality, delivery, labor, and financial data to identify areas of opportunity.

Translate data into clear insights, recommended actions, priorities, and expected business impact.

Help prioritize improvement activities based on value, urgency, feasibility, risk, and timing of benefit delivery.

Develop methods to measure the effectiveness of implemented improvements, including baseline performance, target conditions, and follow‑up performance tracking.

Present data and recommendations in a clear, practical manner that supports decision‑making at multiple levels of the organization.

Continuous Improvement & Process Support

Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on manufacturing performance, material flow, lead time reduction, inventory accuracy, schedule adherence, labor productivity, quality, and on‑time delivery.

Apply Lean, problem‑solving, root cause analysis, and process improvement methods to help eliminate waste, variation, rework, delays, and inefficiencies.

Develop practical standard work, process controls, visual management tools, and daily management systems that support sustained improvement.

Ensure improvements are designed with a full‑system perspective, considering impacts across production, planning, purchasing, inventory, quality, engineering, finance, customer service, and the customer.

Support process owners and functional leaders in implementing improvements and sustaining new ways of working.

Materials Flow & Planning Support

Analyze and improve material flow in a non‑vertically integrated manufacturing environment, where supplier performance, purchased components, inventory availability, planning discipline, and production execution are all critical to operational success.

Support improvements in inventory visibility, material availability, shortage management, order release, production scheduling, and supplier‑driven constraints.

Work with planning, purchasing, operations, and warehouse personnel to improve the connection between demand, material availability, capacity, and production priorities.

Help develop tools and processes that improve the organization’s ability to make realistic commitments and execute against them.

Identify opportunities to reduce friction, delays, and information gaps between functional areas that impact production flow and customer delivery.

Change Support & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

Support change management efforts across all levels of the organization, including hourly assemblers, team leads, supervisors, functional leaders, and executive leadership.

Communicate clearly with stakeholders to explain the purpose, benefits, process changes, and expected behaviors associated with new tools and improvements.

Train and support users to ensure new processes, reports, dashboards, and systems are adopted effectively and sustained over time.

Build trust with frontline employees by understanding the realities of daily work and designing solutions that are practical, usable, and helpful.

Influence through data, business logic, collaboration, credibility, and hands‑on support.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably with exposure to production operations, planning, supply chain, inventory, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and how they support order management, purchasing, inventory, planning, scheduling, production, and shipping.
• Advanced capability with Microsoft applications, including Excel, Power BI, Power Query, SharePoint, Teams, Planner, Lists, Forms, and other Microsoft 365 tools. Phyton and SQL knowledge is a plus.
• Strong data analysis skills, including the ability to clean, organize, interpret, visualize, and explain operational data.
• Demonstrated ability to identify business problems, structure analysis, recommend solutions, and support implementation.
• Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, standard work, and visual management.
• Ability to work effectively with hourly employees, supervisors, technical resources, functional leaders, and executives.
• Strong communication, organization, follow‑up, and problem‑solving skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Information Systems, Business Analytics, or a related field preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing dashboards, operational scorecards, planning tools, or production management systems.
• Experience with Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps, SQL, DAX, VBA, or other automation/reporting tools.
• Experience improving material flow, inventory accuracy, production scheduling, shortage management, or shop floor execution.
• Experience in a low‑volume/high‑mix, assembly‑based, engineered‑to‑order, or non‑vertically integrated manufacturing environment.
• Formal Lean, Six Sigma, project management, or continuous improvement training.
• Experience supporting ERP/MRP improvement, data cleanup, planning discipline, or system implementation projects.

This position requires access to export‑controlled information. Candidates must be a U.S. Person as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.15 and/or may require licensure under ITAR/EAR.