Manufacturing Training & Documentation - Industrial Engineer

SGS Consulting; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SGS Consulting in Columbus, OH seeks a documentation-focused professional to capture and standardize manufacturing and warehouse processes. You will develop SOPs, work instructions, and training materials, translating complex activities into clear, operator-friendly guides with visuals and checklists.

The role requires strong technical writing, experience with production floor environments, and the ability to collaborate across operators, engineers, and quality teams to drive consistent training

Qualifications

• Experience developing SOPs, work instructions, OJT documentation, or training materials.
• Ability to observe manufacturing/warehouse processes and translate into concise instructions.
• Strong technical writing skills and ability to create operator-friendly materials.
• Experience working with hourly manufacturing or warehouse employees.
• Knowledge of Lean concepts such as standard work, 5S, and visual management.

Responsibilities

• Observe and document manufacturing, assembly, testing, warehouse, receiving, material handling, kitting, and inventory processes.
• Partner with operators, supervisors, engineers, quality, supply chain to document current processes.
• Develop SOPs, standard work instructions, OJT documents, training guides and qualification materials.
• Create training materials with photos, illustrations, process diagrams, and checklists.
• Identify inefficiencies and variation; support improvements in standard work.
• Facilitate process reviews and establish revision controls for training materials.
• Assist with onboarding, cross-training, and tracking training status.
• Conduct periodic floor audits to verify documentation matches practices.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Documentation skills

Technical writing

OJT documentation

Process mapping

Lean manufacturing

Communication

Tools

Word

Excel

Visio

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Responsibilities:

Observe and document manufacturing, assembly, testing, warehouse, receiving, material handling, kitting, and inventory processes.Partner directly with operators, supervisors, engineers, quality, supply chain, and other subject-matter experts to understand and document current processes.Develop clear, visual, operator-friendly:Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)Standard Work InstructionsOJT / Job Instruction documentsTraining guides and qualification materialsProcess flow documentationOne-point lessons and visual aidsChecklists and process verification documentsBreak complex processes into logical, sequential training steps that can be easily understood by new employees. Incorporate photographs, illustrations, screenshots, process parameters, quality checkpoints, safety requirements, and critical-to-quality steps into training materials. Identify inconsistencies, unnecessary process variation, unclear work instructions, and potential efficiency opportunities while documenting processes. Partner with Operations and Continuous Improvement teams to incorporate improved methods into standard work. Facilitate process reviews with operators and subject-matter experts to validate that documentation accurately reflects the approved process. Establish document revision controls and support an organized system for maintaining current training materials. Assist supervisors and trainers in implementing structured OJT programs and employee qualification processes. Develop training matrices and assist in tracking employee training and qualification status. Support new-hire onboarding and cross-training programs for manufacturing and warehouse employees. Conduct periodic floor audits to verify that documented standard work matches actual operating practices. Help create a sustainable process for updating training documentation when products, equipment, layouts, or processes change.

Skills:

3+ years of experience in manufacturing, warehouse operations, industrial training, technical writing, process engineering, continuous improvement, or a related field. Demonstrated experience developing SOPs, work instructions, OJT documentation, or manufacturing training materials. Ability to quickly understand manufacturing and warehouse processes through direct observation and employee engagement. Strong technical writing skills with the ability to convert complex processes into concise, operator-friendly instructions. Experience working directly with hourly manufacturing or warehouse employees. Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio or similar process-mapping tools. Ability to create professional visual documentation incorporating photographs and process diagrams. Understanding of Lean Manufacturing concepts such as standard work, waste elimination, 5S, visual management, process flow, and continuous improvement. The successful candidate should demonstrate:Strong floor presence and comfort working directly within manufacturing and warehouse environments. Ability to ask effective questions and extract process knowledge from experienced operators and technical experts. Strong organizational and project-management skills. Attention to detail and document accuracy. Ability to work independently and manage multiple documentation projects simultaneously. Effective communication across hourly employees, supervisors, engineers, and management. Continuous-improvement mindset with the ability to recognize opportunities while documenting processes. Practical approach to documentation - materials must be usable on the floor, not simply administratively complete.

Success in this assignment will be measured by the ability to:

Develop and/or update prioritized manufacturing and warehouse SOPs and OJT materials. Establish consistent templates and standards for site training documentation. Create visual, easy-to-follow work instructions for critical operational processes. Establish training and qualification matrices for applicable departments. Reduce reliance on tribal knowledge by converting operator knowledge into documented standard processes. Improve new-hire training effectiveness and time to competency. Identify and document process-improvement opportunities discovered during process observation. Establish a sustainable documentation and revision-control process that can be maintained by the site after completion of the assignment.

Education/Experience:

Experience with structured problem-solving methodologies such as 5 Whys, A3, 8D, or similar methods is preferred. Experience supporting regulated, ISO-certified, or quality-controlled manufacturing environments is preferred. Experience developing training matrices or qualification/certification programs is a plus.