Operation Excellence Technician I- 1st Shift

COV Covidien LP; Plymouth (MN); On-site; USD 44,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off

Job summary

Medtronic in Plymouth, MN is seeking an Operational Excellence Technician I to support lean manufacturing initiatives on the shop floor. You will work with production, engineering and operations teams to deploy 5S and visual management improvements that boost safety, quality, delivery and productivity.

The role focuses on cycle time studies, work observations and structured problem-solving to sustain standard work and drive continuous improvement across the manufacturing floor.

Qualifications

• No formal education requirement for this role.
• Lean manufacturing experience is preferred.
• Familiarity with 5S, visual management and waste reduction.

Responsibilities

• Support deployment of lean manufacturing initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Implement and sustain 5S, visual management, cable management, and other workplace organization systems.
• Participate in kaizen events and continuous improvement projects to improve operational performance.
• Conduct cycle time studies, work observations, and process analysis to identify improvement opportunities.
• Assist engineering and operations teams in developing and implementing manufacturing improvements.
• Support problem‑solving activities using structured improvement methodologies.
• Install, repair, maintain, or upgrade manufacturing aids and infrastructure that support production operations.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to sustain improvements and standard work practices.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

5S

Visual management

Cycle time studies

Kaizen

Problem solving

Education

No minimum education requirement

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 2 Oct 2026 Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first — developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact. A Day in the Life At Plymouth Nathan Lane, we manufacture life-sustaining stents, catheters, and medical devices supporting Medtronic's Peripheral Vascular Health Operating Unit. The Operational Excellence (OPEX) team partners closely with Manufacturing Operations to drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, quality, delivery, and productivity across the site. This role is based in Plymouth, Minnesota and requires hands-on support within the manufacturing environment. The position is onsite five days per week and collaborates with production, engineering, and operations teams to implement lean manufacturing solutions and improve operational performance. The Operational Excellence Technician I supports manufacturing improvement initiatives by applying lean manufacturing principles, conducting shop floor observations, and implementing practical solutions that improve efficiency and workflow. This role works closely with operations and engineering teams to identify opportunities, support problem‑solving activities, and sustain continuous improvement efforts across the manufacturing floor.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support deployment of lean manufacturing initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Implement and sustain 5S, visual management, cable management, and other workplace organization systems.
• Participate in kaizen events and continuous improvement projects to improve operational performance.
• Conduct cycle time studies, work observations, and process analysis to identify improvement opportunities.
• Assist engineering and operations teams in developing and implementing manufacturing improvements.
• Support problem‑solving activities using structured improvement methodologies.
• Install, repair, maintain, or upgrade manufacturing aids and infrastructure that support production operations.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to sustain improvements and standard work practices.

Required Qualifications

• 0 years of relevant technical experience
• No Minimum Education requirement.
• For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience applying lean manufacturing tools and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of 5S principles, visual management, and the eight wastes of lean manufacturing.
• Experience conducting cycle time studies, work measurement, or process analysis activities.
• Yellow Belt certification or experience supporting structured problem‑solving initiatives.
• Effective communication and presentation skills when working with cross‑functional teams.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word.

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position. The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co‑workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.

U.S. Work Authorization & Sponsorship

At Medtronic, we are committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive and make a meaningful impact. In alignment with our enterprise‑wide workforce planning approach, U.S. work authorization sponsorship (H‑1B, TN, J, etc.) is offered exclusively for Principal‑level roles and above, where specialized expertise aligns with long‑term business needs. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and for the duration of employment.

Benefits & Compensation

Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage. Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$44,000.00 - $66,000.00 This position is eligible for a short‑term incentive called the Operations Incentive Plan (OIP). The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification/education, market conditions, and location. Compensation and benefits information pertain solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others).

• Health, Dental and vision insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Life insurance, Long‑term disability leave, Dependent daycare spending account, Tuition assistance/reimbursement, and Simple Steps (global well‑being program).
• Incentive plans, 401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match, Short‑term disability, Paid time off, Paid holidays, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Employee Assistance Program, Non‑qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums), and Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums).
• Regular employees are those who are not temporary, such as interns. Temporary employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico.

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

For sales reps and other patient facing field employees, going into a healthcare settingis considered an essential function of the job and we expect our employees to comply with all credentialing requirements at the hospitals or clinics they support.

This employer participates in the federal E‑Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E‑Verify program, please click here.

We lead global healthcare technology and boldly attack the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people. We are engineers at heart— putting ambitious ideas to work to generate real solutions for real people. From the R&D lab, to the factory floor, to the conference room, every one of us experiments, creates, builds, improves and solves. We have the talent, diverse perspectives, and guts to engineer the extraordinary. We change lives. Each team member, each day, helps to improve and redefine how the world treats the most pressing health conditions, from heart disease to diabetes. Our industry leadership comes from the passion and ingenuity of our people. That’s who we are. Working alongside one another, we use science, medicine, and a profound understanding of the human body to build extraordinary technologies that can transform lives. We build extraordinary solutions as one team. With one Medtronic Mindset defining how we work. Speed and decisiveness run through our DNA. Diverse perspectives inspire our bold answers to any challenge that comes our way. And we deliver results the right way, breakthrough after patient breakthrough. This life‑changing career is yours to engineer. By bringing your ambitious ideas, unique perspective and contributions, you will… Build a better future, amplifying your impact on the causes that matter to you and the world Grow a career reflective of your passion and abilities Connect to a dynamic and inclusive culture that welcomes the challenge of life‑long learning These commitments set our team apart from the rest: Experiences that put people first. Respect for people is the hallmark of our humanity. It fuels our team to positively impact even a single life. And it means we put our people first at Medtronic as well, creating a culture of belonging and always pushing to get you the career‑building resources you need. Life‑transforming technologies. No matter your role, you contribute to technologies that transform lives. What we build empowers patients to live life on their terms. Better outcomes for our world. Here, it’s about more than the bottom line. Our Mission to improve human welfare drives us. We advance healthcare, society, and equity with every design, inside and outside our walls. Insight‑driven care. Fresh viewpoints. Cutting‑edge AI, data, and automation. You're shaping the future of healthcare technology and defining the next generation of breakthroughs in care.