Production engineering automation specialist.

Placon Corporation; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Placon Corporation in Madison, WI is seeking an experienced Operations Excellence Engineer to drive continuous improvement across our plastics manufacturing operations. You will partner with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance to raise safety, quality, productivity, and delivery performance.

The role focuses on applying Lean, Six Sigma, and data analysis to identify opportunities, lead Kaizen events, develop standards, and sustain visual management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred
• Experience in a manufacturing environment with hands-on process troubleshooting
• Knowledge of plastic materials
• Understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Knowledge of statistical analysis techniques and SPC

Responsibilities

• Drive meaningful operational improvements that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and delivery performance
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations
• Partner with diverse teams across Production, Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, cost, delivery, and employee engagement
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities through operational data, process observations, employee feedback, and performance trends
• Apply Lean manufacturing principles and tools to eliminate waste, reduce variation, improve process flow, and increase operational efficiency
• Improve production efficiencies through increased cycle rates and labor optimization methods
• Facilitate Kaizen events, improvement workshops, and cross-functional problem-solving activities
• Develop sustainable systems, standards, and problem-solving capabilities within Operations teams
• Ensure Daily Visual Management programs are implemented and utilized effectively
• Analyze operational performance data and drive corrective actions as needed

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Data analysis

Kaizen

SPC

Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering / Operations / Manufacturing

Job description

Job Description Operations Excellence Engineer

We're looking for an experienced Operations Excellence Engineer to support our Madison, WI manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for driving continuous improvement and operational excellence across manufacturing processes by partnering with Production, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and other cross‑functional teams. If you're passionate about Lean manufacturing, problem‑solving, data analysis, and delivering measurable operational improvements, this is an excellent opportunity to make a significant impact.

Full‑time exempt position.

• Drive meaningful operational improvements that enhance safety, quality, productivity, and delivery performance
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations
• Partner with diverse teams across Production, Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, cost, delivery, and employee engagement
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities through operational data, process observations, employee feedback, and performance trends
• Apply Lean manufacturing principles and tools to eliminate waste, reduce variation, improve process flow, and increase operational efficiency
• Improve production efficiencies through increased cycle rates and labor optimization methods
• Facilitate Kaizen events, improvement workshops, and cross‑functional problem‑solving activities
• Develop sustainable systems, standards, and problem‑solving capabilities within Operations teams
• Ensure Daily Visual Management programs are implemented and utilized effectively
• Analyze operational performance data and drive corrective actions as needed

Competitive Compensation, Comprehensive Benefits, And Career Growth Opportunities

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred
• Experience in a manufacturing environment with hands‑on process troubleshooting
• Knowledge of plastic materials
• Understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Knowledge of statistical analysis techniques and Statistical Process Control (SPC)

If you're a driven engineer who enjoys improving manufacturing processes, eliminating waste, optimizing performance, and helping teams achieve operational excellence, we'd love to hear from you.

In general, Placon does not sponsor candidates for non‑immigrant visas or permanent residency unless based on business need.

Placon is committed to equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or other protected characteristics.