Senior Process Improvement Engineer

Summer Classics; Claremont (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision plans

Employer-paid disability

401(k) plan with company match

Employee Assistance Program and Chapl

Paid sick leave, vacation, holidays, &

Job summary

Summer Classics in North Carolina is seeking a Process Improvement Engineer to champion Lean initiatives on our upholstery production floor. You will partner with production teams to study workflows, labor performance, and material flow across cutting, sewing, upholstery, assembly, and finishing.

The ideal candidate is hands-on, data-driven, and focused on delivering measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, and efficiency through practical, sustainable solutions on the shop floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or related field.
• 3–7 years of manufacturing/process improvement experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with Lean methods preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conducts time studies and workflow analysis to support labor standards.
• Analyzes processes to document improvements and estimate gains.
• Supports staffing and labor utilization analysis based on volumes.
• Leads kaizen events and structured problem-solving efforts.
• Collaborates with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Planning teams.
• Tracks improvement metrics and reports results to leadership.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Ergonomics

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Job description

Job Description

We’re seeking a results-driven Process Improvement Engineer to support Lean and continuous improvement initiatives within our upholstery manufacturing plant. This role partners closely with production teams to analyze workflows, labor performance, and material flow across cutting, sewing, upholstery, assembly, and finishing operations.

The ideal candidate is hands-on, data-driven, and energized by improving the craftsmanship-driven processes unique to upholstered furniture manufacturing—delivering measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, and labor efficiency through practical, sustainable solutions on the production floor.

Who We Are

Gabriella White is home to our family of brands - Gabby, Summer Classics, and Wendy Jane. We are growing in all areas of the business and are proud to be family-owned and operated since 1987. Together, we furnish life's best moments, from the every day to the exceptional. We are united by our vision as well as our collective spirit and our culture is shaped by our core values: Dedication – Enthusiasm – Synergy – Integrity – Goal-Oriented – Nimble, or simply put DESIGN.

As a premier innovator, manufacturer, and retailer of luxury furniture and accessories, our brands are loved by designers and design-minded consumers for creating timeless outdoor living and transitional, eclectic furniture and accessories for every part of the home. We’re always looking for talented people to join our team and grow together.

What We Offer

• Competitive health, dental, and vision plans
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability.
• 401(k) plan with company match after 12 months
• Employee Assistance Program and Chaplain Services to support mental and emotional well-being
• Paid sick leave, vacation, holidays, and parental time
• Generous employee product purchase discount

What You Do

• Conducts time studies and workflow analysis to support labor standards and identify improvement opportunities within assigned manufacturing areas.
• Analyzes manufacturing processes to recommend and document process improvements and estimate efficiency, quality, or safety gains from revised methods.
• Supports staffing and labor utilization analysis based on anticipated volumes and departmental constraints.
• Supports justification for small‑scale equipment, tooling, or process changes intended to improve safety, efficiency, quality, or ergonomics.
• Creates reports and summaries highlighting departmental performance, process gaps, and recommended improvement actions.
• Supports manufacturing layout and workstation improvements to enhance material flow, productivity, ergonomics, and safety.
• Leads and supports continuous improvement projects within assigned production areas, including kaizen events and structured problem‑solving efforts.
• Supports cost and labor analysis for new or revised SKUs at the departmental level, including routing assumptions and capacity impacts.
• Supports production flow improvements intended to reduce cycle time, improve throughput, and stabilize delivery performance within assigned areas.
• Tracks and reports improvement metrics at the project or department level and communicate results to operations leadership.
• Identifies and analyzes causes of inefficiency, quality losses, scrap, rework, or delays within assigned manufacturing processes and support root cause analysis.
• Collaborates with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Planning teams to standardize processes and implement sustainable improvements.
• Supports assigned manufacturing departments or production areas, such as cutting, sewing, upholstery, assembly, finishing, or packing.
• Focuses on improving departmental or value‑stream performance rather than enterprise‑wide system optimization.
• Leads and supports local continuous improvement initiatives that balance labor efficiency, quality, safety, and delivery performance.
• Supports product cost rolls by validating labor standards, routing accuracy, and process assumptions to ensure accurate standard cost development and ongoing cost integrity.
• Collaborates with Product Development and Engineering during new product introduction to evaluate manufacturability, establish preliminary labor standards, identify process risks, and support smooth production launch.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field required.
• Three to seven years of experience in manufacturing, industrial engineering, or process improvement roles required.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong computer and organizational skills; proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel required.
• Ability to analyze data, develop basic performance metrics, and communicate insights to cross‑functional teams.
• Strong problem‑solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence improvement outcomes without direct authority.
• Ability to analyze jobs and implement improvements to ergonomics, safety, and efficiency.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or structured problem‑solving methodologies preferred.

How Success Is Measured

• Continuous Improvement projects completed on schedule within assigned areas
• Labor efficiency versus standard at the line or department level
• Cycle time or lead‑time reduction within assigned processes
• Scrap, rework, or defect rate reduction
• Safety or ergonomic risk reductions resulting from improvement initiativesSustainment of standard work and improved methods over time