Specialist, Continuous Improvement

Cooper Standard Automotive; Oscoda Township (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooper Standard is seeking a proactive Industrial Engineer with 1–4 years of experience to lead continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations in Michigan. The role focuses on workforce optimization, line balancing, space optimization, and layout design to maximize efficiency and reduce costs.

Responsibilities include capacity studies, BOM/Routing audits, SAP workflow management, and driving initiatives to reduce WIP and inventory while maintaining delivery performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with 1–4 years related experience, preferably in manufacturing or industrial facility.
• Lean manufacturing knowledge (Kanban, Kaizen, Material Flow, JIT, 8 Wastes, VSM) is required.
• Experience managing improvement projects with financial results and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement CI/IE projects to optimize workforce, space, layout, and overall efficiency.
• Conduct capacity studies and BOM & Routing audits.
• Manage SAP for labeling processes and system updates; ensure alignment with customer requirements and CS targets.
• Develop CI initiatives to reduce WIP, inventory, and finished goods without impacting delivery.
• Analyze plant margins and headcount to drive actionable improvements.
• Support lean principles across the plant and supervise project lifecycles from initiation to closure.

Skills

Pro-active

Leadership

Organizational skills

Communication

Team skills

Customer focus

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Tools

SAP

AutoCAD

Covisint

Job description

Position Summary:

Leading and implementation of improvement projects to maximize the use of the company’s resources, seeking cost reduction and optimizing processes flow, including but not limited to: work force optimization, line balancing, space optimization, layout designs, efficiency maximization, etc. Discusses with management, engineering, or other staff regarding manufacturing capabilities, production schedules and other to facilitate the processes.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conducts kaizen events using CI / IE methodologies to analyze and plan workforce utilization, space requirements, workflow, ergonomics, and layout of equipment and workspace for maximum efficiency. Ensures that processes meet the customer’s expectations, standards and takt time and CS financial targets.
• Create and update capacity studies per customer requirements. (RASIC support with other areas)
• Calculates cycle time, work content in manufacturing cells and stations, plant process staffing requirements and costs.
• Manage SAP to create and modify the labelling process of all the plant.
• Develops CI initiatives to reduce inventory, work in process (WIP), raw materials, and finished goods without affecting customer delivery or decrease in volume.
• Analyses VCM & Plant Margin to develop actions to improve it.
• Analyses Authorized Head Count based on production releases and volume changes.
• Analyses Operational / Financial Efficiency, establishing audits to look for opportunities.
• BOM & Routing Audits to identify financial gaps.
• Create the “Description & Estimation Form” to update the system. (RASIC support with other areas)
• Update and maintain Plant’s layout
• Responsible of Packaging improvements and of calculating containerization for current and new programs, according to customer and CS requirements. (RASIC support with other areas)
• Support operations to meet the lean principles across the plant with all the members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Manage projects at each of their stages: initiating the project, learning about the needs of a business, engaging people from different parts of business, planning, monitoring, controlling, and closing a project.
• Support End of production activities, decommission of equipment.
• Promotes and Supports Employee Suggestion Program.
• Promote and supervise the proper use of system procedures and practices described and written in the administration system of Quality IATF16949 in what’s related to IE and CI.
• Complies with ISO 14001 in what’s related to IE and CI.
• Assist and participate in mandatory training sessions.
• Do the functions within the interior work guidelines and regulations, Code of conduct, follow Security rules and guidelines, comply with having a cleanliness and Hygienic general environment and follow other policies and procedures.
• Not limited to other functions assigned by immediate supervisor.

Education and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering discipline with one to four years directly related experience preferably in a manufacturing or industrial facility.
• Automotive experience preferred.
• Ability to perform method and time studies.
• Knowledge of Lean manufacturing techniques (Kanban, Kaizen, Material Flow, JIT, 8 Wastes, VSM)
• Ability to develop and implement manufacturing layout, processes, changes, equipment justifications and ergonomics evaluations.
• Ability to analyse equipment and processes in an industrial environment.
• Constraints Theory
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Experience in management of improvement projects with financial results and approaches.
• Fluent English spoken and written.
• Knowledge of MS Office.
• Knowledge of SAP and AutoCAD.
• Basic knowledge in Covisint or other customer portals.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Pro-active.
• Leadership skills
• Organizational, communication and team skills
• Commitment and Customer Focus

Cooper Standard is proud of its diverse workforce and committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, age, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are dedicated to creating an environment at work that not only values diversity but also encourages inclusion and a sense of belonging. We firmly believe that a diverse workplace fosters an environment where our employees can flourish and provide superior service to our customers.