Continuous Improvement Engineer (CI Engineer)

Job Summary

The CI engineer is responsible for implementing continuous improvement initiatives, analyzing existing processes, identifying areas for improvement, and leading kaizen activities to optimize operations and increase efficiency . They will collaborate with plant management to drive alignment, gain support, train personnel, and implement improvement initiatives. This high energy person should enjoy hands on participation and be able to development and coach others in the principles, practices, tools, and techniques of Lean/CI.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Lean COMPETENCES

• Develop his/her own competences and skills in tools and methodologies useful for the operation area.

• Train operation team members to lean tools, standards & methodologies & ensure that lean standards are known and applied properly.

• Participant regional/global kaizen week, share good practice kaizen workshops.

• Participant lean tool improvement working group, contribute the lean standard/tool improvement.

Lean STRATEGIES

• Ensure that lean rules are considered in new projects at an appropriate phase.

• Help the plant / production Manager to keep a continuous improvement mindset, behavior & policy, whatever the operational situation.

• Organize annual VSM going through the production and propose the yearly workshops list, as input of plant productivity saving projects/workshops.

• Help to define the lean strategy of the production and prepare the operation budget concerning lean targets & budget.

• Manage the deployment of lean system within the production: manage production self-assessment with production team members and improvement action plan.

• Deploy lean standards & best practices within the production team.

Lean GENBA ACTIVITIES

• Coach operation team members on application of lean tools and methodologies through On Job Training.

• Support workshop pilots, lead workshops and implement improvement proposals.

• Permanently help plant/production Manager to detect and react to non-conformances against lean standards.

• Manage the maintenance of lean tools through appropriate audits (like 5S, Kanban audits, leader standard work) : audit organization, performance & follow up.

• Prepare & organize the weekly production lean committee (incl. agenda proposal) lead by the Production Manager, review kaizen workshop progress on Gemba and write the minute.

• Check regularly in-depth the proper deployment of lean in the operation area.

• Support kaizen workshop pilots on methodology and results achievement.

• Lead himself/herself permanently workshops and implement improvement proposals.

• Permanently promote the lean principles.

Lean RESULTS

• Ensure a lean reporting, Tier metrics are correct. Support plant manager establish productivity score cards accountability

• Quarterly lean mission report, share with site management team kaizen workshop status and saving achievements. Last quarter completed workshop, next quarter planned workshop, year to day saving summary, etc.

• Sharing and deployment of best practices from internal / external Sites / Plants.

Qualification/Requirements:

• A minimum of 3 years teaching, coaching, and Hands-on applying Lean principles, tools, and techniques within a manufacturing environment and achievement of significant results.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills. Must have facilitated multiple Kaizen events and delivered results against stated objectives

• A change agent that possesses the ability to influence decision making and build critical relationships in a manufacturing organization.

• Passion and enthusiasm for driving improvement and leading change

• Proven track record for developing, training, and coaching teams

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Strong leadership, ability to engage people and motivate them to meet/exceed goals and objectives and the ability to develop others.

• Experience with automation applications and implementation a plus

• At least 2 years with demonstrated success in manufacturing and /or supply chain experience plus lean training. Knowledge and practice experience of the following tools:

o 5S & Zoning, visual management

o Standard work and cycle time measurement

o Muda Hunting

o SMED

o TPM

o Excel, PowerPoint

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, or related manufacture experience.

• Car automotive (Toyota, etc.) lean experience is preferred