Continuous Improvement Engineer

About the Role

The Industrial Engineer will report directly to the Plant Manager with a primary focus on driving continuous improvement across the weld shop while supporting laser cutting, forming, paint, and assembly operations as needed. This role will partner closely with operations, engineering, quality, and production leadership to analyze current processes, perform cycle time studies, identify bottlenecks, reduce waste, and improve flow through the plant. The ideal candidate will be hands-on, data-driven, and comfortable spending time on the shop floor to turn observations into practical improvements that strengthen safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

What You'll Do

• Work with operations and new product engineering to ensure new product introductions meet production safety, quality, delivery, cost, and ramp targets.

• Lead continuous improvement efforts in the weld shop focused on improving flow, reducing waste, increasing throughput, and eliminating non-value-added activity.

• Perform cycle time studies, time observations, and process analysis to identify constraints, labor opportunities, bottlenecks, and standard work gaps.

• Partner with supervisors, leads, operators, and support teams to develop and implement practical shop-floor improvements that can be sustained by operations.

• Create, update, and maintain process documentation, standard work, work instructions, layouts, and visual management tools that support consistent execution.

• Use data to track improvement actions, validate results, and communicate progress against key operational metrics such as throughput, productivity, rework, scrap, and on-time delivery.

• Support new program launches by evaluating capacity, staffing, material flow, workstation readiness, and ramp plans before and after production start-up.

• Facilitate root cause analysis and problem-solving activities with cross-functional teams to address recurring production issues and drive corrective actions.

What You Bring

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent hands-on manufacturing experience may also be considered.

• Experience working in a manufacturing environment with regular time spent on the production floor partnering with operations, supervisors, leads, and operators.

• Demonstrated ability to perform cycle time studies, time observations, process mapping, and labor or capacity analysis.

• Working knowledge of continuous improvement methods such as value stream mapping, waste reduction, standard work, root cause analysis, 5S, and visual management.

• Ability to use data, shop-floor observations, and operator feedback to identify improvement opportunities and turn them into practical action plans.

• CAD experience with the ability to read drawings, review layouts, and support workstation, cell, or material flow improvements.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with production, engineering, quality, safety, maintenance, and leadership teams.

Preferred

• Experience supporting weld, fabrication, heavy equipment, metal forming, paint, assembly, or other industrial manufacturing operations.

• Experience supporting new product introductions, production launches, or ramp plans in a manufacturing environment.

• Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement training or certification.

• Experience with 2D & 3D CAD/layout tools.

• Experience building capacity models, labor standards, line balance studies, or production rate analyses.

You'll Thrive Here If You Can

• Spend meaningful time on the shop floor observing the work, asking questions, and building trust with operators and supervisors.

• Translate data, cycle time results, and value stream observations into clear priorities and focused improvement actions.

• Balance analytical thinking with practical execution in a fast moving manufacturing environment.

• Challenge the current state respectfully and help teams see better ways to organize work, materials, labor, and flow.

• Follow through on improvement ideas from initial observation through implementation, validation, and sustainment.

• Communicate clearly with people at every level of the organization, from operators on the floor to plant leadership.

• Stay curious, hands-on, and resilient when solving complex production problems.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

This position is based in a heavy equipment manufacturing facility and requires regular movement throughout an active production floor. With or without reasonable accommodation, the employee must be able to:

Mobility and Positioning

• Move independently throughout a large manufacturing plant and shop floor, including navigating around equipment, work cells, staged material, and uneven or obstructed surfaces

• Remain in a standing or walking position for extended periods while on the production floor

• Remain in a stationary position at a desk and operate a computer, keyboard, and telephone for extended periods

• Ascend and descend stairs; occasionally bend, stoop, reach, or crouch to inspect parts, materials, or work in progress

Sensory and Communication

• Communicate clearly and exchange accurate information in person, by phone, and in writing, including in a high-noise production environment

• Visually inspect parts, materials, documentation, and computer screens, including distinguishing detail on drawings and specifications

Lifting and Handling

• Occasionally move or lift objects weighing up to 20 pounds

• Regularly operate a computer and other standard office equipment

Work Environment

• Work is performed in both a climate-controlled office setting and an active manufacturing environment

• The production floor may involve exposure to moderate-to-loud noise, vibration, dust, welding fumes, temperature variation, and moving mechanical equipment

• Personal protective equipment (PPE), including but not limited to safety glasses, hearing protection, and safety-toe footwear, is required when on the shop floor, and adherence to all plant safety protocols is mandatory

Tools You'll Use

• 2D and 3D CAD or layout software to review drawings, update layouts, and support workstation, cell, and material flow improvements.

• Microsoft Excel and other data analysis tools to evaluate cycle times, capacity, labor requirements, production trends, and improvement results.

• Value stream maps, process maps, spaghetti diagrams, time studies, and standard work documents to understand current state and design improved future state processes.

• Lean and continuous improvement tools such as 5S, visual management, root cause analysis, waste walks, kaizen events, and problem-solving methods.

• ERP, MRP, MES, or other production systems to review routings, labor standards, work orders, production performance, inventory flow, and schedule attainment.

• Shop-floor observation, operator feedback, stopwatches, measurement tools, and hands-on engagement to validate what is actually happening in the process.

• Presentation and communication tools to summarize findings, recommend actions, and share progress with operations, engineering, quality, and plant leadership.