Continuous Improvement Engineer

The Clemens Food Group•Coldwater, MI

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Engineer will be responsible for developing tools to analyze and maximize capacity, leveraging these tools to facilitate decision-making, and identifying, recommending, and communicating potential solutions. This role involves investigating capacity concerns related to increased sales, performing capital justification, and return on investment reviews for new processes or equipment. The engineer will drive improvements in VA and Fresh margins by identifying key input drivers such as Yield and Labor. Responsibilities include leading 'Process Change' utilization, making recommendations for portfolio optimization, and supporting sales initiatives as an engineer on new product development teams. The role also involves reviewing and approving area changes, leading cross-functional teams for issue resolution, and collaborating with the Supply Chain team on system improvements. The engineer will act as a technical resource to optimize operations performance, apply advanced troubleshooting skills using root cause analysis, and implement methods for improving worker efficiency and reducing waste. Strong communication skills are essential for change management, and the role involves identifying and challenging Operations labor trends for improvement opportunities. Establishing relationships with key vendors, utilizing lean manufacturing tools, and providing CI tools training to operations supervisors are also key aspects. The engineer will perform standard audits, conduct time studies, yield and material studies, and packaging studies, and create/maintain SOPs for IE functions. Participation in new item development, including costing and spec optimization, and creation/maintenance of performance management tools are required. The role also includes maintaining standard crewing, staying current with IE best practices, supporting safety performance, and participating in company development programs and meetings. This role requires 15% domestic travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in Agricultural Engineering or closely related field.
Two (2) years of experience as an Operational Excellence Manager, Production Supervisor, or related role.
One (1) year of experience in SAP proficiency.
One (1) year of experience in MS Suite proficiency.
One (1) year of experience in Lean Manufacturing principles (ex: Kaizen, Time Studies, RCA, A3).
One (1) year of experience in KPI Reporting.
Six Sigma green belt certified (or similar).

Responsibilities

Develop tools to analyze and maximize capacity.
Leverage capacity tools to facilitate decision making; identify, recommend and communicate potential solutions.
Investigate capacity concerns related to increased sales.
Perform capital justification, return on investment reviews for new processes or equipment.
Drive improvement in VA and Fresh margins, identify inputs driving variances (Yield, Labor).
Lead 'Process Change' utilization.
Make recommendations for portfolio optimization including a pipeline of projects.
Support sales initiatives as engineer on new product development teams.
Review and approve area changes including product specification, equipment/process and new products.
Lead cross functional teams for timely resolution of tactical and strategical issues.
Collaborate with Supply Chain team on implementing system improvements.
Act as area technical resource to optimize and improve operations performance as related to our KPI’s and products.
Apply advanced trouble shooting skills utilizing root cause analysis for quality, breakdowns, and process deviations.
Implement methods for improving worker efficiency and reducing waste of materials and utilities including restructuring job duties, reorganizing workflow, relocating workstations and equipment, technology and purchase of equipment.
Identify and challenge Operations labor trends for opportunities for improvement i.e. Overtime leading to additional shifts or creative scheduling improvements.
Establish relationships with key vendors to leverage and apply their key knowledge and expertise.
Utilize lean manufacturing tools, SPC/Analytics, Kaizen Events, Line Balancing, value stream mapping to drive the development and implementation of cost and quality improvement projects for the plant.
Provide CI tools training to operations supervisors.
Perform standard audit for assigned process area on a yearly basis.
Perform time studies for labor standards; Yield and material standards; and Packaging Standard for film and ingredients.
Create and maintain SOP's for IE functions.
Perform indirect and PF&D labor analysis.
Maintain central location of all IE related information pertaining to inputs of labor utilization.
Participate in new item development process - ownership of costing development & minimum pricing expectations, spec optimization recommendations (i.e. trim levels, pump levels, packaging).
Creation and maintenance of performance management tools (DSC, Hourly Production).
Maintain standard crewing for operations.
Staying current with IE best practices and recommend opportunities for implementation.
Support safety performance.
Participate in CFG sponsored personal development programs.
Support companywide initiatives.
Participate in the weekly activity tracking meeting.