Continuous Improvement Lead

P & F Industries•Cranberry Township, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Lead builds and runs the continuous-improvement program at Continental Tool Group’s Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania facility. Reporting to the General Manager, the role partners with Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and frontline teams to deliver measurable and sustained gains in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and inventory. This is a hands-on, outcomes-based role with significant time on the production floor. The CI Lead leads through influence rather than direct authority and develops Lean problem-solving capability among employees who run the operation. Annual targets are set with the General Manager and evaluated on a rolling 12-month basis. Within 90 days, the CI Lead is expected to establish baseline KPIs and a prioritized project pipeline aligned with plant SQDC goals. Within 12 months, the role is expected to establish a repeatable CI framework—including project chartering, tracking, and monthly results reviews—embedded in the facility’s operating rhythm. Success includes finance-validated savings, improved productivity and flow, reduced scrap and rework, better inventory and material flow, and sustained improvements supported by control plans. The role also trains supervisors and frontline teams and builds a culture of employee-led improvement, accountability, and fact-based decision-making. The position is based at the Cranberry Township facility and splits time between the office and manufacturing floor, with significant floor time and occasional travel. It is non-exempt and hourly; hours worked over 40 in a workweek are paid at overtime rates. The role requires prolonged standing and walking on concrete floors, the ability to lift up to 50 pounds, and use of required PPE. Work involves exposure to compressed-air systems, noise, oil mist, dust, and vibration. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.
At least 7 years of continuous-improvement, Lean manufacturing, operations, or process-improvement experience in a manufacturing environment.
A record of leading complex, cross-functional projects that delivered measurable, sustained results.
Strong command of Lean and structured problem-solving methods.
Hands-on experience with OEE, takt time, cycle-time analysis, line balancing, and capacity analysis.
Advanced Excel and data-analysis skills.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing data.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and project-management skills.
Ability to influence without authority and work effectively with both frontline teams and senior leadership.
Ability to perform the stated physical demands, including prolonged standing and walking, lifting up to 50 pounds, and using required PPE.

Nice To Haves

10 or more years of relevant experience preferred.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
Experience in discrete manufacturing of engineered products, machinery, tools, or industrial products.
Experience with multi-site or enterprise-wide improvement initiatives.
Experience with automation, manufacturing engineering, or capital projects.

Responsibilities

Build and own the continuous-improvement program by identifying and prioritizing opportunities, chartering projects, tracking progress, and reporting results and financial impact to the General Manager each month.
Lead Kaizen events and Lean projects from opportunity identification through sustainment, applying 5S, value stream mapping, standard work, visual management, SMED, Kanban, and waste elimination.
Lead structured problem solving with cross-functional teams using methods such as A3, 5-Why, Fishbone, Pareto, and DMAIC; ensure corrective actions address root causes and are sustained through control plans and follow-up.
Analyze cycle time, labor utilization, throughput, OEE, quality, and inventory data to quantify opportunities and validate results; develop operational KPIs and visual performance-management systems.
Partner with Engineering and Operations on layout, workstation, material-flow, tooling, and automation improvements; build ROI cases for capital projects; support new product introductions and process transfers.
Partner with Supply Chain and Planning to apply Lean methods to inventory, replenishment, warehouse, purchasing, and internal-logistics processes.
Coach supervisors, managers, and frontline employees in Lean principles and problem solving; promote ownership, accountability, and fact-based decisions.
Establish baseline KPIs and a prioritized project pipeline within 90 days, and develop a repeatable CI framework embedded in the facility’s operating rhythm within 12 months.
Work with the General Manager to set CI project priorities, scope, and resourcing; lead cross-functional project teams and approve changes to standard work, layouts, and visual systems in partnership with area owners.
Recommend capital and automation investments with supporting ROI, and escalate changes affecting customer commitments, product quality or safety requirements, or spending beyond delegated limits.
Train supervisors and frontline teams to agreed annual targets and increase employee-led improvements while sustaining 5S, standard work, and visual management as measured by audit scores.
Meet agreed scorecard outcomes, including documented savings, productivity and OEE, cycle and changeover time, scrap and rework, delivery, inventory turns and excess-and-obsolete reduction, project sustainment, training, and employee participation.