Lean Manufacturing Engineer

Summit Polymers • Vicksburg, MI

3d

About The Position

The SLMS Engineer is a hands-on, technical plant-floor leadership role focused on improving manufacturing operations throughout the plant using the Summit Lean Manufacturing System (SLMS), developed from the Toyota Production System. The role involves implementing SLMS in manufacturing processes and learning from shop-floor experience and production-team members. It requires analytical ability, initiative, project-management and leadership skills, problem-solving, communication, mathematical skills, and Microsoft Excel capability.

The engineer leads SLMS implementation, audits, and kaizen activities; analyzes manufacturing methods for process improvement, work balance, and cost reduction; teaches SLMS principles to employees at all levels; and manages projects and plant-floor layouts. The role also involves developing understanding of SLMS theory and application, identifying and eliminating waste, and learning to coach others through hands-on practice. Occasional travel to other SPI plants is required, typically less than 5%. Other duties may be assigned by the General Manager, and the employee must complete required post-hire training.

Requirements

• Engineering or related degree, or 3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to gather and analyze information and make decisions from a limited number of choices.
• Ability to communicate effectively and coach employees at all levels, from plant-floor operators to plant management.
• Capability with Microsoft Office products, including Excel and Word.
• Minimum score of 50 on the Wonderlic Select Assessment, including 26 on the Cognitive section.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of SLMS in all areas of the facility.
• Conduct routine SLMS audits and lead corresponding kaizen activities.
• Analyze manufacturing methods for process improvement, work balance, and cost reduction using kaizen principles and standardized-work development tools.
• Teach SLMS principles and concepts in classroom and shop-floor settings to employees from plant-floor roles through plant management.
• Lead and manage projects independently, including making independent decisions on the shop floor.
• Develop and maintain plant-floor layouts.
• Travel occasionally to other SPI plants.
• Understand the theory and application of SLMS, including Jidoka, JIT, stability, True North, standardized work, pull systems, problem solving, and material and information flow.
• Identify and eliminate waste throughout the plant.
• Learn to organize shop-floor activities and coach others to learn SLMS by doing.
• Combine classroom and shop-floor learning.
• Perform other duties as required by the General Manager.
• Complete all required post-hire training.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time