Industrial Engineer Specialist

World’s Finest Chocolate•Chicago, IL

38d•$102,000 - $107,000•Onsite

About The Position

As Industrial Engineer Specialist , you'll be a catalyst for transformation in our manufacturing operations. This is a high-impact role where you'll lead cross-functional teams to eliminate waste, reduce variation, and drive measurable operational excellence using Lean, Six Sigma, and practical CI methodologies. What makes this role unique: Direct influence on a multi-million-dollar waste reduction initiative Hands-on leadership across six value streams in an active manufacturing environment Partnership with 120+ team members who are hungry for improvement Understand Autonomy to turn frontline ideas into tangible results that improve efficiency and reduce costs

Requirements

Industrial, manufacturing, engineering, business degree or comparable hands-on manufacturing improvement experience
2+ years leading people or teams in operations, engineering, or CI roles
5 to 8 years of experience in high volume manufacturing, preferably some Food and Beverage, confectionery, or CPG with high speed packaging and frequent changeovers.
Proven Lean or continuous improvement application in manufacturing; proficiency with Excel, dashboards, and manufacturing data systems
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; high mechanical, digital, and emotional intelligence; effective facilitation and influence across all organizational levels

Nice To Haves

Six Sigma Green Belt or higher
Formal Lean Manufacturing training or certification
SAP or similar ERP experience
Digital productivity systems experience (RedZone or equivalent)

Responsibilities

Drive Measurable Operational Excellence
Lead value stream improvement activities that deliver quantifiable waste reduction and productivity gains
Facilitate Kaizen events, waste walks, and focused improvement initiatives with clear ROI
Implement and sustain 5S and visual management systems across all value streams
Conduct daily Gemba walks, converting observations into prioritized action plans
Identify and eliminate the 7 wastes from daily operations
Build Systems and Standards
Champion RedZone (our productivity data collection system), providing technical support and troubleshooting
Partner with operations and IT to ensure data integrity drives better decision-making
Create and maintain Standard Work documentation in engaging, multimedia formats
Develop audit systems to ensure standards are trained, followed, and continuously improved
Build and maintain site loss trees and "Loss Intelligence" dashboards that cover scrap, speed loss, micro stops, changeover loss, rework, and unplanned downtime by line and value stream.
Analyze MTBF, MTTR, and failure mode Pareto charts for critical assets, and translate findings into actionable recommendations for PM content, frequency, and SMED or design changes.
Conduct time and motion studies and work sampling to identify waste and to validate or reset standards.
Develop People and Culture
Train teams in Root Cause Analysis, 5 Why, Fishbone diagrams, and structured problem-solving
Coach leaders and frontline employees to use data, visual management, and standard work
Transform employee improvement ideas into implemented solutions—closing the loop with teams
Build a culture where continuous improvement is simply "how we work"
Strong floor presence and credibility with operators, mechanics, and supervisors, combined with the ability to present clearly to executives.
Strong facilitation and influencing skills, able to lead cross functional work without direct authority.
Ensure Safety and Quality Excellence
Proactively identify and eliminate safety hazards through preventive action
Support execution of WFC's HACCP Plan and food safety objectives
Model positive safety behaviors and maintain GMP standards
Integrate safety and quality into every improvement initiative