Lean Continuous Improvement Manager

Piston Automotive•Romulus, MI

10d

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for leading plant-wide continuous improvement initiatives with primary accountability for driving performance improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP). This role establishes and standardizes core Industrial Engineering (IE) processes and standards while developing Manufacturing Engineers to build IE capability over time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, or related field
Minimum 7+ years of experience in manufacturing, with strong emphasis on Continuous Improvement and Industrial Engineering
Demonstrated experience deploying Lean manufacturing systems and structured problem-solving methodologies
Experience developing and implementing Industrial Engineering standards and processes
Proven ability to train, coach, and develop technical teams
Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills

Nice To Haves

Automotive industry (OEM or Tier 1) experience
Six Sigma Black Belt or Lean certification
Experience in high-volume, complex manufacturing environments
Experience in unionized manufacturing environments
Exposure to advanced manufacturing and automation environments

Responsibilities

Lead plant-wide continuous improvement aligned to Piston Group’s CI / Lean Strategy to improve business objectives and SQDCP performance targets
Drive implementation and sustainment of Lean manufacturing systems, including daily management, standard work, and waste elimination
Identify and eliminate operational losses using data, structured problem solving, and root cause analysis
Coach and lead cross-functional teams in Kaizen events, problem-solving workshops, and improvement projects
Establish and sustain KPI management systems, including tiered accountability and performance escalation processes
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, inventory reduction, flow optimization, and productivity improvement
Ensure alignment and integration of CI activities with plant operations, quality, maintenance, and supply chain functions
Lead development of a continuous improvement culture through training, coaching, and leadership engagement
Track and report improvement initiatives with clear ownership, timelines, and measurable impact
Define, develop, and standardize core Industrial Engineering processes, tools, and methodologies across the plant
Establish standards for: Labor planning and line balancing, Standard work and work measurement, Capacity analysis and modeling, Layout optimization and material flow design
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to deploy IE standards into production environments
Train and coach Manufacturing Engineers to develop core IE competencies and ownership of these processes
Provide hands-on support and mentoring on IE tools, including time studies, line balancing, and throughput analysis
Support development of engineered labor standards and productivity models aligned with financial and operational targets
Ensure sustainability of IE practices through documentation, audits, and governance routines
Support engineered labor standards and productivity models
Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity metrics
Utilize data analytics to identify performance gaps and prioritize improvement initiatives
Establish performance baselines, targets, and tracking mechanisms for CI and IE initiatives
Support operational reviews with leadership by presenting progress, risks, and results
Coach, mentor, and develop cross-functional team members in CI and IE disciplines
Build organizational capability in Lean tools, structured problem-solving, and industrial engineering fundamentals
Foster a culture of accountability, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement
Support leadership teams in driving engagement and adoption of CI methodologies across all levels
Ensure all CI and IE activities align with plant safety and quality standards
Support root cause analysis and corrective actions related to safety incidents and quality issues
Drive compliance with company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements
Partner with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Manufacturing Engineering, and Materials teams to drive performance improvements
Support new program launches by ensuring process readiness, capacity alignment, and efficient production flow
Act as a key interface between CI strategy and shop-floor execution