Lean Manufacturing Engineer

Summit Polymers, Inc. • Vicksburg, MI

4d

About The Position

The SLMS Engineer is a technical, plant-floor-focused leadership position responsible for improving manufacturing operations across the plant using the Summit Lean Manufacturing System (SLMS), developed from the Toyota Production System. The role is hands-on and emphasizes implementing SLMS in manufacturing processes. The successful candidate is humble, eager to learn from shop-floor experience and production team members, self-motivated, and capable of gathering and analyzing information to support decisions. Project management, leadership, initiative, problem-solving, communication, mathematics, and Microsoft Excel capabilities are needed. The role includes occasional travel to other Summit Polymers plants, typically less than 5%.

Requirements

• Engineering or related degree, or three 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 with and coach employees at all levels, from plant-floor operators to plant management.
• Microsoft Office skills, including Excel and Word.
• Minimum Wonderlic Select Assessment score of 50, including 26 on the Cognitive section.
• Problem-solving, communication, mathematics, project-management, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of SLMS in all areas of the facility.
• Conduct routine SLMS audits and lead related kaizen activities.
• Analyze manufacturing methods to improve processes, balance work, and reduce costs using kaizen principles and standardized-work development tools.
• Teach SLMS principles and concepts in classroom and shop-floor settings to plant employees, from floor employees to 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 areas, 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 through practice.
• 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
• Career Level: Mid Level