Thermoforming Process Improvement Technical Leader
About The Position
In this role, you are responsible for driving continuous improvement across thermoforming production lines while building sustainable processes that ensure long-term success. You act as a hands-on leader who not only identifies opportunities for improvement but also empowers others to execute and sustain those improvements. You serve as a key link between operations, engineering, and product development, using data and collaboration to enhance safety, quality, efficiency, and output. Your work directly contributes to optimizing production performance, reducing waste, and strengthening overall operational excellence. By coaching team members, leading improvement initiatives, and supporting innovation, you help create a culture where continuous improvement becomes part of daily operations. The value you bring lies in your ability to turn insights into action, develop technical expertise within the team, and ensure that improvements are both impactful and lasting.
Requirements
- Experience with large-scale thermoforming preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred but not required.
- Experience in plastics processing preferred.
- Strong self-motivation with effective organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
- Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
- Proficiency with standard computer tools (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Excel).
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Ability to lift up to 35 pounds with assistance as needed.
- Ability to climb ladders or steps regularly.
- Ability to hear and respond to alarms and verbal warnings in a manufacturing setting.
- Ability to work in overhead or awkward positions when necessary.
- Comfortable working in a non-climate-controlled, industrial environment that may be noisy, dusty, or smoky.
- Availability to be on-call across shifts as required.
- Ability to stand or walk for extended periods during an 8-hour shift.
Responsibilities
- Leads a small team to support the ongoing improvement and sustainability of thermoforming production lines, with a focus on safety, quality, material usage, machine availability, and production output.
- Provides coaching and technical guidance, developing team members into subject matter experts in thermoforming and maintenance while offering real-time support on the production floor.
- Analyzes data to identify improvement opportunities and supports the development and justification of projects and initiatives.
- Facilitates and leads continuous improvement activities, including structured problem-solving and process improvement methods such as root cause analysis and variation reduction.
- Monitors key performance metrics to identify daily improvement opportunities and drive annual performance gains.
- Partners with Project Engineering to identify, develop, and implement larger-scale improvements and capital projects.
- Collaborates with Product Development to support new product initiatives related to assigned production lines.
Benefits
- Medical, dental and vision plans
- Flexible time off, starting at 80 hours paid time per year for full-time salaried employees
- Company-paid holidays starting at 8 days per year and may vary by location
- Wellbeing program & Employee Assistance Program
- Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
- Life insurance, AD&D, short-term & long-term disability, and voluntary benefits
- Paid Parental Leave
- Retirement Savings Plan with company match
- Tuition Reimbursement (dependent upon approval)
- Discretionary annual bonus program (initial eligibility dependent upon hire date)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
