Lean Manufacturing Changeover Specialist

Bars Changeover Specialist – Lean Manufacturing

Job Type: Contract

Duration: 16 months

Pay: $66.66 per hour – W2

We are seeking a Bars Changeover Specialist to support Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives focused on reducing equipment and production changeover time.

This position will work directly with production-floor teams, platform teams, FSQ, Engineering, and department leadership to improve changeover processes while maintaining safety, quality, and food-safety standards.

The successful candidate will be comfortable spending significant time on the manufacturing floor observing processes, conducting experiments, coaching teams, and implementing improvements.

• Analyze current changeover processes and identify improvement opportunities.
• Identify longest-lead activities and develop strategies to reduce changeover duration.
• Develop standardized changeover procedures and task sequences.
• Improve pre-changeover preparation and resource allocation.
• Apply Lean and SMED principles to changeover activities.
• Use process mapping, Value Stream Mapping, 5 Whys, Fishbone analysis, and root-cause analysis.
• Partner with FSQ to understand cleaning requirements and risks.
• Identify opportunities to eliminate unnecessary cleaning and over-processing.
• Develop and test process improvements through controlled experiments.
• Evaluate equipment, tools, and processes for improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Engineering on capital improvement opportunities.
• Develop and maintain standard work and task flows.
• Coach operators and team leads on improved changeover practices.
• Benchmark best practices from other manufacturing sites and industries.
• Measure results and ensure improvements are sustained.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related technical field with 5+ years of manufacturing experience, OR
• High School Diploma/GED with 10+ years of related manufacturing experience.
• Hands-on manufacturing experience.
• Continuous Improvement/Lean Manufacturing experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing standard work and process improvements.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with operators, team leads, quality, engineering, and management.

• SMED or changeover reduction experience.
• Lean/Continuous Improvement certification or training.
• Food, beverage, CPG, pharmaceutical, medical device, or other regulated manufacturing experience.
• Cleaning/sanitation process optimization.
• Experience with manufacturing systems such as MAXIMO, MQIS, INSQL, or GSTEMS.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on Lean/CI professional to directly influence manufacturing performance, reduce changeover losses, improve standard work, and deliver measurable operational improvements.