Continuous Improvement Specialist

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Full Time Salary Professionals Everett, WA, US

Salary Range: $65,000.00 To $75,000.00 Annually

The Continuous Improvement Specialist is a hands-on, site-based individual contributor responsible for facilitating kaizen events, leading structured problem-solving initiatives, tracking and managing continuous improvement projects, and implementing process improvements directly on the production floor. This role will work across plastic injection molding, assembly, and paint operations to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost within an AS9100-certified aerospace manufacturing environment.

The Continuous Improvement Specialist will be highly visible and accessible on the shop floor, collaborating with cross-functional teams including operations, quality, and engineering to translate Lean and Six Sigma concepts into practical, sustainable, operator-level execution.

Facilitate Continuous Improvement

Activities:

Lead and facilitate kaizen events, improvement workshops, and Gemba walks to eliminate waste, reduce process variation, and improve flow across molding, assembly, and paint operations.

Lead Structured Problem Solving:
Facilitate cross-functional problem-solving activities using A3 methodology, 5-Why analysis, root cause corrective action (RCCA), and fishbone diagrams to address quality issues, process inefficiencies, and customer concerns.

Implement Improvements On-Site:
Implement improvements hands-on at the site, working directly with operators, supervisors, and team leads to ensure changes are practical, operator-friendly, and embedded into daily work.

Track and Manage CI Projects:
Track and manage multiple continuous improvement projects simultaneously using CI project tracking or management system, ensuring alignment with site strategic objectives and timelines.

Analyze Process and Quality Data:
Analyze production, quality, and process data (e.g., nonconformities, scrap, rework, cycle times, equipment downtime, audit findings) to identify trends, root causes, and priority improvement opportunities.

Develop and Monitor KPIs:
Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for process performance and operational effectiveness, including First Pass Yield (FPY), on-time delivery (OTD), defects per unit, scrap rates, and CAPA cycle time.

Conduct Value Stream Mapping:
Conduct Value Stream Mapping exercises to identify waste, bottlenecks, and non-value-added activities across molding, assembly, and paint processes.

Develop Standard Work:
Develop and implement standard work, visual management systems (6S), and process controls to reduce variation and improve consistency.

Support AS9100 Quality Management System:
Partner with Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure improvement actions support AS9100 Quality Management System (QMS) requirements and are embedded in processes for long-term sustainability.

Participate in Corrective Action Processes:
Support corrective and preventive action (CAPA) processes, participating in root cause investigations and ensuring effectiveness of corrective actions.

Standardize Best Practices:
Standardize and document best practices, lessons learned, and improved methods, supporting deployment across departments and ensuring compliance with aerospace quality and regulatory requirements.

Provide Training and

Coaching:

Provide training and coaching to employees and leaders on Lean Six Sigma tools, continuous improvement methodologies, and problem-solving techniques.

Support New Product Introduction (NPI):
Facilitate continuous improvement activities for new product introduction (NPI) programs, ensuring processes are optimized from launch.

Collaborate Cross-Functionally:
Work collaboratively with operations, quality, engineering, and supply chain teams to drive improvements, break down silos, and enable teamwork.

• Problem Solving. Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes all…