Continuous Improvement Engineer

LAPP is a family-owned company headquartered in Stuttgart and a global leader in cable and connection technology. Founded in 1959, we are still fully family-owned today. With around 5,800 employees, we are operating in over 80 countries - globally connected and regionally rooted. Working at LAPP means more: this is where inventive spirit and a hands-on mentality meet cherished values and tradition.

We offer all employees the freedom to develop and pursue new opportunities. Flexibility and personal responsibility are just as important to us as a family-friendly work environment. We value all our colleagues with their talents, ideas and perspectives.

SUMMARY: The Continuous Improvement Engineer is responsible for driving operational excellence across all areas of the manufacturing site. This individual will work closely with the plant manager, functional leaders and frontline operators to identify and execute improvements that increase safety, quality, efficiency, capacity and cost effectiveness. Using proven Lean and Six Sigma tools, the engineer will evaluate processes, lead cross functional projects, mentor plant personnel and embed a culture of continuous improvement throughout the facility .

Essential Duties and Responsibilities - include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives:
Lead plant wide projects focused on improving safety, quality, schedule adherence, cost, capacity and employee engagement. Identify inefficiencies and recommend solutions to improve or prevent recurrence using Lean, DMAIC, FMEA, SMED, root cause analysis and Kaizen methodologies.

• Embed Lean principles:
Develop, maintain and enhance the Continuous Improvement (CI) operating system, including the LAPP Operating System (LOS), problem solving frameworks and standard work. Facilitate Kaizen events and 5S activities, promote waste elimination and implement value added solutions to achieve performance targets.

• Data driven analysis:
Conduct time studies, value stream mapping, capacity and cycle time analyses to understand bottlenecks and opportunities. Collect and analyze data to measure the impact of improvement initiatives, determine root causes and implement corrective actions.

• Standardize processes:
Develop and maintain process documentation, standard operating procedures and visual management tools (Tier boards, KPIs and dashboards) to ensure sustainability. Coordinate capital projects and process improvements, ensuring alignment with plant goals.

• Coach and mentor employees:
Train and mentor plant personnel-from senior leadership to frontline operators-on Lean/TPM tools, problem solving techniques, root cause analysis and leader standard work . Act as a change agent by challenging wasteful practices and inspiring a culture of continuous improvement.

• Collaborate cross functionally:
Partner with production, engineering, maintenance, quality, supply chain and other departments to identify improvement opportunities, prioritize projects and drive results. Establish strong relationships with frontline operators to gain insight into day to day challenges and ensure buy in for changes.

• Communicate progress:
Track and report the status of improvement activities, develop visual presentations and metrics dashboards, and regularly update plant management on project outcomes.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

COMPETENCIES

• Maintains skills to effectively plan, execute, and monitor lean improvement projects, ensuring they are completed within scope, on time, and within budget.

• Proficiency in collecting and analyzing data related to manufacturing processes, performance metrics, and quality standards. Utilize data-driven decision-making to identify improvement opportunities.

• Possesses capability to identify root causes of issues and implement corrective and preventive actions. Utilize problem-solving methodologies such as PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) or DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control).

• Experience in managing and facilitating organizational change as lean principles are introduced or adapted within the company.

• Strong…