Continuous Improvement Manager - CCI​/Speer

Continuous Improvement Manager – Lewiston, Idaho

The Kinetic Group is a world leader in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of small caliber ammunition under the iconic brands B&P, CCI, Federal Premium, Fiocchi, HEVI‑Shot, Remington, and Speer. We have domestic ammunition manufacturing facilities in Minnesota, Idaho, Arkansas, and Missouri, and serve law‑enforcement, government agencies and sporting enthusiasts throughout the world.

We are a part of the Ammo+ division of The Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which holds a diverse portfolio of companies in the defense, security, automotive, aerospace, and rail industries.

The Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for advancing a culture of operational excellence across manufacturing and support functions at our CCI and Speer facility. This role serves as a coach, facilitator, and practitioner of Lean and CI disciplines, partnering with our leaders and frontline teams to identify waste, improve flow, increase reliability, and strengthen standard work.

• Lead and facilitate Kaizen, Blitz, and structured improvement events across manufacturing and support areas.
• Coach leaders and teams on Lean principles, including flow, pull, FIFO, standard work, visual management, and waste elimination.
• Support the deployment and sustainment of foundational Lean systems (5S, Daily Management, TPM, SMED, problem‑solving).
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to align CI efforts with business priorities.
• Apply structured problem‑solving methods (A3, PDCA, root cause analysis) to address chronic losses and performance gaps.
• Drive improvements in throughput, equipment reliability, inventory flow, and labor productivity.
• Establish mechanisms to ensure follow‑up, sustainment, and accountability after improvement events.
• Use data to prioritize opportunities and measure the effectiveness of improvement initiatives.
• Coach leaders, supervisors, and operators to build CI capability at all levels, emphasizing ownership at the point of work.
• Develop and deliver Lean training and on‑the‑floor coaching aligned to plant maturity and needs.
• Support the development and sustainment of standard work, visual controls, and documented best practices.
• Help plants progress toward an ideal‑state value stream vision, balancing near‑term execution with long‑term evolution.
• Integrate CI practices into daily operations, rather than running CI as a parallel effort.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably high‑volume or regulated manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience leading or facilitating continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean manufacturing systems (TPS or related frameworks).
• Proven ability to influence without authority and engage teams at all organizational levels.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and coaching skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).

• Experience in discreet manufacturing, metal forming, or ammunition/firearms production.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience supporting or leading TPM, daily management systems, or value stream transformations.
• Demonstrated success sustaining improvements beyond initial implementation.
• Experience with manufacturing simulation software.
• Experience with the World Class Manufacturing framework.

• Employee work assignments may include tasks working with and/or exposure to potentially hazardous areas, including flammables and explosives.
• Safety training is provided to all employees to ensure compliance with company and federal regulations.

Pay Range: $ - $ (annual salary based on experience, location, education, and skills). Additional compensation may include performance bonuses.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid time off (PTO).
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Gear discounts.
• Other competitive benefits.

The Kinetic Group is an…