Continuous Improvement Specialist-Field Installation Operations

Talascend is seeking a Continuous Improvement Specialist - Field Installation Operations for a direct hire position within a trusted mechanical installation company specializing in conveyor systems, robotics, material handling equipment, platforms, and structural steel. We partner with major contractors and integrators nationwide to deliver safe, high?quality installations that keep modern facilities moving.

Role Purpose

The Continuous Improvement Specialist (CIS) is responsible for evaluating, standardizing, and improving field installation performance across all large and medium-sized Fletchline, FES, and Uprite system projects. This role serves as an independent, objective field observer focused on ensuring installation readiness, adherence to standard work, efficiency of execution, and elimination of rework.
The specialist's primary focus is setting the install up right from the start-from material flow and preassembly through header steel and conveyor placement-while identifying systemic and site-specific improvement opportunities. When schedule allows, the role also supports back-half quality control (QC) activities.

Key Responsibilities
Installation Readiness & Early Execution (Primary Focus)

• Evaluate site readiness prior to and at the start of installation
• Verify that header steel is completed once, correctly, and sequenced to allow immediate transition into conveyor installation
• Confirm that conveyor lines are ideally touched once for installation, minimizing revisits, rework, and added cost
• Assess alignment between install plan, crew sequencing, and actual execution

Standard Work & Process Adherence

• Audit adherence to Fletchline, FES, and UpRite installation standard processes
• Utilize and validate mechanical and electrical installation checklists (customer and internal)
• Identify deviations from standard work and document root causes
• Distinguish between:
  • Process gaps
  • Training gaps
  • Resource constraints
  • Customer-driven inhibitors

Field Operations & Supervision Effectiveness

• Observe and report on supervisor time allocation, including:
  • Time in the field with crews
  • Time in customer meetings
  • Time in field office / administrative activities
• Assess whether supervisory presence aligns with project phase and crew needs

Material Flow & Site Organization

• Evaluate how effectively materials are:
  • Staged
  • Pulled
  • Prepped
  • Delivered to point-of-use
• Assess organization and efficiency of:
  • Laydown areas
  • Preassembly areas
  • Tooling and consumables
• Identify bottlenecks that slow installation progress or increase fatigue

Preassembly Effectiveness

• Evaluate:
  • Quality and completeness of preassembly
  • Alignment between preassembly and install sequencing
  • Rework caused by incomplete or incorrect preassembly

Customer Inhibitors & Constraints

• Identify and document any customer-driven inhibitors, including:
  • Access restrictions
  • Conflicting trades
  • Late or changing scope
  • Inadequate site readiness
• Quantify impact where possible (delays, inefficiencies, rework)

Weekend & Fatigue Observation

• Observe installation operations across weekends to identify:
  • Fatigue-driven errors
  • Lax process adherence
  • Changes in supervision or safety behavior
• Provide insights into sustainment of standard work under stress

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Produce concise, fact-based site reports including:
  • Observations
  • Photos (where permitted)
  • Risks
  • Improvement opportunities
• Highlight systemic issues vs. site-specific issues
• Partner with operations leadership to prioritize improvements

Required Experience & Skills

• Strong installation background in:
  • Conveyor systems
  • Structural steel / header steel
  • Electrical installation
  • Rack installation
• Proven field experience (foreman, superintendent, PM, or senior installer preferred)
• Deep understanding of:
  • Sequencing
  • Material flow
  • Standard work
  • Rework cost drivers
• High credibility with field crews and supervisors
• Comfortable challenging processes-not people-with facts
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement training (formal certification helpful but not required)
• Experience performing audits, assessments, or operational reviews
• Ability to synthesize field observations into actionable recommendations

Travel Expectations

• 70-80% travel
• Typical cadence: arrive on-site Monday, return Thursday or Friday
• Must be willing to observe weekend operations when required

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those qualified individuals who closely meet the qualifications of the position will be contacted. The details of the position are only a summary, other duties may be assigned as necessary.

Background Check and Drug Screen may be required.