Lean Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title

Engineer, Manufacturing (SLMS)

General Manager

The SLMS Engineer is a technical and plant floor focused leadership position with an emphasis on improving manufacturing operations across the plant using SLMS (Summit Lean Manufacturing System – developed from Toyota Production System). This position requires a hands‑on person who prefers the plant floor to the cubicle, will develop a passion for implementing SLMS into the manufacturing processes, and will be humble, willing to learn from shop floor experiences as well as from team members on the production lines.

The Engineer must have strong analytical skills, ability to gather and analyze information, and decision‑making capability. The successful candidate will be self‑motivated, have project management and leadership skills, and the initiative and ability to get things done with and through others. Problem solving, communication, mathematics, and Microsoft Excel capability are also required.

• Lead the implementation of SLMS in all areas of the facility.
• Conduct routine SLMS audits and lead corresponding kaizen activities derived from the audits.
• Analyze manufacturing methods for process improvement, work balance and cost reduction using kaizen mentality and standardized work development tools.
• Teach SLMS principles and concepts in a classroom and shop floor environment to all plant employees from plant floor to plant management.
• Lead and manage projects while working independently, including independent decision‑making on the shop floor.
• Develop and maintain plant floor layout(s).
• Occasional travel to other SPI plants.
• Other duties as required by General Manager.

• Understand the theory and application in all aspects of SLMS (Jidoka, JIT, stability, True North – standardized work, pull systems, problem solving, material and information flow, etc.).
• Identify and eliminate waste throughout the plant.
• Have a broad range of experiences with different processes and environments.
• Learn how to organize shop floor activities, coach others to “learn SLMS by doing.”
• Combine classroom and shop floor learning.

Engineering or related degree or 3 years experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Possesses the ability to gather and analyze information and make decisions from a limited number of choices.
• Ability to effectively communicate and coach all levels from plant floor operators to plant management.
• Microsoft Office products including Excel and Word.
• Minimum score of 50 on the Wonderlic Select Assessment (26 on the Cognitive section).

Typically requires less than 5% travel.