Principal Continuous Improvement Engineer

Schwan's Company•Marshall, MN

3d•$116,688 - $132,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Principal Continuous Improvement Engineer. SFC Global Supply Chain, Inc., a subsidiary of Schwan’s Company, seeks a Principal Continuous Improvement Engineer at our facility in Marshall, Minnesota. Responsible for identifying, developing, evaluating and adapting innovative food processes and equipment, creating new opportunities for increased capacity or operational improvement methods from idea to implementation. Lead process improvement initiatives to identify and eliminate waste and non-value-added work utilizing manufacturing practices such as Lean, Six Sigma and HPO. Provide support from a manufacturing perspective in the development and validation of new capacity and processes. Develop proposals that include return on investment, benefits and alternatives for special projects. Work closely with plant personnel to develop or enhance new processes within the manufacturing facility. Assist in identifying bottleneck points in the value stream analysis and identifying projects for increased capacity. Provide leadership and lean training to plant personnel. Identify and prioritize the top improvement opportunities and provide the appropriate data to ensure leadership consensus and buy-in. Update key communications and provide summaries to business leadership. Participate as a member of the site and/or functional leadership team (where applicable); be the site voice for CI and lean thinking. Identify and implement major improvement projects involving new processes and/or technologies. Work with each business unit and R&D to define operational targets including processing parameters and performance criteria. Utilize data, knowledge and experience to help set standards and insure BOMs and routings are accurate. Apply statistical analysis to products and processes to assure meeting customer requirements while optimizing operations. Mentor, coach, and train employees on how to make improvements using data and data analysis (statistical methods). Empower employees to propose and justify maintenance improvements, R&D improvements, etc. by determining financial saving and project prioritization based on time, labor and financial investment. Lead or sponsor cross-functional teams as an engineer on major improvement opportunities. Participate in the planning process associated with GSC performance; provides subject expertise in support of improvement planning. Lead, sponsor or participate in improvement initiatives to eliminate waste and non-value-added work utilizing standard practices such as Lean, Six Sigma, and problem solving. Provide leadership to CI practitioners and others; develop people and provide growth opportunities. Own developing, implementing and improving overall improvement programs at the site level. Utilize change management strategies for implementing improvements. Demonstrate project management proficiency by defining project requirements and milestones, tracking progress, resolving problems, communicating progress, and recommending / executing actions. Other duties, as assigned. Must have proof of legal authority to work in the U.S.

Requirements

Must have proof of legal authority to work in the U.S.
Education: Master’s degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent) in Supply Chain Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering or closely related field OR a bachelor’s degree (U.S. or foreign equivalent) in Supply Chain Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Systems Engineering or a closely related field.
Experience: Candidates with qualifying master’s degree must have at least three years of experience in the role of Production Supervisor, Process Engineer, Continuous Improvement Leader, Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing Manager, Manager Continuous Improvement, Continuous Improvement Engineer or similarly titled role involving identifying continuous improvements to eliminate inefficient processes and improving efficiency for a plant or plants in a manufacturing industry, including the food industry.
Candidates with a qualifying bachelor’s degree must have at least five years of experience in the role of Production Supervisor, Process Engineer, Continuous Improvement Leader, Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing Manager, Manager Continuous Improvement, Continuous Improvement Engineer or similarly titled role involving identifying continuous improvements to eliminate inefficient processes and improving efficiency for a plant or plants in a manufacturing industry, including the food industry.

Responsibilities

Identifying, developing, evaluating and adapting innovative food processes and equipment
Creating new opportunities for increased capacity or operational improvement methods from idea to implementation
Leading process improvement initiatives to identify and eliminate waste and non-value-added work utilizing manufacturing practices such as Lean, Six Sigma and HPO
Providing support from a manufacturing perspective in the development and validation of new capacity and processes
Developing proposals that include return on investment, benefits and alternatives for special projects
Working closely with plant personnel to develop or enhance new processes within the manufacturing facility
Assisting in identifying bottleneck points in the value stream analysis and identifying projects for increased capacity
Providing leadership and lean training to plant personnel
Identifying and prioritizing the top improvement opportunities and provide the appropriate data to ensure leadership consensus and buy-in
Updating key communications and provide summaries to business leadership
Participating as a member of the site and/or functional leadership team (where applicable); be the site voice for CI and lean thinking
Identifying and implementing major improvement projects involving new processes and/or technologies
Working with each business unit and R&D to define operational targets including processing parameters and performance criteria
Utilizing data, knowledge and experience to help set standards and insure BOMs and routings are accurate
Applying statistical analysis to products and processes to assure meeting customer requirements while optimizing operations
Mentoring, coaching, and train employees on how to make improvements using data and data analysis (statistical methods)
Empowering employees to propose and justify maintenance improvements, R&D improvements, etc. by determining financial saving and project prioritization based on time, labor and financial investment
Leading or sponsor cross-functional teams as an engineer on major improvement opportunities
Participating in the planning process associated with GSC performance; provides subject expertise in support of improvement planning
Leading, sponsor or participate in improvement initiatives to eliminate waste and non-value-added work utilizing standard practices such as Lean, Six Sigma, and problem solving
Providing leadership to CI practitioners and others; develop people and provide growth opportunities
Owning developing, implementing and improving overall improvement programs at the site level
Utilizing change management strategies for implementing improvements
Demonstrating project management proficiency by defining project requirements and milestones, tracking progress, resolving problems, communicating progress, and recommending / executing actions
Other duties, as assigned