Bachelor's Degree in a technical field or equivalent experience
10+ years in a manufacturing environment
Knowledge of IATF16949 and/or ISO9001 standards
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel
Proven success in project management across multiple departments
Strong planning and organizational skills
Desirable: Training in Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma
Responsibilities
Lead NPAA's 5S initiative for workplace organization and safety
Analyze and optimize workflows and business processes
Conduct studies on cost control and productivity
Develop plans to enhance operating methods and performance
Identify and implement solutions for quality and efficiency improvements
Facilitate Kaizen events and continuous improvement activities
Utilize Lean and Six Sigma methodologies for problem-solving
Apply statistical analysis to evaluate operational performance
Collect and analyze operational data to identify improvement opportunities
Monitor and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs)
Prepare monthly KPI reports with insights on performance trends
Improve quality management systems and on-time delivery
Share best practices from industry standards
Document and measure outcomes of improvement projects
Present findings and recommendations to management
Benefits
Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams
Opportunities for professional development and training
Engagement in impactful continuous improvement initiatives
Access to industry best practices and standards
Dynamic work environment that encourages flexibility
Full Job Description
JOB SUMMARY:
The Continuous Improvement Specialist will lead and drive sustainable continuous improvement initiatives across NPAA, delivering measurable improvements in Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC). This role will partner closely with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, implement effective solutions, and sustain results while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence throughout the organization.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
Lead NPAA's 5S initiative, promoting workplace organization, standardization, safety, and operational discipline across the organization.
Lead cross-functional projects to analyze, design, and optimize sequences of operations, workflows, and business processes.
Conduct operational studies focused on cost control, cost reduction, inventory management, productivity, and production record systems.
Develop and implement plans and programs to improve operating methods, processes, and overall business performance.
Partner with cross-functional teams to identify improvement opportunities and implement solutions that enhance quality, efficiency, productivity, and cost effectiveness.
Facilitate Kaizen events and continuous improvement activities across all areas of the business.
Participate in and lead multiple improvement initiatives utilizing Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to identify root causes, solve complex problems, eliminate waste, and build sustainable capabilities.
Apply statistical data analysis techniques to evaluate operational performance, identify trends, assess process variation, and support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement initiatives.
Collect, analyze, and interpret operational and quality data to identify performance gaps, determine root causes, and recommend opportunities to improve process efficiency, productivity, quality, and cost effectiveness.
Develop, monitor, and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with organizational goals, operational objectives, and continuous improvement priorities.
Prepare and distribute monthly KPI reports, providing meaningful insights into performance trends, improvement opportunities, and progress toward established goals. Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to support corrective actions and performance improvement.
Monitor, trend, and improve key areas of the quality management system, including change control, customer feedback and complaints, investigations, deviations, and on-time delivery.
Identify and share best practices from Nippon Group companies, industry standards, and other relevant sources to strengthen NPAA's continuous improvement practices.
Document and measure before-and-after conditions for continuous improvement projects to demonstrate measurable impact, effectiveness, and sustainability.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation, tracking logs, metrics, KPI reports, and status reports for all active and completed continuous improvement projects.
Present project findings, statistical analysis, KPI results, and improvement recommendations to management and cross-functional teams to support informed decision-making and sustained operational performance.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's Degree in a technical field preferred or equivalent working experience
Minimum of 10 years relevant experience in a manufacturing environment
Working Knowledge of IATF16949 and/or ISO9001 standards
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Must have proven success in project management and ability to implement business process improvements affecting multiple departments.
Strong planning and organization skills
Capability to be flexible in a dynamic environment
Successful leadership track record
Excellent analytical, decision making and problem-solving skills
A highly motivated self-starter that can work with minimal supervision
Desirable: Training and certification in process improvement techniques, Lean Manufacturing, or Six Sigma
