Job SummaryThe Continuous Improvement Specialist - Transactional applies Lean and continuous improvement methods to the business processes that support CECO Environmental's manufacturing operations. Rather than focusing on the production floor, this role targets transactional processes such as quoting, order entry, procurement, scheduling, and invoicing. The specialist identifies waste, reduces cycle times and errors, standardizes work, and builds continuous improvement capability within office and support teams, delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and customer responsiveness.
Your Responsibilities Will Be: - Map current- and future-state transactional processes, such as quote-to-order, order-to-cash, and procure-to-pay, using value stream mapping and process mapping.
- Identify, scope, and prioritize improvement opportunities based on business impact and required effort, in alignment with the Senior Manager, Lean & Continuous Improvement.
- Plan, facilitate, and follow up on transactional kaizen events and improvement workshops with cross-functional teams.
- Analyze process data to identify waste, delays, rework, and error drivers, and apply structured problem-solving methods such as A3, 5 Whys, and DMAIC.
- Develop and implement standard work, visual management, and office 5S to sustain improvements.
- Define and track process performance metrics, such as cycle time, error rates, and on-time performance, build reporting tools, and validate the operational and financial results of completed projects.
- Partner with Customer Service, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, and Operations to align improvement projects with business priorities.
- Train and coach employees on Lean tools and transactional problem solving, and support change management so improvements are adopted and sustained.
- Identify opportunities for process automation and system improvements, and partner with IT and business systems teams on implementation.
Required Qualifications: - Minimum of 5 years of experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, or business process improvement, including at least 3 years focused on transactional processes.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Experience applying Lean in transactional functions, such as customer service, order management, procurement, or finance, within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
- Demonstrated experience facilitating kaizen events and leading cross-functional improvement projects to measurable results.
- Multi-site experience preferred.
- Experience with ERP systems (such as SAP, Oracle, or Epicor) preferred.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred; Black Belt a plus.
- Working knowledge of Lean tools, including value stream mapping, standard work, 5S, visual management, and root cause analysis.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI a plus.
Travel Requirements (Requirement): Up to 30% travel to CECO manufacturing sites and business units to support improvement projects and kaizen events.
ADA Requirements:To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- Frequent sitting, typing, and computer use.
• Occasional standing and walking.
• Frequent verbal and written communication.
• Ability to view computer screens and read project documentation.
• Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 10 pounds occasionally.
• Compliance with company attendance standards.
The position is primarily performed in an office or professional workplace environment.
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work primarily involves sitting, although occasional walking and standing may be required.
This position will be located in the Addison, TX office.
We Offer: At CECO, we are committed to a culture where every employee is valued and respected for their unique experiences and perspectives. We believe a diverse and inclusive work environment contributes to the rich exchange of ideas and diversity of thoughts, that inspires innovation and brings the best solutions to our customers.
