The Senior Continuous Improvement Engineer in our Hematology division is a strategic leader responsible for driving enterprise-wide process excellence at Bio-Techne. This role leads high-impact CI initiatives, partners with senior leadership, and develops long-term strategies to improve operational efficiency, quality, and scalability. The engineer serves as a subject matter expert in Lean, Six Sigma, and change management, and plays a critical role in shaping the CI culture across the organization.
Assist in identifying opportunities for process improvements within hematology reagents manufacturing through strong analytical evaluation.
Identify, prioritize, and support cost improvement initiatives that improve productivity, reduce waste, optimize resource utilization, and enhance overall operational efficiency.
Own and run Visual Factory management systems and lead Gemba walks to observe processes, engage with frontline teams, and identify improvement opportunities.
Support data collection, analysis, and reporting using tools such as SmartSheets and Power BI.
Participate in Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen projects under the guidance of senior CI professionals.
Support and/or lead manufacturing automation projects as assigned, including process automation, equipment improvements, digital transformation initiatives, and implementation of new technologies to improve operational performance.
Help evaluate automation opportunities and develop business cases that support productivity improvements, capacity expansion, quality enhancement, and cost reduction.
Help create documentation such as process flowcharts, SOPs, and training materials to support standardized processes.
Collaborate effectively with Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and production teams to facilitate continuous improvement efforts and communicate project insights clearly.
Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and provide regular, concise updates to the CI team and leadership.
Learn and apply AI-assisted analytics to help identify trends and improvement opportunities.
Help maintain compliance with regulatory and quality requirements by integrating CI activities with quality and safety standards.
Contribute to fostering a culture of continuous improvement throughout the manufacturing department.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and basic data visualization tools (Excel, Power BI, etc.).
Executive-level communication and influence.
Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and change management.
Strong business acumen and financial analysis skills.
Experience with ERP, MES, and digital CI tools.
Proficient with statistical process control software (Minitab, JMP, etc.)
Expected to work independently on assigned tasks with general guidance.
Exposure to regulated manufacturing environments, pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical device, or diagnostic manufacturing is an advantage.
Experience participating in cost savings, productivity improvement, or automation initiatives.
Basic knowledge of manufacturing equipment, process automation, PLC-controlled systems, or digital manufacturing technologies.
Eagerness to develop skills in process improvement methodologies, project management, and automation technologies.
Self-motivated with a continuous learning mindset.
Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for operational efficiency, waste reduction, and cost improvement
Ability to run Visual Factory systems and lead effective Gemba walks.
Ability to support multiple improvement and automation projects simultaneously in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and take direction from senior team members.
Commitment to quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Must be able to work on-site at the Minneapolis location; remote work is not available for this position.
