Process Improvement Engineer

This Process Improvement Engineer is for an established custom rubber and polymers manufacturer in Northeast Ohio (greater Cleveland area).This is a newly created, dedicated Continuous Improvement role reporting to plant leadership with a dotted line to the corporate CI leader.This is a hands-on, floor-focused role for an engineer who wants to build.The plant's CI program is early, a solid 5S foundation is in place and ready for a dedicated owner to take it to the next level using industrial engineering and lean tools.You'll analyze processes, observe operations firsthand, eliminate waste, and drive measurable gains in efficiency, quality, and safety across the mixing and molding operations.The immediate mission is concrete: raise Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and reduce errors in their processes.This is a genuine opportunity with visible impact and the full backing of plant leadership.What You'll OwnOEE & Hands-On Improvement — Conduct firsthand process observation across the mixing and molding operations to identify inefficiencies, drive Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) improvement, and eliminate wasteLayout & Flow Design — Use CAD to design layouts that optimize material flow, equipment placement, and operator efficiency; perform time studies, work sampling, and line balancing to improve throughputManaging for Daily Improvement — Lead and sustain MDI processes using data-driven metrics, partnering with Production, Design Engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering to implement improvementsRoot Cause & Standard Work — Drive root cause and corrective action using 5-Why, Fishbone (Ishikawa), and A3 problem solving; develop and implement standard work, visual controls, and process documentationCI Tools & Reporting — Design and maintain continuous improvement tools and reporting dashboards (Excel, Tableau); lead and support 5S and workplace organization initiativesTraining & Support — Train operators and supervisors on continuous improvement methodologies and standard processes, and support safety, quality, and cost-reduction initiatives across the plantWhat We're Looking ForBachelor's degree in Engineering (Industrial, Manufacturing, or related field preferred)3–5 years of experience in process improvement, industrial engineering, or manufacturing engineering within a manufacturing environmentStrong hands-on, floor-focused mindset with the ability to observe, analyze, and improve real-time operationsProficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite, especially ExcelExperience with CAD (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or equivalent)Strong problem-solving, project management, and implementation skills, with effective written and verbal communicationDesired CharacteristicsLean / Six Sigma Green Belt (or equivalent) preferredExperience in rubber mixing, molding, or compounding processes strongly preferredComfort working directly on the production floor, observing operations and driving change in real timeExperience building and sustaining Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI) systems and visual management