Continuous Improvement Lead

Continuous Improvement Lead Continental Tool Group | Operations – Cranberry Township, PA Reports To: General Manager FLSA: Non-exempt, Hourly, Full-time Level: Senior Direct Reports: None; leads cross-functional project teams Position Summary The Continuous Improvement (CI) Lead builds and runs the continuous-improvement program at CTG’s Cranberry Township, PA facility, reporting to the General Manager and partnering with Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and frontline teams.

The CI Lead is accountable for measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and inventory, and for making those gains stick. This is an outcomes-based, hands-on role: success is measured by documented, sustained results, not by the number of events held or tools applied. The CI Lead spends significant time on the production floor, leads through influence rather than direct authority, and grows Lean problem-solving capability in the people who run the operation.

Annual targets are set with the General Manager and evaluated on a rolling 12-month basis. Key Outcomes — What Success Looks Like CI Program & Pipeline: Within 90 days, establish baseline KPIs and a prioritized project pipeline tied to plant SQDC goals; within 12 months, run a repeatable CI framework (chartering, tracking, monthly results review) embedded in the Cranberry Township operating rhythm.

Financial Impact: Deliver finance-validated annual savings at or above the agreed target (measured as a % of COGS); every completed project has a documented baseline, result, and control plan, with gains sustained for at least 12 months. Productivity & Flow: Improve labor productivity, throughput, and OEE year over year; reduce manufacturing cycle time and setup/changeover time on targeted lines; improve schedule adherence and on-time delivery.

Quality & Safety: Reduce scrap, rework, and recurring defects in targeted areas, with repeat problems closed at root cause; every layout, workstation, and process change improves or maintains safety and ergonomics, with no incidents attributable to CI changes. Inventory & Material Flow: Partner with Supply Chain to improve inventory turns, reduce excess and obsolete inventory, and improve material availability, replenishment, and internal logistics.

People & Culture: Train supervisors and frontline teams in Lean and structured problem solving to an agreed annual target; increase employee-led improvements; sustain 5S, standard work, and visual management as shown by audit scores. Core Responsibilities Drive manufacturing fundamentals including standard work, daily accountability, production boards, shift communication, Gemba activities, and process discipline.

Lead and sustain 5S and plant presentation initiatives, including workplace organization, visual management (Smart Manufacturing), visual controls, cleanliness, tool organization, and audit compliance. Improve production efficiency through cycle-time reduction, setup optimization, machine utilization improvements, bottleneck elimination, and throughput enhancement.

Strengthen quality and process control through root-cause analysis, scrap and rework reduction, first-piece verification, corrective actions, and process standardization. Promote a culture of continuous improvement by leading Kaizen events, encouraging employee involvement and suggestions, developing supervisors, and tracking improvement actions to completion.

Decision Authority Recommends and, with the General Manager, sets CI project priorities, scope, and resourcing. Leads cross-functional project teams and approves changes to standard work, layouts, and visual systems in partnership with area owners. Recommends capital and automation investments with supporting ROI. Escalates changes that affect customer commitments, product quality or safety requirements, or spending beyond delegated limits.

Education, Qualifications & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field preferred 7+ years of continuous-improvement, Lean manufacturing, operations, or process-improvement experience in a manufacturing environment (10+ preferred), with a record of leading complex, cross-functional projects that delivered measurable, sustained results.

Strong command of Lean and structured problem-solving methods; hands-on experience with OEE, takt time, cycle-time analysis, line balancing, and capacity analysis. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred. Advanced Excel and data-analysis skills; experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing data. Excellent communication, facilitation, and project-management skills; able to influence without authority and equally effective with frontline teams and senior leadership.

Preferred: discrete manufacturing of engineered products, machinery, tools, or industrial products; multi-site or enterprise-wide improvement initiatives; automation, manufacturing engineering, or capital projects. Ability to travel as needed (projected 0-10% travel) Physical Demands & Working Conditions Based at the Cranberry Township, PA facility.

Splits time between office and the manufacturing floor, with significant time on the floor working directly with teams; occasional travel may be required. As a non-exempt position, hours worked over 40 in a workweek are paid at overtime rates. Requires prolonged standing and walking on concrete floors, the ability to lift up to 50 lbs, and use of required PPE (safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toe footwear).

Exposure to compressed-air systems, noise, oil mist, dust, and vibration. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. How Performance Will Be Measured The CI Lead and the General Manager agree on a one-page annual scorecard that weights the outcomes above: documented CI savings vs.

target (% of COGS); labor productivity, throughput, and OEE; cycle time and changeover time; scrap and rework; on-time delivery; inventory turns and E&O reduction; project completion and 12-month sustainment rate; and training completion and employee participation in improvement activities. This job description reflects the principal outcomes and responsibilities of the role.

It is not intended to be exhaustive and may be updated as business needs evolve. Continental Tool Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.