Continuous Improvement Manager

Continuous Improvement Manager

Laborup Elkhart, IN

We're looking for a hands-on, factory-present Continuous Improvement Manager to lead kaizen efforts and drive measurable gains in cost, quality, and throughput across a complex, high-variation manufacturing environment. This is a rare opportunity to influence how an entire facility operates, from how metal is fabricated to how fully assembled truck bodies roll off the line.

You'll work across all major departments, fabrication, assembly, paint, decal, and more, partnering with team leads, engineers, and frontline staff to eliminate waste, improve flow, and build a culture of continuous improvement. With one direct report and strong leadership backing, you'll shape CI strategy while staying grounded in hands-on execution. If you're someone with a manufacturing engineering or operations background who thrives on the floor, sees systems holistically, and leads through influence and data, this role offers a wide runway to make a lasting impact.

This is not just a desk job. Your work will be felt across every inch of the shop floor, by welders, operators, supervisors, and the customers who rely on the quality of what gets built here.

Relocation Assistance

• $5-$10k offered

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) + Match
• Company paid life insurance
• 10 company paid holidays
• PTO: Vacation + personal time

Compensation

• $90 -$95k

Responsibilities

• Kaizen Leadership: Plan and lead CI events targeting material flow, equipment layout, and labor efficiency; ensure standardized documentation and sustainment plans are in place.
• Value Stream Mapping: Conduct annual Value Stream Mapping exercises across all major production and administrative areas; define current-state challenges and lead future-state implementations.
• Daily Management Systems: Sustain and improve visual factory tools including daily boards, metrics, and tiered accountability meetings.
• Training & Coaching: Mentor supervisors, group leads, and production team members on lean tools including 5S, standard work, visual controls, problem solving, and takt time awareness.
• Data-Driven Cost Reduction: Identify, quantify, and track cost savings tied to labor, material, rework, and throughput gains; support corporate CI reporting.
• Cross-Site Collaboration: Share best practices across facilities; support non-manufacturing VSM efforts in areas like materials, logistics, and scheduling.
• Barrier Removal: Surface and address organizational blockers that prevent improvement efforts from taking hold or scaling.
• Change Management: Drive adoption of new systems and behaviors through coaching, documentation, and aligned communication strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• Industrial, manufacturing, or process engineering background preferred.
• 5+ years in a manufacturing environment with proven leadership in CI, operations, or engineering.
• Strong working knowledge of lean manufacturing tools: value stream mapping, standard work, 5S, daily management, and visual systems.
• Excellent communication and coaching skills; ability to work cross-functionally from floor to leadership.
• Data fluency and comfort building cost models, reports, and audit-ready documentation.
• Experience managing at least one direct report and leading cross-functional improvement teams.
• Must thrive in fast-paced, high-variability environments with metal fabrication and structural assembly.