CI Specialist

Continuous Improvement Specialist

Novipax is a leading manufacturer of absorbent pads for fresh food packaging. The Continuous Improvement Specialist serves as the plant's subject matter expert on Continuous Improvement (CI), leading projects that improve line performance, reduce cost and waste, and strengthen quality across our absorbent pad manufacturing operations. The role also builds the skills and habits that make improvement part of everyday work, through training and coaching at every level of the plant. It partners closely with the other site CI Specialists to standardize best practices across Novipax sites.

Key Responsibilities

Improvement Projects and Cost Savings

• Manage and execute site CI projects, cost reductions, and process performance improvements; maintain project schedules and report progress to the Plant Manager and plant staff.
• Document the direct link between each CI implementation and measurable improvements in process and plant operations results.
• Calculate cost reductions and run analyses to determine the best problem-solving approach for each opportunity.
• Partner with the Plant Controller to validate and document savings and profit results from CI activities.

Process Performance and Standard Work

• Complete time studies to develop production standards for products.
• Monitor equipment performance (OEE), including downtime, changeover, speed, and yield losses, and work with Maintenance to identify maintenance, repair, and TPM opportunities.
• Work with process owners to develop a value stream map for each process and value stream family in the facility.
• Draft and build SOPs, ensure they meet compliance requirements, and drive process standardization across Novipax sites.
• Support prototype and pilot runs to address design and process feasibility concerns from the department's perspective.

Quality and Problem Solving

• Participate in and lead cross-functional teams that resolve quality issues and concerns, using structured root cause methods.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Support production control, material control, and material planning on projects involving scheduling, inventory management, and raw material flow and tracking.
• Work with Plant Engineering on projects addressing staffing, manpower, time, and capacity analysis.

Training, Coaching, and Culture

• Lead 5S deployment across the site.
• Support the Plant Manager in implementing new systems, projects, and processes, leading the training activities and serving as the subject matter expert.
• Provide CI training and coaching at all levels of the plant and develop and deliver department-specific training as needs are identified.
• Support employee onboarding and team and individual development.

Qualifications

Required

• 3+ years of related experience in materials, operations, quality, or a similar role in a plant environment.
• Hands-on experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methods, with a record of identifying and delivering improvements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, to prepare reports, charts, and analyses that help improve processes across the organization.
• Hands-on, self-motivated, and independent, with a commitment to learning and the ability to build strong teams.
• Mechanically inclined, with a solid understanding of how production equipment and processes work, to help identify root causes and evaluate improvement ideas on the floor.
• Structured problem solver who applies a defined methodology (for example 5 Why, A3, or DMAIC).
• Clear communicator who can coach and influence people from the production floor to plant leadership.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree (highly preferred) in engineering, business, or a related field.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher).
• Experience in food, packaging, or other high-speed converting manufacturing, and familiarity with GMP and SQF/GFSI food safety requirements.
• Working knowledge of ERP or production data systems and basic statistical tools such as SPC.

Work Environment

Manufacturing plant with regular time on the production floor; PPE required.