Lean Technician

Lean Technician

Dakota Bodies Watertown - Watertown, SD 57201

Overview

Level Entry Position Type Full Time Education Level 2 Year Degree

Description

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement (CI) / Lean Technician supports manufacturing operations by driving process stability, waste reduction, and productivity improvements across fabrication, assembly, and paint processes. This role works closely with production, engineering, maintenance, and leadership teams to implement Lean manufacturing principles and strengthen safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance (SQDC).

The CI Technician serves as a hands-on change agent on the shop floor, using data, observation, and Lean tools to identify inefficiencies and support sustainable process improvements across the plant.

Key Responsibilities

Lean & Continuous Improvement Execution

Support implementation of Lean manufacturing principles including 5S, Standard Work, Kaizen, and Visual Management

Identify waste in production processes (motion, waiting, defects, overproduction, transport, inventory, overprocessing)

Participate in and facilitate Kaizen events and rapid improvement activities

Assist in developing and maintaining Lean daily management systems

Process Improvement & Analysis

Conduct time studies, cycle time analysis, and line balancing activities

Support identification of bottlenecks and assist in improving throughput

Analyze production data to identify trends, losses, and improvement opportunities

Assist in validating takt time alignment and standard work adherence

Shop Floor Support (Gemba Focus)

Perform daily Gemba walks to observe processes and engage with operators and supervisors

Collaborate with production teams to solve real-time operational issues

Support implementation of corrective actions and ensure sustainment of improvements

Standard Work & Documentation

Assist in developing and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Support creation of visual work instructions and process documentation

Help maintain PFEP (Plan for Every Part) and material flow improvements

Safety, Quality & Culture

Promote a strong safety culture and support safety improvement initiatives

Assist in root cause analysis (5 Why, Fishbone, etc.) for quality and process issues

Support training efforts for operators on Lean concepts and new processes

Help drive employee engagement in continuous improvement activities

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Engineering, Production, Maintenance, and Quality teams

Support new product introductions, pilot builds, and process changes

Assist leadership in tracking CI metrics and reporting improvement results

Qualifications

Qualifications

High school diploma or GED required; associate degree or technical training preferred (Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Engineering Technology)

13+ years experience in manufacturing, production, or industrial environment

Basic understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles (5S, Kaizen, Standard Work)

Strong mechanical aptitude and problem-solving ability

Ability to read technical drawings or work instructions preferred

Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and basic data tracking tools

Strong communication skills and ability to work on the production floor

Key Skills

Lean Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement mindset

Problem solving (5 Why, root cause analysis)

Data collection and analysis

Communication and teamwork

Time study / process observation

Shop floor engagement (Gemba mindset)

Standard work development

Core Performance Expectations

Reduce waste and improve process efficiency

Improve safety and quality performance through proactive observation

Support sustainable improvements (not one-time fixes)

Increase operator engagement in CI activities

Help drive measurable improvements in productivity and flow