Sr Continuous Improvement Leader

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Sr. Continuous Improvement Leader

Position Summary

The Sr. Continuous Improvement Leader is responsible for leading the planning, design, and execution of major manufacturing transformations, including production line relocations, plant layout redesigns, facility moves, and space optimization initiatives.

This role combines strong Industrial Engineering, CAD, Lean Manufacturing, and Project Management expertise to transform manufacturing environments, improve material and process flow, optimize facility utilization, and ensure successful implementation of large-scale operational changes.

The position will work closely with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, Finance, and senior plant leadership to develop future-state facility and production layouts and lead projects from initial concept and CAD design through installation, validation, and production ramp-up.

Key Responsibilities

1. Plant Transformation & Facility Planning

• Lead the planning and execution of plant transformations, facility moves, production relocations, and major layout changes.
• Develop current-state and future-state facility concepts based on production requirements, capacity, equipment, people, and material flow.
• Evaluate existing plant space and identify opportunities to improve space utilization, production flow, and operational efficiency.
• Develop facility transformation roadmaps, project plans, schedules, milestones, and budgets.
• Coordinate activities required to transition production with minimal disruption to operations.

2. CAD Design & Plant Layout

• Develop and maintain detailed 2D/3D CAD plant layouts for production areas, equipment, workstations, warehouses, material staging, and support functions.
• Create proposed layouts for production line moves, equipment relocations, plant expansions, and facility redesigns.
• Translate manufacturing requirements into practical and efficient facility layouts.
• Perform space studies, equipment positioning, workstation layouts, aisle planning, and material-flow analysis.
• Develop multiple layout scenarios and present recommendations based on capacity, cost, safety, ergonomics, material flow, and future growth.
• Maintain accurate CAD drawings and ensure layouts reflect actual plant conditions.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering and Operations to validate equipment locations, utilities, access requirements, and installation constraints.

3. Production Line Relocation & Move Management

• Lead the Industrial Engineering activities associated with production line and equipment relocations.
• Develop detailed move plans, including equipment sequencing, shutdown requirements, transportation, installation, utilities, validation, and production restart.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams during equipment and production moves.
• Identify potential operational risks and develop contingency plans to minimize downtime.
• Support equipment installation, commissioning, process validation, and production ramp-up.
• Track project progress against schedule, budget, and operational objectives.

4. Industrial Engineering & Process Optimization

• Analyze manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for improved productivity, capacity, flow, and cost.
• Perform line balancing, capacity analysis, cycle-time studies, process mapping, and workstation optimization.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to improve operational performance.
• Optimize the relationship between people, equipment, material, and space within the manufacturing environment.
• Identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions through process, layout, equipment, or staffing changes.

5. Material Flow & Space Optimization

• Analyze and improve material flow from receiving through production, storage, and shipping.
• Develop efficient routes for material movement, supermarkets, staging areas, and point-of-use delivery.
• Reduce unnecessary transportation, handling, WIP, and floor-space utilization.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to ensure layouts support current and future production requirements.

6. Project Management & Financial Analysis

• Develop project budgets, capital requirements, timelines, and resource plans.
• Conduct cost-benefit analysis for proposed plant and manufacturing transformations.
• Track project performance, risks, savings, and implementation milestones.
• Coordinate contractors, equipment suppliers, engineering resources, and internal stakeholders when required.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and according to defined operational requirements.

7. Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, Finance, and Plant Leadership.
• Facilitate project meetings, design reviews, and implementation planning.
• Communicate project status, risks, financial impact, and recommendations to leadership.
• Lead change management activities associated with significant plant and production transformations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, industrial engineering, facility planning, or plant transformation.
• Proven experience leading production line moves, facility relocations, plant layout redesigns, or major manufacturing transformation projects.
• Strong CAD experience, preferably with AutoCAD or similar industrial/facility layout software.
• Demonstrated ability to create and interpret 2D/3D plant layouts and equipment layouts.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, process optimization, material flow, and Industrial Engineering principles.
• Experience with project planning, scheduling, budgeting, and cross-functional project leadership.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work directly with plant leadership and multiple functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six Sigma certification.
• Experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, or heavy manufacturing.
• Experience with major plant relocations, facility expansions, consolidations, or production transfers.
• Experience with 3D CAD and/or facility design software.
• Experience with capital projects and equipment installation.
• Knowledge of ERP/MES systems.
• Experience with plant startups, new production lines, or greenfield/brownfield projects.
• Experience developing material-flow simulations or advanced facility-planning models.

Key Competencies

• Plant Transformation Leadership
• CAD & Facility Layout Design
• Industrial Engineering
• Project Management
• Lean Manufacturing
• Material Flow Optimization
• Space & Capacity Planning
• Analytical Problem Solving
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Change Management
• Financial & Cost Analysis
• Results Orientation

Success Measures

Success in this role will

CVG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc (CVG) is an equal employment opportunity employer such that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

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At this time, we are not providing sponsorship for this role. Applicants must be authorized to work in the country of the job posting location on a full-time basis.

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