Job Description

Scope of the position:

The Continuous Improvement Engineer supports daily production and long-term operational excellence within a plastics blow molding facility. This role focuses on optimizing processes, reducing waste, improving equipment performance, and supporting new product and tooling introductions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support daily blow molding operations, including troubleshooting process issues, optimizing machine settings, and improving cycle times.

• Assist with mold changeovers, tooling validation, and process qualification for new products.

• Develop and update standard operating procedures, work instructions, and process documentation.

• Collaborate with maintenance to improve equipment reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.

• Participate in new equipment installations, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and commissioning activities.

• Identify and execute improvement projects targeting scrap reduction, material efficiency, energy usage, and throughput.

• Apply Lean and Six Sigma tools such as 5S, SMED, value stream mapping, SPC, and root cause analysis.

• Lead or support kaizen events focused on waste elimination and process stabilization.

• Implement visual management systems and standard work to drive consistency across shifts.

Data Analysis & Performance Tracking

• Collect and analyze production data to identify trends, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.

• Monitor KPIs including OEE, scrap rate, downtime, cycle time, and material usage.

• Prepare reports and present findings to Engineering, Operations, and leadership teams.

Quality & Compliance

• Support quality investigations related to defects such as flash, voids, wall thickness variation, or contamination.

• Assist in implementing corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

• Ensure processes comply with ISO, customer, and regulatory requirements.

• Participate in audits and support continuous improvement of quality systems.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Plan, organize, and coordinate improvement activities, trials, and engineering tasks to ensure timely execution and clear communication across teams.

• Work closely with production supervisors, operators, maintenance technicians, and quality teams to implement sustainable improvements.

• Provide training on new processes, standards, and best practices.

• Support cross functional problem solving teams to address recurring issues.

Key Relationships: Engineering, Production, Quality, Technical, Maintenance

Decision making authority:

• Makes day‑to‑day technical decisions related to process adjustments within approved parameters.

• Selects and executes small‑scale continuous improvement initiatives with minimal supervision.

• Leads troubleshooting activities and directs operators during process trials or improvement events.

• Updates process documentation and standard work subject to supervisory review.

• Recommends corrective actions, process improvements, and equipment optimizations based on data analysis.

• Initiates containment actions for quality issues and supports CAPA development.

• Does not approve major process changes, capital expenditures, or customer‑facing quality decisions.

The above is not exhaustive. Other duties and responsibilities may be added as the employee’s immediate supervisor deems appropriate.

You should be proficient in:

• Continuous Improvement
• 5 Why (Root Cause Analysis Method)
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Production Optimization
• Engineering Degree
• Root Cause Analysis
• Process Development