Continuous Improvement Engineer - Early Career

Company / Location Information

Water technology is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and, as a leading global water technology company, A. O. Smith Corporation is at the center of the trend. We are a $3 billion company with 144-year history and employ more than 16,000 men and women around the globe.  A. O. Smith has a strong, people-oriented culture, and is committed to continuous improvement, not just in its factories and its processes, but in its people.

McBee, South Carolina, is home to A. O. Smith’s Engineering and Manufacturing teams for our Commercial Water Heaters and Boilers, a category where we are the industry leader with #1 market share.  This plant has earned the Lloyd B. Smith President’s Safety Award more times than any other plant in our organization and has received an Excellence in Safety Award from the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce for the fifth consecutive year.

Primary Function

The Continuous Improvement Engineer follows established engineering principles to determine the sequence of steps or processes required to fabricate and assemble products that meet the organization's standards of quality and cost. This person also performs standard technical calculations (for example, on time estimates, or equipment loads) and prepares standard operation sheets.

Scope of Responsibilities

• Monitor production processes and work methods; and collect, compile, and analyze production data to identify opportunities to improve production processes.
• Assists operations achieving measurable and sustainable improvement in key metrics such as efficiency, productivity and effectiveness of business and manufacturing processes.
• Tracks Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and Key Improvement Priorities (KIP’s).   Assures root cause analysis and countermeasures have been taken to address deficiencies.
• Facilitates CI Kaizen events and tracks progress of improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate learning opportunities regarding continuous improvement with other AOS facilities.  Provide corporate leadership as requested.
• Gathers information to evaluate current work processes in order to determine the flow of work, time requirements, costs, and duration.
• Applies various industrial engineering problem solving and productivity techniques to evaluate the improvement of recommended strategies and programs.
• Analyzes existing production processes and develops recommendations for changes to working methods or operation sequences that will minimize risks, costs, and wastage; increase yields and productivity; and improve the quality and consistency of final products.
• Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Manufacturing/Industrial/Quality Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 6 months of experience leading/supporting lean implementation in a manufacturing environment.
• Technical Skills - Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
• Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Conserves organizational resources.
• Professionalism - Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
• Dependability - Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Good communication skills
• Ability to facilitate meetings
• Ability to observe and document work performed by others
• Ability to observe and document process steps in automated work environments
• Good understanding of Lean Manufacturing processes and concepts

We Offer

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.