Continuous Improvement Engineer

POSITION PURPOSELead complex cross-functional projects and engineering-driven continuous improvement initiatives that improve safety quality service cost productivity capacity and scalability across SMP Inc.s Lewisville Distribution Center. This role integrates disciplined project management industrial engineering Lean Six Sigma methodology stage-gate governance engineered labor standards and financial analysis to translate business needs into practical solutions controlled execution and measurable operational and financial position partners with distribution center leadership operations Finance Human Resources IT and other functional stakeholders to optimize workflows labor utilization material flow facility capacity systems and standard work. The role is accountable for establishing project priorities evaluating business cases managing implementation risks validating benefits and ensuring improvements are adopted and DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES1. Project Management and GovernanceLead projects from intake and charter development through planning execution monitoring control implementation handoff and post-implementation project objectives scope requirements deliverables milestones dependencies acceptance criteria budgets resources and success integrated project plans schedules decision logs risk and issue registers action registers change controls and status cross-functional project teams and establish clear ownership for deliverables decisions deadlines dependencies and project status financial outlook risks constraints tradeoffs and decisions required to site and functional project scope schedule cost quality resources communications procurement stakeholder engagement and change throughout the project project priorities and resource requirements with operational leaders to balance improvement initiatives with daily distribution center demands.2. Industrial Engineering and Operational AnalysisAnalyze distribution center processes using engineering financial logistics operational and workforce-related principles to identify performance gaps and develop effective employee department and process productivity; partner with operations leaders to identify root causes establish performance targets and implement corrective action time studies work measurement labor analysis data collection workflow studies and productivity assessments to identify opportunities for improved efficiency and evaluate and maintain engineered labor standards and performance measurement methods as appropriate to operational the sequence of operations process flow staffing requirements facility utilization and resource allocation to identify opportunities for improved throughput and reduced labor utilization capacity constraints workload balance process variation and operational bottlenecks; recommend data-driven daily weekly and annual operational analyses and plans to support productivity capacity staffing and performance data analysis and appropriate engineering tools to quantify current-state performance establish baselines and measure improvement opportunities.3. Lean Six Sigma and Continuous ImprovementApply Lean principles and Six Sigma problem-solving techniques to improve customer value eliminate waste reduce variation improve process flow and strengthen operational current-state and future-state assessments process mapping root-cause analysis Kaizen events 5S visual management standard work and mistake-proofing as develop document and implement best practices and standard operating procedures that improve efficiency consistency accuracy and with operations leaders and frontline associates to ensure proposed improvements are practical understood implemented and measurable performance baselines and improvement targets before implementation; validate outcomes after control plans performance measures and ownership structures to sustain improvements and prevent and implement methods to maximize the utilization of facilities equipment labor and other operational training and change management to ensure associates and process owners understand revised procedures performance expectations and standard work.4. Financial Analysis and Business ResultsDevelop and maintain project business cases with Finance and functional partners including capital expenditures one-time costs recurring expenses labor impacts productivity inventory service and risk project cost estimates financial forecasts and return-on-investment analyses to support operational and capital investment the potential impact of proposed changes on operating expenses margin cash flow working capital labor costs and profit-and-loss performance as the financial and operational impact of process changes facility improvements equipment investments systems implementations and productivity actual versus forecast spending and benefits; identify variances corrective actions payback implications and benefit-realization with Finance and accountable business owners to validate realized savings productivity gains and other operational and financial project performance and business outcomes using clear supportable financial and non-financial measures.5. Distribution Center Process Systems and Capacity ImprovementLead improvement initiatives involving warehouse processes facility layout slotting material flow labor planning equipment inventory accuracy safety quality and customer and recommend material-handling solutions warehouse systems information systems automation and operational tools that improve distribution facility and process capacity identify constraints and develop recommendations to improve throughput scalability space utilization and resource with Operations IT Engineering Finance and other stakeholders to evaluate system functionality process requirements implementation readiness and expected projects involving warehouse management systems (WMS) enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems voice-based picking material-handling equipment automation and facility modifications as project designs and implementations meet company policies applicable safety and environmental standards quality requirements and operational operational readiness associate training documentation cutover stabilization and transition of implemented solutions to designated process QUALIFICATIONSBachelors degree in Industrial Engineering Engineering Business Operations Supply Chain or a related field; equivalent relevant education and experience may be of five years of progressively responsible experience in project management industrial engineering continuous improvement operations engineering or a related experience leading cross-functional projects and managing scope schedule cost risk quality resources communications stakeholders and experience applying Lean Six Sigma methodology and structured problem-solving techniques in an operational Six Sigma Green Belt certification or conducting time studies work measurement engineering standards development productivity analysis and operational data analyzing labor utilization workflow process performance and resource requirements to develop measurable improvement to develop project cost estimates business cases capital investment analyses and return-on-investment of financial and operational performance measures including productivity labor cost operating expenses capacity inventory service and benefit developing and implementing standard operating procedures process controls and sustainable continuous improvement proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications; proficiency with project management and data analysis analytical problem-solving written communication verbal communication presentation facilitation and stakeholder management to build and maintain collaborative relationships across organizational levels and with internal and external to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced deadline-driven distribution QUALIFICATIONS AND TECHNICAL SKILLSProject Management Professional (PMP) certification or comparable project management Six Sigma Black Belt in warehouse distribution manufacturing automotive aftermarket or supply chain developing implementing or maintaining engineered labor standards in a warehouse or distribution with warehouse management systems (WMS) enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems voice-based picking material-handling systems warehouse automation and facility with capital projects equipment selection layout design capacity planning and operational technology with Microsoft Access AutoCAD SQL VBA macros or comparable analytical and engineering using data-driven performance management labor planning and productivity measurement ASPECTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENTAbility to work effectively in an active distribution center and adjust working hours as project implementations operational requirements or business needs to regularly or occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds as required by the abilities required may include close vision distance vision color vision peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust work environment typically has low to moderate noise to work safely in an operational environment and comply with applicable safety REQUIREMENTSDemonstrates integrity ownership accountability sound judgment urgency teamwork and a commitment to continuous professional working relationships and communicates effectively with associates leaders and cross-functional flexibility and adaptability in responding to changing business priorities and operational other related duties and projects as DESCRIPTION DISCLAIMERThis description reflects the general duties responsibilities and qualifications of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Responsibilities may be modified as business needs job title classification reporting relationship physical requirements compensation range and applicable equal employment opportunity language should be reviewed and approved by Human Resources.