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Position Details & Responsibilities

A leading manufacturer of vocational trucks, trailers, and specialty transportation equipment is seeking a Manufacturing Engineering & Continuous Improvement Manager to lead operational excellence initiatives at its manufacturing facility in North Carolina.

This is a highly visible onsite leadership role responsible for improving manufacturing performance through lean processes, continuous improvement initiatives, production optimization, facility layout improvements, and data-driven decision-making. 

The ideal candidate will have a strong manufacturing engineering background, experience leading continuous improvement efforts, and a proven track record of increasing throughput, reducing waste, improving quality, and optimizing production operations. This is not a product design role - it is focused entirely on manufacturing processes, operational efficiency, and plant performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Manufacturing Engineering and Continuous Improvement functions, aligning initiatives with operational and growth objectives.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and other continuous improvement programs to improve safety, quality, productivity, and profitability.
• Analyze production processes, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions that increase throughput, reduce waste, and improve operational efficiency.
• Optimize manufacturing workflows, facility layouts, material flow, and line balancing to support current production demands and future growth.
• Develop and monitor key performance metrics, utilizing data and analytics to drive informed decision-making and measurable results.
• Lead capital improvement projects including equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, tooling improvements, and facility enhancements.
• Partner with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering teams to support new product introductions, process improvements, and manufacturing best practices.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development for the Manufacturing Engineering team while fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Support quality improvement efforts through root cause analysis, corrective actions, and process standardization.
• Ensure manufacturing operations meet safety, quality, regulatory, and operational performance objectives.

For additional information about this position, please contact BethAnn Hnat at Herk and Associates.

BHnat@herkandassociates.com 

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field preferred
• 7+ years of manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, or continuous improvement experience within a manufacturing environment
• Prior leadership experience managing engineers, process improvement teams, or technical personnel preferred
• Strong experience with Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and Continuous Improvement methodologies
• Experience with production flow analysis, line balancing, facility layout design, and material handling systems
• Strong understanding of fabrication, assembly, welding, paint, or heavy manufacturing operations preferred
• Experience utilizing CAD software such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Inventor, Solid Edge, or similar platforms
• Experience with manufacturing KPIs, dashboards, reporting tools, and performance measurement systems
• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Experience within truck, trailer, bus, transportation equipment, vocational vehicle, or related manufacturing industries strongly preferred