Machine Shop Continuous Improvement Engineer in Leicester

We are looking for a Continuous Improvement Engineer to join our Machine Shop. Reporting to the Machine Shop Manager, you will be required to support with planning, liaise with a cross-functional team in order to deliver productivity and capacity targets, support continuous improvement, quality and use data to drive operational development. This role would be consuming ~20% of weekly working hours with 80% still to deliver direct labour hours.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

• Continuous Improvement Program & Governance: Contribute to Kaizen events and daily/weekly Gemba walks; champion 5S, visual management, and waste elimination.
• Process Engineering & Time Reduction: Conduct time studies and batch quantities to improve accuracy of planned job times, highlighting opportunities for direct cost savings. Identify and implement productivity improvements that lead to reduced planned times. Develop process capability on key characteristics; implement error-proofing (Poka-Yoke). Translate shop KPIs (OEE, utilisation, WIP, yield, scrap, rework, schedule adherence) into actions that improve overhead recovery.
• Quality Improvement & Problem Solving: Contribute to root cause analysis via IPCAR meetings to address defects, variation, and repeat issues. Collaborate with Quality on in-process controls in alignment with key stakeholders to drive world class quality.
• Production Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with the machine shop team, planners, quality, and supply chain to remove bottlenecks. Support NPI/engineering changes to ensure manufacturability and stable process introduction.

Required Essential Skills

• Track record of working closely with Manufacturing cells, planning, suppliers and quality departments.
• Experience of using problem solving techniques.
• A strong track record of delivering quality based solutions for customers.
• Good time management with a track record of delivering product on time.
• Strong IT skills, Microsoft Office, Word and Excel at Intermediate level.
• Team player, able to work in a concurrent team.
• Self-motivated and takes ownership with a proactive approach with the ability to work independently, maintaining team communication.
• Handles pressure well, with a flexible approach to work and a willingness to learn and develop.
• Has experience of running continuous improvement projects from end to end.
• Has experience in driving down production costs.
• Need to be Basic DBS clearable due to air freight security.
• Six Sigma – Green belt acceptable, Blackbelt advantageous.
• Strong knowledge and use of lean manufacturing techniques and tools.

Desirable Skills

• Knowledge of Navision ERP/MRP system.
• Good Communicator.
• Knowledge of inventory management.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing tools.
• Project management skills.

Required Personal Attributes

• Honesty/Integrity – Does not cut corners ethically. Earns trust and maintains confidence. Does what is right. Speaks plainly and truthfully.
• Follow through on commitments – Lives up to verbal and written agreements, regardless of personal costs.
• Attention to detail – Does not let important details slip through the cracks or derail a project.
• Flexibility/adaptability – adjusts quickly to change priority and conditions. Copes effectively with complexity and change.
• Enthusiasm – Exhibits passion and excitement over work. Has a can-do attitude.
• Work Ethic – possess a strong willingness to work hard and sometimes long hours to get the job done. Has a track record of working hard.
• High standards – Expects personal performance to be nothing short of the best.
• Listening skills – Lets others speak and seeks to understand their viewpoints.
• Communication – speaks and writes clearly and articulately without being over verbose or talkative.
• Teamwork – reaches out to peers and cooperates with managers to establish overall collaborative working relationship.