At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive meaningful improvements in manufacturing and engineering operations through hands-on projects.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 4-day working week, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on problem-solving and team engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by optimising processes and enhancing quality across the organisation.
- Qualifications: Relevant qualifications in Engineering or Operations Management and experience in improvement projects.
Are you passionate about making things work better? We are looking for a Continuous Improvement Lead to help drive meaningful improvements across our manufacturing and engineering operations. This is a hands-on role where you will work with teams across the business to identify opportunities, improve processes, reduce waste, enhance quality and support a culture of operational excellence.
About the role
You will analyse existing manufacturing processes, lead improvement initiatives and use Lean, Six Sigma and problem-solving techniques to deliver sustainable improvements in productivity, quality, cost, delivery and overall business performance.
What you will be doing:
- Identify and evaluate opportunities for process improvements across manufacturing, engineering, and business operations.
- Lead continuous improvement projects focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
- Apply Lean Manufacturing techniques, including 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, and Visual Management.
- Support root cause analysis such as 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
- Analyse operational data and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
- Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions to eliminate recurring issues.
- Support the deployment of continuous improvement culture throughout the organisation.
- Facilitate workshops, improvement events, and employee engagement initiatives.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimise workflows and remove process bottlenecks.
- Document new processes, procedures, and best practices.
- Monitor project performance and ensure benefits are measured and sustained.
- Support business transformation and operational excellence initiatives.
- Provide coaching and training on Lean and continuous improvement principles.
- Provide reporting on cost, waste, process cycle time reductions, as well as improvements in quality and on-time delivery metrics.
- Report on improvement projects completion rates and return on investment from improvement initiatives.
What we are looking for:
- Relevant Engineering / Manufacturing / Operations Management qualification and/or equivalent experience.
- Experience in a manufacturing, engineering, or operational environment.
- Experience leading improvement projects.
- Ability to analyse complex data and present findings effectively.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and Excel.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate at all levels.
- Ability to develop successful working relationships, work on own initiative and as part of a team.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
- A good team player with a flexible attitude to workload.
Desirable experience:
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
- Experience with ERP and business intelligence systems.
- Knowledge of project management methodologies.
- Experience with process mapping and statistical analysis tools.
- Change management experience.
Why join us?
You will have the opportunity to make a visible impact by improving the way we work, supporting teams across the organisation and helping shape a culture of continuous improvement. We also offer a 4-day working week, helping you balance meaningful work with more time outside of work. If you enjoy solving problems, working collaboratively and turning ideas into practical results, we would love to hear from you.
Continuous Improvement Lead in Portland employer: Tods Defence Limited
At Tods, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work environment in Portland, Dorset. With a strong focus on employee development and a commitment to work-life balance through our 4-day working week, we provide numerous benefits including generous holiday allowances, a company pension scheme, and access to private healthcare. Join us to be part of a fast-growing business where your skills will be nurtured, and every day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth.
