Continuous Improvement Specialist

What Timken makes possible begins with you.
Those who came before us helped land a man on the moon, create the world's infrastructure, and introduce renewable energy alternatives. Now you can join the Timken team to write your own unique story and help drive what's next.

A career at Timken means you can have an immediate impact doing Work That Matters to the world— improving the efficiency of today's industrial equipment and preparing for the future of motion on our planet and beyond. New employees can start contributing right away, and there are many opportunities to advance your career at your own pace. Join our global team of 19,000 people in 45 countries, and start helping our customers push the limits of what's possible in their world of motion.

Position Summary: The Continuous Improvement Specialist exists to identify, analyze, and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize production workflows of product, ensuring the company remains competitive and cost-effective. By focusing on improving production standards and ensuring consistent product quality, the role supports the delivery of high-performance couplings that meet customer expectations, reinforcing the company's reputation in the market.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Analyze and Optimize Manufacturing Processes: Conduct end-to-end assessments of production workflows to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement, implementing solutions to enhance productivity and reduce waste.


• Lead Cross-Functional Improvement Projects: Manage initiatives involving teams from engineering, quality assurance, supply chain and operations to drive improvements in product quality, cost efficiency, and delivery timelines.


• Develop and Implement Continuous Improvement Strategies: Design and roll out frameworks such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen tailored to the organization’s goals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the company.


• Develop and Standardize Work Instructions (SWIs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Collaborate with subject matter experts and operators to document clear, detailed, and visually supported SWIs and SOPs that align with manufacturing best practices, ensuring consistency, compliance with safety and quality standards, and ease of understanding for all team members.


• Facilitate Root Cause Analysis and Problem Solving: Investigate recurring issues or quality defects, apply structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams), and implement corrective and preventive actions.


• Train and Support Teams in Process Improvements: Develop and deliver training sessions for employees to ensure they understand and adopt new processes, tools, and methodologies effectively.

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Process improvement project experience with competence in developing project tracking, SWI and SOP


• Demonstrate a bias for action with a results orientation and positive communication skills, both written and verbal


• Solid skill set of SAP, Microsoft office programs and use corporate systems such as SAP


• Strong problem-solving skills


• Lean or SixSigma experience is preferred


• Strong leadership capabilities


• Ability to use statistical and analytical tools is preferred


• Ability to work across multiple functional groups collaboratively


• Active awareness of technology advancements in the industry/markets we serve


• Approximately 20% business travel is required between Lovejoy plants

Minimum Qualifications: 

• 5-7 years of manufacturing operations (industrial production or manufacturing experience)


• Previous CI or Engineering role with root cause analysis and PFEMA preferred

Education and Experience:

• Associate's degree required, preferably in STEM, Business or Supply Chain


• Bachelor’s degree is preferred 

The pay range for this position is $87,000 to $114,000 annually and is commensurate on experience and education and could pay more or less than the posted range. This full-time position is eligible to participate in the company's short-term incentive program, paid time off, 401k, and comprehensive benefits package including, medical, dental and vision.   

This position may require access to United States export controlled technical data (“CTD”) and hardware under the Departments of US State (ITAR) and/or Commerce (EAR).  Eligible candidates are; US Citizens, Green Card holders, Asylees or others eligible to receive US export license authorizations. Candidate must be authorized to work in the US.
 

All qualified applicants shall be treated equally according to their individual qualifications, abilities, experiences and other employment standards. There will be no discrimination due to gender or gender identity, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran/military status or any other basis protected by applicable law.