Continuous Improvement Manager
Associated Materials Innovations, Ennis, TX, United States
Who We Are
Join the Associated Materials Innovations team at Associated Materials, LLC, and be AMazing with us! We combine a rich history in innovation with an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement of the customer experience. Decades of providing vinyl windows, siding, and metal building products have helped build homes and communities across North America.
Position Summary The
Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager
is responsible for driving operational excellence across the manufacturing network through Lean, Six Sigma, and standardized work methodologies. This role reports to the plant manager and focuses on reducing waste, improving equipment performance, optimizing labor efficiency, and strengthening safety and quality results. The CI Manager partners closely with Plant Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and HR to ensure manufacturing processes are stable, repeatable, and continuously improving. The ideal candidate has strong shopfloor presence, understands production flow and equipment constraints, and can translate Lean tools into practical, effective solutions for frontline teams.
Key Accountabilities
Manufacturing Strategy & Leadership
Lead the development and deployment of the Continuous Improvement strategy across the manufacturing plant.
Align CI initiatives with plant KPIs, including OEE, scrap, rework, throughput, changeover time, cost per unit, and labor utilization.
Serve as the plant's Lean/Operational Excellence champion, modeling disciplined problem‑solving and data‑driven decision‑making.
Partner with Plant Manager and leadership team to prioritize high‑impact CI projects that improve productivity, quality, and safety.
Process Optimization
Conduct value‑stream mapping to identify bottlenecks, material‑flow issues, and improvement opportunities.
Lead Kaizen events focused on:
Reducing scrap and defects
Minimizing downtime and changeover duration (SMED)
Improving equipment reliability in partnership with Maintenance/Engineering
Optimizing labor balance and standard work
Implement 5S and visual management systems on production lines to improve consistency and reduce waste.
Analyze production data to identify performance gaps and develop corrective action plans.
Equipment & Operational Efficiency
Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to support TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) programs.
Identify root causes of downtime using tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, FMEA, and implement countermeasures.
Support implementation of automation, ergonomic improvements, and other technologies that increase line efficiency.
Training & Capability Building
Train plant employees—operators, leads, supervisors, and engineers—in Lean tools (5S, standard work, Kanban, problem‑solving).
Mentor Green Belt/Yellow Belt project leaders and support their certification progress.
Work with HR and Operations leadership to integrate CI thinking into onboarding, new supervisor training, and ongoing plant development programs.
Performance Tracking & KPIs
Define, measure, and report CI results in areas such as:
OEE (Availability, Performance, Quality)
Scrap and material yield
Process cycle time and lead time
Labor productivity and utilization
Safety improvements / near‑miss reduction
Maintain a CI project portfolio, scorecard, and regular reporting cadence with plant leadership and corporate operations.
Change Management & Culture Building
Lead change‑management efforts to ensure new processes are adopted and sustained.
Coach supervisors and frontline leads to reinforce standard work and daily management practices.
Promote a culture where operators are engaged, empowered, and encouraged to identify improvement ideas.
Required Education, Experience & Skills
Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing, or related field.
5–10 years of CI, Lean, or Operations experience in a manufacturing environment (required).
Demonstrated success leading plant‑level Lean/CI initiatives with measurable results and success.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt; Black Belt strongly preferred.
Additional technical training (TPM, SMED, Kaizen facilitation) is a plus.
Certifications in change management, project management (PMP), or similar fields are a plus.
Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing principles
Statistical analysis & root‑cause problem solving
Standard work and process control
ERP and MES systems
Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools (Excel, Power BI, Minitab).
Strong shop‑floor leadership presence—able to motivate and influence without authority.
Excellent communicator and facilitator across frontline, supervisors, engineers, and leadership.
Process thinker with a sense of urgency and strong follow‑through.
Success Metrics for This Role
Increased productivity and throughput
Reduction in defects, scrap, downtime, or cost of poor quality
Reduced lead times and improved on‑time delivery
Higher frontline engagement in CI activities
Increased number of trained and certified Green/Yellow Belts
Sustained adoption of standard work and improved operational stability
About Us When you join AMI, you are part of a leading North American manufacturing business of vinyl windows, cladding, metal siding, trim and other essential exterior building products for residential, light commercial and multifamily projects. In 2022, we introduced our composite cladding system—a first‑of‑its‑kind solution featuring exclusive (GP)2 technology. Headquartered in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, AMI is part of Associated Materials, LLC, which owns and operates multiple manufacturing facilities in North America, including a distribution center.
Equal Opportunity Employer Associated Materials, LLC, provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance. We also make reasonable accommodations for disabled employees and applicants, as required by law.
Additional Information The actual wage offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, job‑related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay parity. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. Click to learn more about benefits.
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Position Summary The
Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager
is responsible for driving operational excellence across the manufacturing network through Lean, Six Sigma, and standardized work methodologies. This role reports to the plant manager and focuses on reducing waste, improving equipment performance, optimizing labor efficiency, and strengthening safety and quality results. The CI Manager partners closely with Plant Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and HR to ensure manufacturing processes are stable, repeatable, and continuously improving. The ideal candidate has strong shopfloor presence, understands production flow and equipment constraints, and can translate Lean tools into practical, effective solutions for frontline teams.
Key Accountabilities
Manufacturing Strategy & Leadership
Lead the development and deployment of the Continuous Improvement strategy across the manufacturing plant.
Align CI initiatives with plant KPIs, including OEE, scrap, rework, throughput, changeover time, cost per unit, and labor utilization.
Serve as the plant's Lean/Operational Excellence champion, modeling disciplined problem‑solving and data‑driven decision‑making.
Partner with Plant Manager and leadership team to prioritize high‑impact CI projects that improve productivity, quality, and safety.
Process Optimization
Conduct value‑stream mapping to identify bottlenecks, material‑flow issues, and improvement opportunities.
Lead Kaizen events focused on:
Reducing scrap and defects
Minimizing downtime and changeover duration (SMED)
Improving equipment reliability in partnership with Maintenance/Engineering
Optimizing labor balance and standard work
Implement 5S and visual management systems on production lines to improve consistency and reduce waste.
Analyze production data to identify performance gaps and develop corrective action plans.
Equipment & Operational Efficiency
Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to support TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) programs.
Identify root causes of downtime using tools such as 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, FMEA, and implement countermeasures.
Support implementation of automation, ergonomic improvements, and other technologies that increase line efficiency.
Training & Capability Building
Train plant employees—operators, leads, supervisors, and engineers—in Lean tools (5S, standard work, Kanban, problem‑solving).
Mentor Green Belt/Yellow Belt project leaders and support their certification progress.
Work with HR and Operations leadership to integrate CI thinking into onboarding, new supervisor training, and ongoing plant development programs.
Performance Tracking & KPIs
Define, measure, and report CI results in areas such as:
OEE (Availability, Performance, Quality)
Scrap and material yield
Process cycle time and lead time
Labor productivity and utilization
Safety improvements / near‑miss reduction
Maintain a CI project portfolio, scorecard, and regular reporting cadence with plant leadership and corporate operations.
Change Management & Culture Building
Lead change‑management efforts to ensure new processes are adopted and sustained.
Coach supervisors and frontline leads to reinforce standard work and daily management practices.
Promote a culture where operators are engaged, empowered, and encouraged to identify improvement ideas.
Required Education, Experience & Skills
Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing, or related field.
5–10 years of CI, Lean, or Operations experience in a manufacturing environment (required).
Demonstrated success leading plant‑level Lean/CI initiatives with measurable results and success.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt; Black Belt strongly preferred.
Additional technical training (TPM, SMED, Kaizen facilitation) is a plus.
Certifications in change management, project management (PMP), or similar fields are a plus.
Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing principles
Statistical analysis & root‑cause problem solving
Standard work and process control
ERP and MES systems
Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools (Excel, Power BI, Minitab).
Strong shop‑floor leadership presence—able to motivate and influence without authority.
Excellent communicator and facilitator across frontline, supervisors, engineers, and leadership.
Process thinker with a sense of urgency and strong follow‑through.
Success Metrics for This Role
Increased productivity and throughput
Reduction in defects, scrap, downtime, or cost of poor quality
Reduced lead times and improved on‑time delivery
Higher frontline engagement in CI activities
Increased number of trained and certified Green/Yellow Belts
Sustained adoption of standard work and improved operational stability
About Us When you join AMI, you are part of a leading North American manufacturing business of vinyl windows, cladding, metal siding, trim and other essential exterior building products for residential, light commercial and multifamily projects. In 2022, we introduced our composite cladding system—a first‑of‑its‑kind solution featuring exclusive (GP)2 technology. Headquartered in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, AMI is part of Associated Materials, LLC, which owns and operates multiple manufacturing facilities in North America, including a distribution center.
Equal Opportunity Employer Associated Materials, LLC, provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance. We also make reasonable accommodations for disabled employees and applicants, as required by law.
Additional Information The actual wage offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, job‑related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay parity. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. Click to learn more about benefits.
#J-18808-Ljbffr