Continuous Improvement Manager (Cary)
Durex Industries, Cary, IL, United States
A well-established discrete manufacturing company in Cary, IL is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to drive Lean initiatives and build a culture of operational excellence across the plant. This is a highly visible role focused on improving safety, quality, delivery, and productivity through structured CI methodologies.
This position is ideal for a hands-on leader who can work directly with production teams, develop frontline leaders, and implement sustainable process improvements.
What You’ll Do
Lead and execute Lean / Continuous Improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations
Partner with Production, Quality, and Materials to identify and eliminate waste, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies
Drive improvements in key metrics (safety, quality, on-time delivery, productivity, OEE)
Facilitate root cause analysis (RCA), problem-solving, and corrective actions
Implement and sustain Lean tools (5S, standard work, visual management, Kaizen, TPM, etc.)
Coach and develop supervisors and team leads on CI principles and daily execution
Support production teams on the floor to ensure adoption and sustainability of improvements
Help build structure, discipline, and operating rhythms within the plant
What We’re Looking For
Experience in Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Engineering, or Production leadership
Strong background in
discrete manufacturing
(assembly, fabrication, machining, forming, etc.) Hands-on Lean / CI experience with proven results (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, TPM, etc.) Ability to work cross-functionally and influence at all levels of the organization Comfortable being on the shop floor and driving change with production teams Strong problem-solving and data-driven decision-making skills Bachelor’s degree preferred Why This Role High visibility role with direct impact on plant performance Opportunity to help shape CI culture in a growing organization Path for career growth into broader operations leadership Competitive compensation + bonus + full benefits package
discrete manufacturing
(assembly, fabrication, machining, forming, etc.) Hands-on Lean / CI experience with proven results (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, TPM, etc.) Ability to work cross-functionally and influence at all levels of the organization Comfortable being on the shop floor and driving change with production teams Strong problem-solving and data-driven decision-making skills Bachelor’s degree preferred Why This Role High visibility role with direct impact on plant performance Opportunity to help shape CI culture in a growing organization Path for career growth into broader operations leadership Competitive compensation + bonus + full benefits package