Drive operational excellence across feed production facilities using Lean methodologies and data-driven problem solving. Lead kaizens, time studies, process mapping, and bottleneck analysis to improve throughput, equipment uptime, labor utilization, safety, and quality. Coach operators and leaders, document and standardize processes, track CI projects and savings, support quality investigations, and travel to support multi-site improvement initiatives.
Description
Why Join the Rangen Group?
As a newly formed independent global company with a 100-year legacy, we are poised for significant growth and opportunity. You will play a role in shaping our future, strengthening customer trust, and unlocking unlimited growth potential. We are a safety-first organization, and we make our customers and employees priority.
The formal job description is below but first let me ask you a few questions:
- Are you looking to build your career with a rapidly growing pet, livestock & aquaculture nutrient manufacturer where your ideas and contributions can make a real impact from day one? We are a proud American Manufacturer.
- Do you want endless growth opportunities, clear career pathways, and the chance to advance as the company continues to expand? We offer attractive market wages and top tier benefits!
- Are you excited by joining a business on a fast track to becoming an employer of choice, where innovation and ambition are encouraged?
- Would you value working in an environment where passion for quality products, and continuous improvement drive everything we do?
- Are you ready to be part of a dynamic team? In this role, you will have full access and exposure to senior and executive leadership!
If this sounds like a place that motivates you, we welcome you to apply! With our new leadership team onboard, we are reshaping the landscape and invite you to join an exciting ground floor opportunity. You will help us shape our future.
Position Summary:
The Continuous Improvement Engineer is responsible for driving operational excellence across Rangen Group’s feed production facilities by improving safety, quality, throughput, and manufacturing efficiency. This role partners with plant & senior leadership, operators, and cross-functional teams to identify waste, stabilize processes, and standardize best practices using data-driven problem solving and Lean methodologies. The role serves as a facilitator and coach—enabling teams to solve problems, sustain improvements, and strengthen Rangen’s culture of continuous improvement across livestock, pet, and aquaculture feed operations.
Requirements
What You'll Do:
- Spend significant time on the production floor engaging operators and identifying improvement opportunities at the source
- Participate in daily Gemba walks with plant leadership to assess SQDCP performance and drive immediate countermeasures
- Model Lean behaviors and drive cultural adoption through hands-on presence, enthusiasm, and coaching
- Lead and facilitate kaizen events focused on SMED, waste elimination, material flow, and equipment reliability
- Reinforce and support 5S, Standard Work, Problem Solving, Leader Standard Work, and Daily Management routines
- Conduct time studies, process mapping, and bottleneck analysis across feed manufacturing processes
- Drive improvements in throughput, labor utilization, equipment uptime and cost performance
- Support implementation and follow-up on daily SQDCP boards
- Identify top SQDCP gaps and convert them into structured CI projects using PDCA, A3s, and root cause analysis
- Integrate safety and feed quality into all improvement activities
- Support Quality Engineering, CAPA, and deviation investigations
- Analyze production data including downtime, scrap trends, production variance, and throughput performance
- Track CI actions, verify cost savings, and maintain accurate project documentation
- Facilitate CI workshops, process improvement events, and on-site operator training sessions
- Participate periodically in cross-plant kaizens and best practices sharing
- Serve as a local technical resource for feed manufacturing processes
- Document processes and support standardization efforts
- Travel to support multi-site improvement initiatives
- Other role responsibilities and projects assigned
What You'll Bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering or equivalent experience
- Lean and data-driven problem-solving experience
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills
- Comfort working on the production floor with operators and supervisors
- Willingness to travel up to 50–70%
- Comfort working on the production floor with operators and supervisors
- Travel required up to 75% in the beginning, will get to a 50% level
What Makes You a Great Fit:
- Feed manufacturing or industrial operations experience
- Lean certification preferred
- ERP/MES familiarity
- Servant-leader mindset and strong coaching ability
- Advanced analytical skills: ability to collect and analyze data and problem-solve
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Suite Products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, etc.)
Similar Jobs
Food
Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence in a production area by owning Daily Management Systems, analyzing line event data, leading loss-elimination and autonomous maintenance teams, coaching production staff, supporting commissioning/validation for capital projects, and ensuring safety and quality compliance while spending the majority of time on the manufacturing floor.
Top Skills:
Factory Mars Operating System (Fmos)Lean Six SigmaLine Event Data SystemsMetric & Quality Management Systems
Logistics • Transportation • Automation • Manufacturing
Review and analyze production processes to identify improvements; conduct time and capability studies; apply Lean methods and root-cause analysis; plan and lead CI projects with cost-benefit and KPI tracking; implement quality and preventative maintenance initiatives; collaborate across plant teams to drive efficiency and document results.
Top Skills:
Capability StudiesCost-Benefit AnalysisFishbone DiagramGantt ChartsGauge R&RKanbanKpi TrackingLeanPoka-YokePreventive Maintenance AuditsRoot Cause AnalysisTime Studies
Food
Drive lean process improvement projects across logistics and distribution: design processes, run data analysis, implement Lean tools (5S, VSM, SMED, SPC), create standard work and training materials, coach operations teams, and support launch and sustainment of fulfillment and 3PL operations.
Top Skills:
5SConfluenceGoogle SuiteJIRAKaizenLean Six SigmaMS OfficeExcelMs PowerpointMs WordSmedSpcVsm
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
