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Rangen LLC

Continuous Improvement Engineer

Reposted One Month Ago
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In-Office
Chicago, IL, USA
100K-120K
Mid level
In-Office
Chicago, IL, USA
100K-120K
Mid level
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.
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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 and senior leadership, operators, and cross-functional teams to identify waste, stabilize processes, and standardize best practices using data-driven problem solving and Lean methodologies.

This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who is energized by finding opportunities, initiating action, engaging people at every level of the organization, and driving improvements through to sustainable results. The role serves as a facilitator, coach, and change agent—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
  • Proactively seek out opportunities for improvement and take initiative to turn ideas into action
  • 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
  • Initiate contact with peers, employees, supervisors, and leadership to understand problems, challenge existing processes, and build solutions
  • 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
  • Aggressively pursue sustainable improvements—not temporary fixes—and follow through to ensure results are maintained
  • 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
  • Take ownership of additional projects and responsibilities as assigned

What You'll Bring:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering field, with relevant internship/co-op experience and a minimum of 1 year of applicable experience; OR 5+ years of experience in Continuous Improvement in a manufacturing environment. 
  • Food, feed, or process manufacturing experience preferred. 
  • Lean and data-driven problem-solving experience
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills
  • Comfort working on the production floor with operators and supervisors
  •  A demonstrated willingness to take initiative, ask questions, build relationships, and pursue opportunities without waiting to be directed 
  • Willingness to travel frequently between different company sites and states
  • Comfort working on the production floor with operators and supervisors

What Makes You a Great Fit:

  • Feed manufacturing or industrial operations experience
  • Lean certification preferred
  • ERP/MES familiarity
  • A proactive, action-oriented mindset—you naturally look for what can be improved and take ownership of making it happen
  • Strong drive to turn ideas into measurable and sustainable results
  • Servant-leader mindset and strong coaching ability
  • Ability to build relationships and influence without relying solely on authority
  • Advanced analytical skills: ability to collect and analyze data and problem-solve
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Confidence initiating conversations with employees, peers, plant leaders, and senior leadership
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Suite Products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams, etc.)
  • Curiosity, persistence, and the drive to continuously challenge “the way we've always done it”

Rangen Group offers a rich and competitive benefits program, including medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) with company match up to 6%, competitive PTO, Wellbeing Time, 10 company-paid holidays, and additional benefits designed to support you and your family. 

Rangen, LLC Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. Rangen, LLC considers all qualified applicants and employees for hiring, placement, and advancement, without regard to a person's race, color, religion, national origin, age, genetic information, military status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or protected veteran status. We invite you to join our diverse & growing team. 

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