Process Improvement Engineer

About Sara Lee

Sara Lee desserts have always stood for incredible flavor and superior value in the frozen food aisle. Now, for the first time in over 60 years, Sara Lee is operating independently as Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, a collection of four brands- Sara Lee, Van’s, Bistro Collection, and Chef Pierre-united in quality and innovation under new leadership.

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is proud to take these iconic brands into a new era and to continue the evolution that transformed one small Chicago bakery into an American institution. We can’t wait to show you what Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is bringing to the table.

Working for Sara Lee

Our vision is to be the world’s most beloved bakery by creating irresistible foods, growing with our customers, and delivering value for all. We believe that each of us has unique points of difference and experience to offer. We will achieve success through collaboration and innovation in an environment where employees feel empowered to execute with speed.

Summary

In the Process Improvement Engineer role, you will be responsible for:

Maintaining & improving OEE, production system capabilities, and operational stability. Responsibilities include technical leadership and people development, cost efficiency, continuous improvement on processes, equipment, and safety. The Process Improvement Engineer develops mastery of the processes and equipment they are assigned to and uses that mastery to deliver improved OEE, quality, and yield.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for loss analysis & OEE improvement plan development, plan execution leadership, and results tracking
• Develop and implement capital equipment projects as needed to support the OEE improvement plans
• Oversee analytical troubleshooting & problem-solving activities
• Facilitate Lean Six Sigma (LSS) project management as needed leveraging the internal Continuous Improvement Program (Sweet Success)
• Oversee the Downtime collection system
• Develop team to solve day-to-day operational issues and reach short- and long-term performance goals
• Deliver effective change leadership - driving business changes while minimizing people impact
• Communicate and collaborate cross-functionally to assist team to solve operational issues
• Effective leader and motivator who can engage employees at all levels in the problem-solving process to achieve plant goals
• Motivate team members to achieve plan goals. Drive data driven and frontline team-based culture
• Understand the fundamental tools & methodologies of the following TPM pillars – Focused Improvement (FI), Autonomous Maintenance (AM), Planned Maintenance (PM), Early Management (EM)
• Understand the CQV process – Commissioning, Qualification, Verification process
• Apply reliability expertise to stabilize and improve the operation, driving variation down and seeking improved TE through capital, procedural, and operational improvements in both planned and unplanned downtime areas
• Develop and maintain staffing and scrap standards for new and revised manufacturing process
• Demonstrate good oral and written communication skills through leading meetings and preparing written plant communications
• Oversee process improvement capital projects including, design, planning, organizing, scheduling, control, integration, for on time and within budget completion
• This role will require some off-shift and weekend work

Additional duties may include:

• Responsible for rapid changeover activities including principles, target setting, and leading successful efforts reducing changeover time to achieve challenging objectives
• Provide weekly, period, and ‘Year to Date’ reliability and variability downtime analysis support to the operation.
• Assist in plant initiatives and direct line supervision as needed
• Administer policies and procedures to ensure compliance with plant safety, security, and GMP requirements
• Regular and predictable attendance at the work site
• This role requires regular presence on the plant floor
• This role requires lifting up to 40 lbs. occasionally
• This role may require off-shift and/or weekend work.
• This role may require some travel (less than 25%)

The position responsibilities outlined above are not to be construed as all encompassing. Other duties and responsibilities may be required and/or assigned as necessary.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Preferably in engineering, business, operations management, or similar field
• Lean Six Sigma Experience preferred, demonstrated by successful completion of a major improvement project.
• 3 + years of manufacturing experience in a consumer product manufacturing operation preferred
• Must be self-motivated, results and action oriented.
• Ability to make independent and sound decisions.
• Ability to conduct assessments and audits and evaluate to measure progress.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Solid understanding of Business Finance principles
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite applications
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• Ability to lead a team-based approach to decision making
• Demonstrated ability to work in a results-oriented, challenging environment
• Strong leadership with the ability to get results through mentoring others
• Effective coaching, facilitation, presentation, and team building skills
• Proficient in AutoCAD 19

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.