Continuous Improvement Manager Jobs in Ohio

CLEVELAND GEAR COMPANY/HELLAN STRAINER COMPANY

Cleveland Gear/Hellan Strainer, leading manufacturers of high-quality worm gearing, industrial speed reducers, custom gear drives, strainers, pressure vessels and hose reels, is currently seeking candidates for a role as a Project Manager – Facilities & Continuous Improvement. We are in search of sophisticated, talented, highly-motivated individuals with initiative who are seeking a challenging and exciting opportunity to join a set of well-established, profitable, and growing companies.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Project Manager – Facilities & Continuous Improvement, reporting directly to the Plant Manager, is responsible for leading facility-related projects, maintenance improvement initiatives, capital projects, and continuous improvement efforts across Cleveland Gear’s manufacturing operations.

This position serves as a key operational partner to the Plant Manager and works cross-functionally with Maintenance, Production, Engineering, Quality, EHS/HR, Purchasing, and outside contractors. The role combines the facility and equipment reliability focus of a Facilities Maintenance Manager with the process improvement and waste-reduction focus of a Lean/Continuous Improvement Manager.

The Project Manager will have a strong presence on the shop floor and will be expected to identify operational challenges firsthand, develop practical solutions, and drive projects from initial concept through implementation and sustainment.

Key areas of ownership include facility reliability, preventive maintenance improvement, capital and infrastructure projects, equipment installations and relocations, plant layout and material flow, 5S, Lean manufacturing, waste reduction, productivity improvement, safety improvements, and operational cost reduction.

Working closely with the Plant Manager, this individual will help establish priorities for facility and operational improvements based on safety, production requirements, equipment reliability, business impact, and return on investment.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on project leader and problem solver who is equally comfortable walking the manufacturing floor identifying opportunities, working with skilled trades and production employees, coordinating contractors, analyzing operational data, and presenting project recommendations and results to leadership.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Facilities & Reliability

• Support the overall condition, reliability, and functionality of the manufacturing facility and its supporting infrastructure.
• Coordinate facility maintenance activities involving electrical, mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, compressed air, lighting, building systems, and other plant infrastructure.
• Identify facility and equipment reliability concerns and develop corrective or preventive solutions.
• Assist in developing and improving preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to reduce equipment downtime and improve equipment availability.
• Manage facility improvement, repair, renovation, and infrastructure projects.
• Coordinate and oversee outside contractors, vendors, and service providers.
• Obtain and evaluate vendor proposals, quotes, project scopes, and timelines.
• Ensure contractors and vendors comply with company safety, security, and operational requirements.
• Maintain documentation related to facility projects, inspections, repairs, equipment, and maintenance activities.
• Assist with long-term capital planning for facility and infrastructure needs.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Identify waste, bottlenecks, workflow issues, downtime drivers, and other operational inefficiencies.
• Facilitate Lean manufacturing activities including 5S, Kaizen events, Standard Work, Visual Management, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, and process improvement initiatives.
• Partner with shop-floor employees and supervisors to develop practical improvements that can be implemented and sustained.
• Evaluate manufacturing layouts, material flow, equipment placement, storage, workstations, and employee movement to improve efficiency and safety.
• Establish measurable goals and performance indicators for improvement projects.
• Track project results and communicate improvements, cost savings, productivity gains, and other measurable benefits to leadership.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and employee involvement throughout the organization.

Project Management

• Manage multiple facility, operational, and continuous improvement projects simultaneously.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, milestones, and implementation plans.
• Coordinate activities between Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, EHS/HR, Purchasing, and outside contractors.
• Identify project risks, constraints, and resource requirements.
• Monitor project timelines and budgets and escalate issues when necessary.
• Lead project meetings and provide regular status updates to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Ensure projects are properly documented from initial concept through completion.
• Conduct post-implementation reviews to confirm expected improvements have been achieved and sustained.

Equipment & Capital Improvement

• Participate in the evaluation, justification, installation, relocation, and commissioning of manufacturing equipment.
• Assist leadership in identifying capital improvement opportunities related to equipment reliability, facility infrastructure, productivity, and capacity.
• Develop business cases and cost-benefit analyses for proposed improvement projects.
• Coordinate equipment installations and facility modifications while minimizing disruption to production.
• Support equipment lifecycle planning and replacement strategies.
• Track project expenditures and measure return on investment when appropriate.

Safety & Compliance

• Partner with HR, Operations, and Safety leadership to maintain a safe manufacturing environment.
• Identify facility or process conditions that may create employee safety risks and coordinate corrective actions.
• Ensure facility projects and improvement initiatives consider applicable OSHA requirements, environmental Incorporate safety and ergonomics into equipment layouts, workstation designs, and process improvements.
• Support facility inspections, corrective actions, and safety improvement projects.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

• Equipment and facility reliability
• Reduction of unplanned downtime
• Preventive maintenance effectiveness
• Completion of facility and capital projects on time and within budget
• Productivity and process efficiency improvements
• Cost savings and cost avoidance
• 5S and workplace organization
• Safety and ergonomic improvements
• Reduction of operational waste
• Sustainability of implemented improvements

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Facilities Management, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of technical education and relevant manufacturing experience will be considered.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing operations, facilities management, maintenance, engineering, project management, or continuous improvement preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects within an industrial or manufacturing environment.
• Experience working directly with skilled trades, maintenance personnel, production employees, contractors, and vendors.
• Experience implementing Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies strongly preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and industrial facility environments.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, compressed air, and general building systems.
• Knowledge of preventive maintenance and equipment reliability principles.
• Understanding of Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong root cause analysis and structured problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret equipment specifications, drawings, layouts, manuals, and technical documentation.
• Strong project planning, organization, and execution skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• Strong vendor and contractor management skills.
• Ability to develop project budgets, cost estimates, and ROI/business-case analyses.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience with CMMS, ERP, project management, or manufacturing systems preferred.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or similar Continuous Improvement certification.
• PMP or formal project management training.
• Experience with 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Visual Management, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Experience with CNC machining, gear manufacturing, metalworking, or heavy industrial manufacturing.
• Experience managing capital equipment installations or plant-layout projects.
• Knowledge of OSHA requirements and industrial safety practices.
• Experience developing or improving preventive maintenance programs.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Shop-Floor Leadership – Comfortable spending significant time in the manufacturing environment and working directly with employees to understand operational challenges.

Problem Solving – Approaches problems systematically, identifies root causes, and develops practical solutions rather than temporary fixes.

Project Ownership – Takes responsibility for projects from initial identification through implementation, documentation, and follow-up.

Continuous Improvement Mindset – Consistently looks for safer, simpler, more efficient, and more cost-effective ways to operate.

Technical Curiosity – Willing to investigate equipment, processes, and facility systems to understand how and why problems occur.

Collaboration – Effectively works across Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, HR/Safety, and leadership.

Accountability – Establishes clear expectations, follows through on commitments, and ensures improvements are sustained.

PHYSICAL & WORK ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to regularly work within an active manufacturing environment.
• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods while evaluating equipment, processes, and facility conditions.
• Ability to climb stairs and access manufacturing and facility areas as required.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move materials or equipment consistent with company safety requirements.
• Must be comfortable working around industrial machinery, manufacturing equipment, noise, and other typical shop-floor conditions.
• Personal protective equipment must be worn as required.

ROLE FOCUS

This position is intended to operate at the intersection of Facilities + Reliability + Project Management + Continuous Improvement.

The Project Manager – Facilities & Continuous Improvement will not simply respond to facility problems after they occur. The expectation is to proactively identify opportunities, prioritize improvements, develop solutions, manage implementation, and establish systems that improve the long-term reliability and performance of Cleveland Gear’s manufacturing operation.