CI Engineer

Business Unit: NAWH

Hybrid, Onsite or Remote:
Onsite

A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy‑efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A.O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The Continuous Improvement Engineer II is responsible for driving the development and execution of Continuous Improvement initiatives (AO Smith Operating Systems) aimed at optimizing business operations, and the advancement of a culture of continuous improvement by supporting the adoption and consistent application of AOSos throughout the organization. This role is key in identifying opportunities to enhance processes, improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost reduction, all in alignment with organizational objectives.

The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to drive process and system improvements that align with the company's goals and values. They can communicate complex ideas and improvement strategies in a clear and engaging manner to ensure buy‑in and facilitate successful collaboration across teams.

• Lead and facilitate continuous improvement projects, utilizing basic and advanced CI tools to optimize workflows, eliminate inefficiencies, and enhance productivity across production processes.
• Monitor, collect and analyze production and process data to identify inefficiencies and improvement opportunities. Recommend and implement solutions to reduce time, waste, and costs while improving efficiency.
• Develop and maintain process maps. Support front line teams in their development and deployment of standards including job instructions.
• Facilitate problem‑solving sessions, Kaizen events, and workshops to address operational challenges, applying root cause analysis (RCA) and Lean methodologies to eliminate waste and enhance processes.
• Design and implement measurement systems, including KPIs, to track and evaluate the effectiveness of process improvements and sustainability.
• Train and mentor team members on continuous improvement tools and methodologies, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and empowering staff in executing and leading improvement activities.
• Monitor and manage project timelines, milestones, and deliverables, collaborating with teams to resolve issues, ensure effective communication, and meet project objectives.
• Prepare and present detailed reports on project outcomes, recommendations, and progress to stakeholders and site leadership.
• Maintain comprehensive records of improvement activities, ensuring transparency and facilitating knowledge sharing across the organization.
• Collaborate with IT and systems teams to support appropriate technology solutions to adopt innovation in business processes.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field.
• 3 years’ experience in manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, etc.
• Intermediate understanding of Lean or other process improvement methodologies.
• Proficient in problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills. Certified AOSos Problem Solver or equivalent external certification. Ability to coach problem-solving.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and process analysis tools.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, interpret ensuring the integrity of the data, and present data effectively.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Effectively communicates by adapting to diverse audiences, clearly conveying complex ideas, actively listening, and fostering collaboration to build strong relationships within and across teams.
• Growth Mindset – Seeks development…