Continuous Improvement (Lean) Leader
Arconic · Cranberry Township, PA
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Travel
- 50%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 5+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Metals
- Posted
- 25 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management continuous improvement role at Arconic (metals) in Cranberry Township, PA. Savings/Inventory, Lead time reduction, Customer Experience improvements).
- They ask for
- 5+ years · degree required · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Green Belt, Kaizen, 5S
- Day to day
- about 50% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Continuous Improvement roles in Pennsylvania: typical posted base $144k–$217k.
Median of the low and high ends of 4 live postings that list pay, out of 11 continuous improvement openings in Pennsylvania, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Pennsylvania plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 10 other live lean / ci postings in Pennsylvania.
- Experience asked
- Typical (5+ years)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 82%
- ✓ Root cause 73%
- ✓ Six Sigma 45%
- ✓ Kaizen 45%
- ✓ TPM 45%
- ✓ Team leadership 45%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Time studies, Cost reduction, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at Arconic
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is CI run from the plant floor or from a corporate OpEx group?
- Which metrics does leadership actually watch: OEE, scrap, cost per unit?
- The posting says about 50% travel. Between which sites?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Continuous Improvement (Lean) Leader at Arconic in other locations
Arconic lists this title in 2 places. Pick the plant you can get to.
Full description from ArconicAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Job Summary
The Continuous Improvement (Lean) Leader is responsible for driving operational excellence initiatives throughout the facility by applying Lean Manufacturing principles, Kaizen methodologies, and structured problem-solving techniques. This role partners closely with plant leadership, supervisors, engineering, maintenance, and support functions to eliminate waste, improve productivity, reduce costs, enhance quality, and establish sustainable management systems.
The CI Leader serves as a coach, facilitator, and change agent while building Lean capabilities across the organization and leading strategic and tactical improvement initiatives that support business objectives.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt Certification.
- ✓Experience with TPM implementation.
- ✓Experience with Value Stream Management.
- ✓Background in automation or manufacturing engineering.
- ✓Experience leading multi- areas/ site improvement initiatives.
- ✓Knowledge of ERP and manufacturing systems.
- ✓Experience delivering measurable cost savings and productivity improvements.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Arconic is currently in search of a Continuous Improvement (Lean) Leader to join our Kawneer Business in Cranberry, PA .
At Arconic, we take pride in our work and our innovative products and technologies that advance sustainable solutions for a better world. We strive to create a safe, inclusive, and collaborative workplace with competitive benefits, development opportunities and a culture that values and rewards employees on all levels of the organization.
Lean Transformation Leadership
- •Lead the deployment and sustainment of Lean Manufacturing principles throughout the facility.
- •Develop site Continuous Improvement roadmaps aligned with business goals.
- •Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities that deliver measurable results.
- •Partner with leadership to establish a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement.
Kaizen Facilitation
- •Facilitate Kaizen events from planning through implementation and sustainment.
- •Coach leaders on event preparation, data collection, root cause analysis, and follow-up actions.
- •Ensure action items are completed and documented benefits are achieved.
- •Support rapid improvement workshops focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people (culture).
Daily Management Systems (MDI)
- •Implement and sustain Daily Management Systems (MDI).
- •Develop visual performance boards and KPI management processes.
- •Establish tiered accountability meetings and escalation processes.
- •Drive problem-solving routines at all organizational levels.
Lean Tools and Methodologies
- •Lead Value Stream Mapping (VSM) activities to identify waste and improve flow.
- •Conduct line balancing, process mapping, and capacity analysis.
- •Implement and sustain:
- •Standard Work
- •5S Workplace Organization
- •Visual Management/MDI
- •Waste Reduction Initiatives
- •A3 Problem Solving
- •SMED (Quick Changeover)
- •TPM Programs
- •Root Cause Analysis (8 Step problem solving methodology as example)
Also note
- •Design and deliver Lean training programs.
- •Coach frontline leaders, supervisors, and managers on Lean tools and leadership
- •behaviors.
- •Develop internal Lean champions and CI resources.
- •Promote employee participation in improvement activities.
- •Lead cross-functional strategic improvement projects.
- •Manage project timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
- •Quantify and validate project benefits.
- •Present progress and results to leadership teams.
- •Establish KPI tracking and reporting processes.
- •Measure impact related to: Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, People (Productivity/Cost
Savings/Inventory, Lead time reduction, Customer Experience improvements)
- •Monitor sustainment plans and audit compliance.
- •Influencing teams without direct authority.
- •Driving behavioral and cultural changes across multiple functions.
- •Balancing short-term operational needs with long-term strategic initiatives.
- •Developing ownership and accountability within operational teams.
- •Sustaining improvements after implementation.
- •Identifying and removing barriers to Lean deployment.
- •Ability to travel 50% of the time domestically to visit manufacturing sites and service centers.
You have
- •Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Supply
Chain, Industrial Technology, or related field.
- •Minimum 5 years of manufacturing experience.
- •Minimum 3 years of Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, or Lean
leadership experience.
- •Experience leading Kaizen events from planning through implementation and
sustainment.
- •Demonstrated experience applying Lean Manufacturing principles in a production
environment.
- •Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- •Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
- •Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position