
Continuous Improvement Specialist I
Lear · Auburn Hills, MI
- Level
- Specialist
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 3+ years
- Industry
- Automotive
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A specialist continuous improvement role at Lear (automotive) in Auburn Hills, MI. Digitalize, standardize, and sustain Continuous Improvement processes, and performance metrics to improve visibility, and execution across the plant to support data-driven decision-making and accountability.
- They ask for
- 3+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, Value stream mapping, TPM
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Continuous Improvement roles in Michigan: typical posted base $89k–$136k.
Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 21 continuous improvement openings in Michigan, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Michigan plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 20 other live lean / ci postings in Michigan.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (3+ vs 5+)
Typical $89k–$136k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 95%
- ✓ Kaizen 57%
- ✓ Root cause 52%
- ✓ Six Sigma 48%
- ✓ Value stream mapping 48%
- ✓ 5S 43%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Casting, EHS / safety, 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 Lear
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?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 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.
This plant: Lear in Auburn Hills
5 other open roles at this site.
- Quality Engineer · Quality
- Industrial Engineer · Industrial
- Controls Engineer I - 2nd Shift · Controls
- 0990 Maintenance Technician (Automation Repair Tech) · Controls · Technician
- 0990 Maintenance Team Leader-2nd Shift · Reliability · Supervisor
Full description from LearAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Qualifications
Your
Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, related field or equivalent experience
- ✓Experience with deployment of Continuous Improvement or Operational Excellence concepts
- ✓Minimum 3 years in manufacturing or plant operations environment/industry
- ✓Strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy of data and able to clearly explain to all organizational levels
- ✓Ability to work and communicate effectively with all teams in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment
- ✓Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications: Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, etc.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Lear For You
We work hard for the people who work for us. We champion our teams and foster collaboration, inclusion, respect and excellence. Because we want to be more for you.
A path to a better career. A better future.
Our teams have invented groundbreaking technologies, manufactured millions of products and earned a long list of awards. Year after year, we’re named one of the World’s Most Admired Companies.
They’re the secret to our success—empowered, inventive and inclusive. Passionate about their craft. Driven to succeed. Because we win together.
Are you ready for a better career? A better future?
Job Description
Digitalization / Continuous Improvement Specialist
Auburn Hills, MI
As a member of the CI team, the “Digitalization & Continuous Improvement Specialist” will be responsible for
- •Apply a combination of Continuous Improvement methods (Lean, Kaizen, structured problem solving) with digital tools to provide innovative solutions which reduce manual processes, enable real‑time data tracking and support the achievement of key performance indicators such as Safety, FTT, IPPM, OEE, JPH, and OIP
- •Digitalize, standardize, and sustain Continuous Improvement processes, and performance metrics to improve visibility, and execution across the plant to support data-driven decision-making and accountability
Your work will include, but not be limited to
- •Facilitate and support plant‑wide CI initiatives, and kaizens improvement events to achieve plant OIP goal
- •Create benchmark digital solutions such as Foundry pipelines, Ignition dashboards, and kaizen trackers
- •Champion the plant’s Continuous Improvement Suggestion System and action plan follow-ups
- •Identify opportunities for conversion of manual plant processes into streamlined digital workflows
- •Develop materials for and train/support end‑users in the use of CI and digital tools
- •Build our internal capabilities and expertise in foundational CI Tools, including: Value Stream Mapping, 5S, 7 Wastes, Lean Factory Simulation, Poka Yoke, Andon System, TPM, Skill Matrix, and Daily Team Meetings
- •Prepare to be the plant’s subject matter expert on artificial intelligence applications and cascade knowledge
- •Prepare performance metrics and reports (safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity) for plant leadership
- •Track improvement action savings, and status while maintaining project documentation and audit readiness
- •Work with plant operations and IT teams to ensure rapid deployment of digital tools in startup environment
- •Participate in definition and maintenance of initial Visual Management standards for plant during launch
- •Join Plant Operations Tour and GEMBA walks while supporting updates to Visual/Smart Factory standards
- •Collaborate with EHS department on completion of Humantech Ergonomics assessments and improvements
- •Foster internal talent development programs through coaching of High-Performance Work Teams
- •Assist industrial engineering department with line re-balancing projects and standard work updates
- •Support routine operations meetings, including Fast Response, Critical 8D, Orientations, and Town Halls
Bonus If You Have
- •Experience with Power BI, Palantir Foundry, SQL, SAP, Ignition or any Artificial Intelligence applications
- •Experience with implementing Industry 4.0 solutions, such as digitalizing manual workflows
- •Exposure to Lean Six Sigma analytic methodologies and tools
Lear Corporation is committed to fair, merit‑based employment practices and equal opportunity.
Applicants must submit their resume for consideration using our applicant tracking system. Due to the high volume of applications received, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country where the position is located. Unsolicited resumes from search firms, employment agencies, or similar, will not be paid a fee and will become the property of Lear Corporation.
