Quality Process Improvement Analyst
Smurfit Westrock · Lansing, MI
- Level
- Specialist
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 2+ years
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A specialist continuous improvement role at Smurfit Westrock (packaging) in Lansing, MI.
- They ask for
- 2+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, SPC, FMEA, Control plans, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ)
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 $90k–$145k.
Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 23 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 22 other live lean / ci postings in Michigan.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (2+ vs 5+)
Typical $90k–$145k, from 8 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 96%
- Kaizen 61%
- Root cause 52%
- Value stream mapping 48%
- Six Sigma 43%
- 5S 43%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for SPC, FMEA, Control plans, 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 Smurfit Westrock
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: Smurfit Westrock in Lansing
3 other open roles at this site.
- Nightshift Production Supervisor · Production · Supervisor
- Plant Manager · Production · Manager
- Maintenance Tech - Electrical · Reliability · Technician
Full description from Smurfit WestrockAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
and internal standards.
- ✓Collaborate with Operations and Engineering to assess process capability and establish process controls.
- ✓Maintain validation records and ensure ongoing compliance with established procedures.
- ✓Administer and maintain the site Change Control process.
- ✓Evaluate proposed changes for potential impact on product quality, regulatory compliance, production efficiency, and customer requirements.
- ✓Coordinate cross-functional reviews and approvals for change requests.
- ✓Ensure validation, risk assessments, and implementation activities are completed prior to change approval.
- ✓Track change control actions through closure and verify effectiveness of implemented changes.
- ✓Serve as Product Stewardship representative
- ✓Maintain compliance with applicable environmental, health, safety, and product regulatory requirements.
- ✓Manage raw material, product, and supplier compliance documentation.
- ✓Review product formulations, specifications, and changes to ensure continued regulatory compliance.
- ✓Coordinate customer requests related to product compliance, certifications, declarations, and material disclosures.
- ✓Utilize quality tools such as SPC, FMEA, Control Plans, 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, and Pareto Analysis to improve processes.
- ✓Lead quality improvement projects focused on reducing defects, waste, and variability.
- ✓Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
- ✓Develop and report quality performance metrics to management.
Qualifications
- ✓Must have an Associate’s degree in a related field and 2 years Quality experience, or a combination of training, experience.
- ✓Certified Quality Engineer certificate is preferred.
- ✓Must have the ability to read and write complex instructions, correspondence and memos.
- ✓Must have the ability to respond to customer inquiries, complaints, regulatory agencies.
- ✓Must be comfortable with effectively presenting information to top management and public groups.
- ✓Must have good mathematical skills, especially knowledge and skill in statistics.
- ✓Must be competent in Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook products.
- ✓Must be able to perform all essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Associate Process Improvement Analyst - Lansing, MI
General purpose
The Associate Process Improvement Analyst is responsible for ensuring product quality, compliance, and operational excellence throughout the product lifecycle. This role supports change control activities, validation programs, product stewardship initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts by applying quality systems, risk-based decision making, and data-driven analysis. The Quality Engineer collaborates cross-functionally to assess and implement changes, develop and execute validation strategies, monitor product and process performance, investigate quality issues, and drive sustainable improvements based on key performance metrics. Through proactive quality oversight and continuous monitoring, this position helps maintain regulatory compliance, product reliability, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance in the Lansing plant.
Essential job functions
- •Lead and execute validation activities for new and existing products, processes, equipment, and software systems.
- •Develop validation protocols, plans, reports, and documentation including IQ, OQ, and PQ activities as applicable.
- •Ensure validation activities are completed in compliance with customer