Lean Engineer

Role Summary

Lean Engineer 

MANN+HUMMEL 

Onsite - Gastonia, NC

The Lean Engineer is repsonsible for improving logistics and material flow processes across warehouse, inbound, internal logistics, and outbound operations to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and support reliable service to production and customers. This role requires someone who can see the bigger picture and understand the overall end goal, while also working effectively through operational details to deliver practical, measurable, and sustainable improvements. The position works closely with distribution and production teams and must be able to communicate cross-functional teams without direct people managment responsibility. Success in this role requires strong analytical thinking, sound judgment, and the confidence to drive improvements and stakeholder alignment in a fast-paced operational environment. 

Main Tasks

• Analyze logistics and material flow process to identify waste, inefficiencies, and service risks
• Lead and support continuous improvement projects across warehouse, inbound, internal logistics, and outbound operations 
• Improve material flow from receiving through storage, replenishment, production supply and shipping
• Design and optimize logistics concepts such as supermarket systems, Kanban, milk runs, line-side delivery, and first in first out (FIFO)
• Develop and maintain standard work, visual management, process management, and operating procedures
• Support warehouse layout optimization, slotting logic, storage strategies, and internal transport routes
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for delivery disruptions, inventory discrepancies, premium freight, picking errors, and stock shortages
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators such as on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, dock-to-dock time, picking productivity, inventory runs, and transport efficiency
• Support implementation of lean methods and continuous improvement capability within logistics teams 
• Ensure improvements are practical, measurable, standardized, and sustained over time
• Support safety, quality, and compliance requirements in all process improvements activities
• Work closely with distribution and production teams to align material flow improvements with operation and business priorities. 

Profile

Education: 

• Bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, supply chain, logistics, operations, manufacturing engineering, or related field
• Equivalent combinations of education and/or experience will be considered

Skills & Competencies:

• 2-5 years of experience in supply chain, order fulfillment, data analysis, inventory controls and SAP
• Experience with ERP and warehouse management systems
• Familiarity with safety, quality, operational, and logistics excellence standards

Preferred Skills: 

• Knowledge of lean principles and problem-solving methodologies 
• Experience with process mapping, root cause analysis, and performance measurement
• Strong analytics skills and ability to interpret operational data
• Strong communication skills and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to lead projects and influence cross-functional teams
• Abilty to understand the "bigger picture" and end goal while effectively working through operational details
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain processes to stakeholders
• Ability to influence decision making while maintaining conviction and remaining collaborative and solution-oriented
• Experience working closely with distribution and production teams.