Continuous Improvement Engineer

At IEM, we’re not just building innovative electrical distribution systems, we’re shaping the future. IEM is dedicated to delivering world-class solutions for complex power needs. After 75 years, we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting out, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, grow, and make a lasting impact on industries that power the world’s most dynamic markets.

Reports To: Continuous Improvement Manager

At IEM, we’re not just growing – we're thriving! Our rapid expansion means new opportunities are always on the horizon. If you’re someone who gets excited by making an impact through interesting challenges, you’ll feel right at home.

Purpose of the Position:

IEM is currently seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineer for our Surrey, B.C. locations and will report to our Continuous Improvement Manager. Join our transformation journey as a lean professional supporting kaizen activities, standard work documentation, and data-driven process improvement. This is a hands-on role ideal for candidates with a passion for lean manufacturing and a desire to grow in a structured CI environment.

Please note: This position requires 100% in-office presence in our Surrey offices and does not offer remote work.

Key Responsibilities:

Facilitate Kaizen Events & Projects

Lead and co-lead kaizen events on assigned production lines: standard work design, line balancing, Daily Management setup, visual controls, 5S, SMED, error-proofing

Plan kaizen events with the CI Manager/E3 engineer; facilitate problem-solving sessions with cross-functional teams

Conduct basic value stream mapping and process analysis to identify improvement opportunities on your assigned area

Develop and implement standard work: work sequences, takt time calculations, operator job aids, visual standards

Track project progress; report status, blockers, and results weekly

Analyze Data & Find Root Causes

Conduct time studies and bottleneck analysis to identify where work is unbalanced or adding no value

Make data-driven recommendations; test ideas before rolling out full implementations

Present findings clearly to leadership team.

Implement & Sustain Changes

Work with operations teams to implement standard work and visual controls on your assigned line

Set up Daily Management huddles (if not already in place); support the team in running consistent, disciplined meetings

Audit standard work compliance and Daily Management discipline; identify barriers to adoption

Coach operators and supervisors on how to follow standards and escalate problems quickly

Support the E3 engineer in sustaining improvements; investigate why changes sometimes fall apart

Build Capability & Support the Team

Train operations on systematic problem-solving methods (PDCA, root cause thinking) during your projects

Coach supervisors and operators on lean principles: visual management, flow thinking, waste elimination

Support the E3 engineer on larger, multi-line improvement initiatives; learn how to think strategically about problems

Document standard work and best practices clearly so others can follow them

Participate in plant-wide improvement initiatives and best-practice sharing

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field (or equivalent demonstrated experience)

3–5 years in manufacturing or operations environment

Co-led or led 3+ kaizen events or improvement projects; hands-on experience with standard work or line balancing preferred

Demonstrated success implementing and sustaining changes in manufacturing environments

Comfort working on the production floor with operators and supervisors

Technical Skills

Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing fundamentals: value stream mapping, takt time, line balancing, pull systems, standard work, visual management, 5S

Knowledge of process improvement methodologies: PDCA, A3 problem solving, root-cause analysis (5-why)

Comfortable with production data and basic analysis: can pull cycle times, read pareto charts, spot bottlenecks

Understanding of Daily Management basics: how huddles work, what metrics matter, how to track and close action items

Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and basic data visualization; comfortable creating charts and dashboards

Collaboration & Communication

Strong communication: can explain problems and solutions clearly to frontline workers and engineers

Collaborative mindset; you work well with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain

No-blame focus: you approach problems by improving the process, not blaming people

Detail-oriented: you document clearly, follow through on commitments, and notice when standards aren't being met

Coachable: you take feedback well and want to learn from your E3 engineer and senior leaders

Mindset

Passion for continuous improvement; you believe small improvements add up to big results

Curiosity: you ask good questions and dig deeper when something doesn't add up

Adaptability: you're comfortable in a dynamic manufacturing environment with changing priorities

Resilience: you stay focused when improvements take longer than expected or don't work the first time

Core Competencies

Lean Fundamentals: You understand takt time, line balance, standard work, visual controls, and how they fit together

Problem-Solving: You use data to find problems, not guesses; you understand root cause vs. symptoms.

Project Execution: You follow through; you track progress, hit timelines, and communicate status clearly.

Data Fluency: You're comfortable with spreadsheets, basic statistics, and using data to make decisions.

Collaboration: You work well across functions; you listen to ops and engineering perspectives and find common ground.

Teaching & Coaching: You can explain lean concepts to people with different experience levels; you make others better.

Attention to Detail: You notice when standards slip; you care about consistency and documentation.

Resilience: You're okay with things not working perfectly the first time; you learn and adapt.

Success metrics (year 1)

Lead or co-lead 6–8 kaizen events/improvement projects on your assigned line(s); each delivers measurable results

Standard work compliance on your area: 85%+ — operators understand and follow the sequences and timing

Daily Management adoption: 95%+ — your assigned line runs consistent huddles, tracks metrics, closes action items

Analyze and present at least 3 data-driven improvement opportunities using time studies, bottleneck analysis, or process mapping

Train operations to run basic problem-solving; they can use PDCA thinking on small improvements

Deliver measurable results from your improvement projects: reduced cycle time, better line balance, lower defects, improved on-time delivery

Be ready to support larger initiatives led by your E3 engineer; demonstrate capability to scale to more complex projects

LOCATION & LOGISTICS

100% on-site in Surrey, BC. No remote work.

Manufacturing floor presence required; you'll spend significant time observing, working with operators, and facilitating improvements.

Travel to support multi-site best-practice sharing or kaizen events.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Compensation ranges from $38.94 - 46.63/hr CAD

Why Join IEM

At IEM, you’ll join a team that powers some of the world’s most ambitious projects. We’re engineers, makers, and problem-solvers who thrive on tackling complex challenges and delivering solutions that keep industries moving forward. If you’re driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Your creativity and passion can help us achieve great things—come be part of the journey.

Learn more about IEM at https://www.iemfg.com

We offer comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being, growth, and long-term success. View a snapshot of our benefits at https://www.iemfg.com/careers

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