Operational Excellence Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: OpEx Engineer

Location: Novi, MI

Job Type: Full-Time

Department: Operations

About Rhino Tool House:

Our mission is to identify and deliver the world's most innovative industrial solutions. We provide superior service, local expertise, and a high degree of responsiveness to empower our customers to be more productive, build a better-quality product, and maintain a safe environment for their workers.

Job Description:

The OpEx (Operational Excellence) Engineer is responsible for driving continuous improvement initiatives to improve business deliverables in the areas or Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost. This role combines Lean Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, and Quality Systems engineering principles to identify and implement best practices across manufacturing and supporting functions.

Key Responsibilities:

Continuous Improvement:

• Lead Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and waste reduction projects.

• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, cost, and lead time.

• Develop and implement standardized work and best practices across departments.

• Drive 5S programs and visual management initiatives on the shop floor.

Data Analysis & Problem Solving:

• Analyze production data to identify trends, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies.

• Use formal problem solving methodologies to drive root cause analysis and permanent corrective actions.

• Monitor and report on key operational metrics (such as OEE, scrap, downtime, throughput).

• Support decision-making through data visualization and dashboards.

Change Management & Collaboration:

• Work cross-functionally with sales, engineering, production, quality, and supply chain teams.

• Support organizational change initiatives and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

• Provide coaching and mentoring on Lean Manufacturing principles to all levels of staff.

• Assist in developing and deploying site-level OpEx strategies aligned with business goals.

Quality Improvement:

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action efforts for quality issues (internal defects, customer complaints, scrap, and rework).

• Develop and implement Quality Control Plans and Process Control strategies as needed.

• Establish and monitor key quality performance indicators (KPIs).

• Drive reduction in cost of poor quality (COPQ) through structured problem solving.

Operational Excellence Initiatives:

• Lead or support Kaizen events and continuous improvement projects focused on quality, efficiency, and reliability.

• Apply Lean Manufacturing tools (such as DMAIC, FMEA, 5 Whys, SPC, Value Stream Mapping) to improve product and process quality.

• Support implementation of standardized work and best practices across operations.

• Facilitate cross-functional teams to streamline processes and eliminate waste.

Systems & Documentation:

• Support Quality Management System (QMS) maintenance and improvement (ISO 9001, IATF 16949, AS9100, or similar).

• Ensure documentation of procedures, work instructions, and control plans is accurate and up-to-date.

• Participate in internal and external quality audits.

• Collaborate with suppliers and customers on quality-related issues as needed.

Training & Culture:

• Provide training on quality tools and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement at all levels.

• Act as a mentor for team members in quality and OpEx best practices.

• Deliver training sessions on Lean tools, process mapping, and problem-solving techniques.

• Support employee engagement in OpEx programs and improvement teams.

• Build internal capability by developing OpEx champions across departments.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Industrial, or related field or equivalent work experience.

• 3–5 years of experience in quality or continuous improvement roles in a manufacturing environment.

• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and quality management principles.

• Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred.

• Proficient in quality tools such as FMEA, Control Plans, 8D, SPC, and Minitab.

• Experience with ISO/IATF/AS standards and audit processes.

• Strong analytical, facilitation, and project management skills.

• Proven track record of leading successful improvement projects.

• Proficiency in software packages such as Microsoft Office, Minitab, and ERP/MES systems.

• Excellent analytical, communication, and leadership skills.

Required Skills & Knowledge:

• Knowledgeable in ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Acumatica, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics).

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

• Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.

Work Environment:

• Manufacturing shop floor and office environments

• Up to 35% travel to intercompany sites, suppliers, or customer sites may be required.