Continuous Improvement Engineer - Madisonville, KY

About Us

Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all stakeholders. Our segments—Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials, along with the Performance Materials Cluster—address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. In 2025, our net sales amounted to EUR 2.9 billion, and we employ approximately 7,000 people.

Purpose

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager is responsible for driving operational excellence through Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma methodologies, waste elimination, and process standardization. This role ensures sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement while building a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization. The CI Manager serves as a visible, hands-on coach by maintaining a strong presence on the production floor, actively engaging with employees at all levels to identify improvement opportunities, reinforce Lean principles, develop problem-solving capabilities, and foster a culture of continuous improvement through daily collaboration and mentorship.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to OSHA regulations, ISO 14001, QS9000 standards, and policies.
• Adhere to all safety policies and contribute to improving the safety culture at the plant through active participation in safety activities and teams.
• Follow Ahlstrom’s manufacturing and hygiene processes, procedures, and policies to meet safety, quality, and regulatory compliance requirements for each grade of paper.
• Deploy continuous improvement activities and gains by identifying the roadmap and project plan.
• Achieve results through the deployment of continuous improvement activities according to the roadmap.
• Act as the first line of contact with Plant Management on impact metric commitments (safety, quality, delivery, cost, cash, people).
• Align continuous improvement activities with the vision and site(s) strategic plans through the annual business plan process.
• Establish and maintain a network to ensure in-depth knowledge of practical examples and best practices both internally and externally.
• Develop and mentor identified candidates for project-based leadership.
• Drive and coordinate the ongoing implementation of the continuous improvement program and initiatives, ensuring standardization and planning expectations are met.
• Report weekly and monthly progress, KPIs, etc., to plant management.
• Enter and maintain teams/projects in the Ahlstrom reporting tool.
• Collect and report continuous improvement savings in the Ahlstrom reporting tool.
• Streamline business processes to increase efficiency and minimize cost.
• Oversee the infrastructure for team support, including meeting rooms, data sharing, access to templates, team boards, and machine boards.
• Actively lead and participate in continuous improvement processes by incorporating methodologies into operations and business systems.
• Support teams by ensuring they have the necessary materials, removing barriers to success, and documenting results.
• Perform regular audits to ensure teams remain on track, utilizing methodology and staying focused on targeted issues.
• Create and provide training as required for all levels of employees on continuous improvement methodologies.
• Obtain regular feedback from teams, crews, and management to identify problems and develop action plans to resolve issues.
• Actively participate in capital projects through payback calculations, project audits, and project implementation.
• Identify training needs and develop plans to address them.
• Maintain knowledge of Ahlstrom Information Security when handling information and using information systems or networks.
• Use proper personal protective equipment as needed and directed; follow all safety rules and regulations; and actively work to improve safety.
• Perform other related projects and duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• 5-7 years of experience in a process industry or automotive industry.
• Six Sigma & LEAN manufacturing training/certification.
• LEAN Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (Preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree (Preferred).

Skills

• Good written and verbal communication skills as well as teamwork skills.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Well-organized and highly efficient.
• Computer literate—Microsoft Windows/Word/Excel and company software.
• Experience in implementing application software.
• Excellent facilitation, professional, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and statistical skills.
• Experience in a team-based environment.
• Demonstrated team development skills.
• High level of initiative and independence in managing responsibilities.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Knowledge of change management principles.
• Working knowledge of Quality tools, SPC/SQC, and LEAN.
• Ability to travel overnight as required by the position, including international travel.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, use hands, arms, and fingers to handle controls, talk, and hear.
• Ability to work in a manufacturing production setting, with exposure to moving parts.
• Regular attendance at work is required; ability to work additional hours during the week, on weekends, or outside regular office hours may be required.
• Ability to work in a normal office environment, including sitting or standing for long periods, operating office equipment, carrying documents/files, reaching and bending, and speaking on the telephone.
• May include safely walking through the manufacturing plant and wearing required personal protection gear (e.g., hearing and foot protection).