Continuous Improvement Specialist – Manufacturing Engineer

Overview

Are you ready to dive into the exciting and innovative world of Engineered Wood?

Kadant Carmanah is recognized as a global leader of innovation in the design and manufacture of equipment in the Engineered Wood products industry and is the largest supplier of Stranders used in the production of Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and other wood-based composites.

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Operations Team as a Continuous Improvement Specialist – Manufacturing Engineer.

We offer competitive salaries, bonuses, benefits, and an outstanding work-life balance.

The Role:

The perfect place to learn, grow, and build your engineering path.

We’re looking for a Continuous Improvement Specialist who is eager to grow, learn, and make a real impact on how we build our products. In this role, you’ll work closely with the Continuous Improvement Manager and be directly involved in shaping a strong culture of operational excellence across the plant.

You’ll help improve safety, product quality, delivery performance, and cost by using Lean tools and problem‑solving methods. From leading 5S activities and developing standard work to supporting root‑cause analysis and small improvement events, you’ll gain hands‑on experience working with teams at all levels of the organization.

This is an ideal opportunity for a junior engineer who enjoys being on the shop floor, learning how things are built, and finding smarter, more efficient ways to work. If you’re curious, driven, and excited about continuous learning, your understanding of fabrication, machining, and technical drawings—combined with your passion for problem‑solving—will help create meaningful and sustainable improvements across our operations.

Benefits/Opportunities:

- Extended Health, Dental, Disability, Life Insurance & AD&D after 3 months

- RRSP matching after 6 months

- Employee Assistance Program

- Safety Equipment allowance: boots, eye protection, ear protection

- Company Events

- Casual dress

- On‑site parking

Wage Range/Job Type/Schedule:

- Negotiable based on experience

- FT - Permanent

- Monday‑Friday

Responsibilities

- Take ownership of 5S improvements by leading and supporting initiatives that make work areas more organized, safer, and easier to work in — and help teams sustain those gains over time.

- Create and improve standard work by developing clear work instructions and visual tools that help operators learn faster, train better, and perform consistently.

- Being a champion for safety, quality, and productivity, supporting projects that make our processes stronger and our workplace better every day.

- Dig into real problems by performing root cause analysis on quality issues, downtime, and process gaps — and help implement practical solutions that prevent them from happening again.

- Collaborate closely with operators, supervisors, and engineers to uncover improvement opportunities and participate in hands‑on Kaizen events across the shop floor.

- Share your knowledge and grow your leadership skills by training and coaching employees on Lean tools, visual management, and problem‑solving techniques.

- Support audits and process check to ensure our workflows meet internal standards, customer expectations, and regulatory requirements.

- Promote a culture of curiosity and continuous learning by encouraging teams to ask “Why?” and challenge the status quo in a positive, solution‑focused way.

Qualifications

- Some exposure to Continuous Improvement, Lean, or Operational Excellence—through internships, projects, coursework, or early career experience (manufacturing experience is a strong asset).

- Basic understanding of Lean concepts such as 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, standard work, and root cause analysis, with a willingness to deepen your expertise.

- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and understand how parts and assemblies come together.

- Interest or hands‑on experience in manufacturing processes such as machining, welding, or fabrication (school projects, co‑ops, or summer jobs count).

- Strong problem‑solving and analytical skills, with natural curiosity and attention to detail.

- Solid communication and facilitation abilities, with the confidence to work with operators, engineers, supervisors, and leadership.

- Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); experience with data tools or CAD is an asset.

- Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, or related areas (Green Belt is a plus but not required for entry‑level candidates).

Personal Attributes:

- Collaborative and approachable, able to engage unionized and non‑unionized teams.

- Practical mindset with the ability to move from analysis to action.

- Strong initiative and adaptability in a dynamic shop‑floor environment.

- Committed to fostering a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Key Competencies:

- Curiosity: Eager to learn, question processes, and explore new solutions.

- Collaboration: Works well with diverse teams, listens actively, and builds trust.

- Initiative: Proactively identifies improvement opportunities without waiting to be asked.

- Detail Orientation: Ensures work instructions and process documentation are clear and accurate.

- Resilience: Able to adapt to change, manage multiple priorities, and maintain a positive outlook.

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