Senior Operational Excellence Consultant, Industrial Engineering & Lean Transformation
Type: W-2 or 1099
Travel: 75-80%
Reports to: Practice Area Leader
About Implementation Engineers
Implementation Engineers partners with leading manufacturing, supply chain, maintenance, and operational organizations to deliver measurable business results. Our consultants work directly alongside client teams to solve complex operational challenges, improve performance, and drive sustainable change.
We are not a traditional consulting firm. Our teams work on the factory floor, inside distribution centers, and within operational environments, partnering directly with client leadership and frontline teams to implement solutions and deliver measurable results.
If you are a seasoned operational excellence professional who enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges and driving sustainable operational improvements, we would like to hear from you.
Position Overview
Implementation Engineers is seeking highly experienced Industrial Engineering and Operational Excellence consultants to support client engagements focused on manufacturing transformation, operational performance improvement, facility optimization, and future-state operational design.
This is a senior-level consulting role intended for accomplished practitioners who have spent their careers leading operational improvement initiatives within manufacturing environments. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Industrial Engineering, Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), and Production Preparation Process (3P) methodologies.
Successful candidates possess the operational credibility to work directly with plant leadership while maintaining the technical capability to analyze operations, facilitate workshops, develop future-state concepts, and lead implementation efforts that deliver measurable business results.
Key Responsibilities
Lead operational excellence and continuous improvement engagements within manufacturing environments.Conduct comprehensive operational assessments focused on productivity, throughput, labor utilization, flow, capacity, and operational performance.Facilitate executive workshops, Lean transformation events, and cross-functional improvement initiatives.Apply Industrial Engineering principles to optimize manufacturing operations and improve business performance.Lead Value Stream Mapping, process redesign, and future-state development efforts.Facilitate Production Preparation Process (3P) events focused on facility design, material flow, and operational optimization.Develop future-state facility layouts, material flow strategies, and space utilization plans.Apply Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodologies to support process design and operational transformation initiatives.Coach client leadership teams on Lean principles, operational excellence practices, and sustainable performance management systems.Translate operational analysis into actionable implementation plans that deliver measurable business outcomes.Support implementation activities and drive accountability for results.Required Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering or related engineering discipline.Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.Minimum 15 years of manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement experience.Demonstrated success leading large-scale operational improvement initiatives within manufacturing environments.Deep expertise in Lean Manufacturing principles and methodologies.Strong Industrial Engineering background including labor analysis, workflow optimization, line balancing, capacity planning, and productivity improvement.Experience facilitating executive-level workshops and leading cross-functional improvement teams.Experience applying Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodologies.Experience leading Production Preparation Process (3P) events.Experience developing facility layouts, material flow strategies, and future-state manufacturing concepts.Strong client-facing consulting, facilitation, communication, and leadership skills.Ability to establish immediate credibility with plant leadership, operations teams, and executive stakeholders.Preferred Qualifications
Prior consulting experience supporting multiple manufacturing clients.Experience supporting greenfield, brownfield, expansion, consolidation, or facility optimization projects.Experience across multiple manufacturing industries.Master's Degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field.Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a seasoned Industrial Engineer or Operational Excellence leader who has spent their career driving measurable improvements within manufacturing operations.
This individual has personally led Lean transformations, facilitated Kaizen events, conducted operational assessments, designed future-state manufacturing environments, and delivered significant productivity, throughput, quality, and cost improvements.
We are specifically seeking practitioners -- not project managers, coordinators, or corporate program leaders. Candidates should possess strong manufacturing credibility, exceptional problem-solving skills, and a proven history of delivering results through the application of Industrial Engineering, Lean, Six Sigma, DFSS, and 3P methodologies.
Why Join Implementation Engineers
Work alongside highly experienced operational excellence practitioners.Lead meaningful transformation initiatives within world-class manufacturing organizations.Solve complex operational challenges and deliver measurable business results.Participate in diverse engagements across multiple industries and operational environments.Join a culture focused on execution, accountability, continuous improvement, and client impact.Core Areas of Expertise Desired
Industrial Engineering
Operational Excellence
Lean Manufacturing
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Design for Six Sigma (DFSS)
Production Preparation Process (3P)
Facility Layout & Factory Design
Material Flow Optimization
Capacity Planning
Labor Productivity Improvement
Value Stream Mapping
Kaizen Facilitation
Manufacturing Transformation
Continuous Improvement Leadership
Target Backgrounds: Senior Industrial Engineers, Operational Excellence Leaders, Lean Transformation Leaders, Manufacturing Excellence Leaders, Continuous Improvement Managers/Directors, and former consulting practitioners with extensive manufacturing operations experience.
Read LessTorque Controls Engineer
Contract Consulting Opportunity | Chicago Area | Immediate Need
About the Opportunity
Implementation Engineers is seeking an experienced Torque Controls Engineer for onsite work in the Chicago area. This engagement focuses on optimizing, troubleshooting, and improving torque-controlled assembly processes within a complex discrete manufacturing environment.
The ideal candidate combines hands-on manufacturing engineering experience with deep expertise in torque tooling, controls integration, traceability systems, and assembly process reliability. This is a highly visible role working directly with operations, engineering, quality, and maintenance teams to improve product quality, process capability, and production performance.
The initial engagement is expected to last approximately 3 weeks onsite, with the potential for follow-on implementation work up to 6-12 months.
Key Responsibilities
Evaluate and improve torque-controlled assembly processes.Troubleshoot torque tooling, controls, communication, and traceability issues.Analyze torque data, process capability, and quality performance metrics.Support integration and optimization of torque systems within manufacturing operations.Work with operations, engineering, quality, maintenance, and IT teams to identify and resolve production issues.Validate torque strategies, fastening specifications, and process controls.Improve data collection, reporting, and traceability associated with critical fastening operations.Provide practical recommendations to improve throughput, quality, reliability, and process consistency.Support implementation of corrective actions and sustainable process improvements.Required Qualifications
Experience with one or more of the following torque systems:Atlas CopcoDesoutterBosch RexrothStanley Assembly TechnologiesSimilar industrial torque platformsBachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent technical experience.5+ years of manufacturing engineering, controls engineering, or assembly engineering experience.Hands-on experience with industrial torque tooling systems.Strong understanding of torque control methodologies, fastening processes, and assembly quality requirements.Experience troubleshooting torque communication and controls issues.Familiarity with manufacturing execution systems (MES), production data collection, and traceability systems.Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.Ability to work independently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.Preferred Qualifications
Automotive, aerospace & defense, industrial equipment, or other complex discrete manufacturing experience.Experience integrating torque systems with:MES platformsSCADA systemsPLC controlsQuality and traceability databasesUnderstanding of Industry 4.0 manufacturing technologies.Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience.Experience supporting production launches or complex assembly operations.About Implementation Engineers
At Implementation Engineers, we do more than make recommendations -- we deliver results. For over 25 years, we have partnered with leading manufacturing, supply chain, maintenance, and industrial organizations to solve complex operational challenges and implement sustainable improvements.
We work shoulder-to-shoulder with client teams, combining deep industry expertise with a hands-on approach to improve productivity, quality, reliability, and overall business performance. We are known for rolling up our sleeves, driving execution, and helping clients achieve measurable outcomes -- not just creating reports.
If you are a practical, results-oriented engineering professional who enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges, working directly on the factory floor, and making a tangible impact, we would welcome the opportunity to connect with you.
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