Lean Manufacturing Specialist

Lean Manufacturing Specialist Location: 225 Talbot Boulevard, Chestertown, MD 21620 Work Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday Salary Range: $60-$80k per year Make the Right Connection-Build Your Career with Dixon!Join The Dixon Group as our next Lean Manufacturing Specialist in Chestertown, MD! In this role, you'll play a key part in shaping how our organization operates by identifying opportunities to streamline processes, reduce waste, enhance efficiency, and strengthen overall performance. A core part of your mission will be promoting a safe workplace and ensuring full alignment with all EHS standards. As a champion of continuous improvement, you'll work closely with cross-functional teams to foster a culture of learning and innovation. You'll lead workshops, develop and deliver training, and mentor employees so they have the skills and confidence to contribute to improvement initiatives across the business. You'll track results, analyze performance metrics, and share insights and progress updates with senior leadership-helping the organization make informed decisions and stay aligned with strategic goals. If you're motivated by collaboration, energized by problem-solving, and excited to make an impact every day, we'd love to meet you! Who We Are: The Dixon Group is a global, family-owned manufacturing company with a history of over 100 years of operation in the U.S.A. Based in Chestertown, Maryland, with distribution centers located worldwide. The company has a diverse workforce and a strong values-based culture. As an innovator in the hose coupling industry, our mission is to provide real solutions for our customers while fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. At The Dixon Group, we value the contributions of our Military Veterans and proudly employ our nation's heroes. Veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.What You'll Do: Continuous Improvement: Develop targeted process improvement strategies and plans to identify and eliminate inefficiencies in current processes and develop reporting systems to track progress Integrate safety risk reduction and ergonomic principles into all continuous improvement projects and standard work Lead and manage continuous improvement initiatives engaging cross-site teams as needed Engrain Lean principles of teamwork, methodology, business benefit, innovation and customer focus Establish and maintain standard work instructions for all processes Prepare and present regular updates to senior management on progress and outcomes of continuous improvement efforts Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze performance metrics and identify areas for enhancement Safety: Maintain OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 forms annually Complete accident/incident reports and perform drug testing per company policy. Submit monthly CIT reports (training attendance, walkthroughs, meeting minutes). Update and post Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all locations. Keep emergency evacuation plans current and compliant. Administer forklift and lift box certification tests per OSHA and company policy. Conduct monthly safety walkthroughs. Ensure fire suppression equipment meets OSHA standards. Ensure annual inspection of pressure vessels by state inspector. Perform equipment risk assessments and post Job Safety Analyses (JSA). Conduct ergonomic evaluations as needed. General: Conduct monthly safety training. Facilitate training sessions on lean and six sigma methodologies for employees at all levels Adhere to safety protocols and maintain a clean and organized work area What We're Looking For: Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, or Manufacturing), Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field Minimum 5 years proven experience in continuous improvement methodologies such as lean manufacturing and six sigma OSHA 30-Hour General Industry training In depth knowledge of OSHA standards and regulations Proven expertise in facilitating and leading Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), 5S, Standard Work, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) using tools like 5 Whys or Ishikawa diagrams. Strong analytical skills to establish metrics, monitor performance, and analyze data to identify improvement opportunities. Experience in promoting and driving a continuous improvement culture Experience in conducting safety audits, walkthroughs, and risk assessments. Proficiency in administering and documenting safety programs, including LOTO (Lockout/Tagout), confined space, and emergency response. Experience administering certifications like forklift and lift box training. Familiarity with maintaining and updating safety documentation such as Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and emergency plans. Experience developing, updating, and auditing training materials and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Strong communication and presentation skills to effectively train team members on complex topics (Lean principles, safety standards). Experience in auditing training records and working with On the Job Trainers (OJT) to maintain training quality. Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)and Google Suite Strong prioritization, organizational and time management skills Ability to handle changing priorities Ability to stand for extended periods Ability to move around the plant to meet with departments, attend meetings and/or monitor manufacturing processes Ability to move and lift items up to 50lbs What We Offer: Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family Competitive salary Bonus programs 401K retirement plan Training opportunities Tuition reimbursement Paid vacation, PTO, and holidays Gym reimbursements, and more! Join us and be a part of a team that values your contributions and supports your goals! The Dixon Group is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices and laws. Accordingly, to the fullest extent required by applicable law, The Dixon Group strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons. The Dixon Group is committed to protecting the privacy rights of its employees and job applicants to the fullest extent required by applicable law. To that end, personal information will be collected solely for those legitimate business purposes recognized by law, and then maintained in a manner consistent with all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to document retention requirements. The Dixon Group does not sell personal information to third parties, and does not share such personal information with third parties except when authorized by law to do so (e.g., in response to a lawful subpoena; mandatory tax reporting; etc.) Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Created: 2026-03-04