Process Engineer Manager Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Essential Functions:

Safety & Compliance

• Support the safety-first culture by ensuring compliance with all safety procedures, OSHA requirements, and environmental standards.
• Lead proactive risk identification and resolution, ensuring that all team members operate in a safe and professional manner.
• Lead and support the implementation of 5S, TPM, and other visual management systems to enhance workplace safety and organization.

Process Optimization & Daily Production Support

• Monitor daily process performance across shifts to ensure safety, quality, and productivity targets are met.
• Provide real-time technical support for process issues; lead root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Act as the first line of technical support for operators, technicians, and shift supervisors by promptly addressing issues beyond their control; ensure root causes are identified and corrected, and that operators receive training and coaching to prevent recurrence and build long-term operational capability.
• Partner with Area Managers, Maintenance, and Quality to coordinate fast, effective responses to production interruptions.
• Analyze and reduce process variability; identify and implement productivity improvements and waste reduction opportunities. Lead and implement OCS initiatives – operational cost savings – in line with area targets.
• Support and enforce immediate containment and escalation protocols when production issues impact customer requirements.

SOP Development & Training

• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), setup sheets, and process documentation to ensure standardization and repeatability.
• Lead training efforts for production team members and supervisors on new or revised processes, ensuring understanding and compliance.
• Conduct regular audits of SOP adherence; address behavioral and performance gaps through coaching or corrective measures with Supervisors and Area Managers.

Continuous Improvement & Structured Problem Solving

• Lead and execute regular and consistent improvement initiatives that drive waste elimination, performance enhancement, and process reliability such as scrap reduction, cycle time, labor efficiency, and other key process metrics, ensuring alignment with area KPIs and operational cost-saving goals.
• Lead and execute continuous improvement and cost reduction projects from concept to implementation.
• Use structured problem-solving frameworks (Lean, Six Sigma, PDCA, A3) to guide the improvement initiatives through root cause identification and solution implementation.
• Ensure improvement efforts are sustained and integrated into SOPs, training materials, and daily routines.
• Collaborate with the Continuous Improvement Manager and Area Managers to support a culture of operational excellence.

• Support capital investment projects, equipment upgrades, and layout modifications in collaboration with Engineering and Maintenance.
• Autonomously work with suppliers, engineering firms, and vendors on technical specifications and process improvements.

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Collect, analyze, and interpret process data (OEE, scrap, downtime, cycle times, labor efficiency, etc.) to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Support MES system accuracy by ensuring data integrity and timely updates to process parameters and reporting standards.
• Lead the development and maintenance of visual management tools, dashboards, and control charts.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a technical liaison between production, maintenance, engineering, materials, and quality teams to align process changes and priorities.
• Participate in daily meetings and shift handovers to ensure smooth transitions and timely issue resolution.
• Actively contribute to Kaizen events, TPM activities, and 5S implementation within assigned areas.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform all other duties as assigned by leadership.

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or Process Engineering (or equivalent).
• Demonstrated skills related to root cause analysis, lean manufacturing, and statistical process control.
• Demonstrated skills to continually improve the process, product, and systems of the organization.
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative and proactive mindset.
• Familiarity with TPM, 5S, and Kaizen tools.

Qualifications Desired:

• Black belt or Green belt certified

Other Requirements:

• Must be able to occasionally lift, carry, push and/or pull objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Availability for occasional off-shift or weekend support in a 24/7 operation.

We offer an excellent compensation and benefits package, which includes 401k, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, company paid holidays, paid vacations, and education assistance.

The Salary Range posted represents Pilkington North America’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible compensation at the time of the posting.   Individual pay will vary based on demonstrated job related skills, knowledge, experience, education, etc.

NSG Group/Pilkington is an equal opportunity employer; M/F/D/V encouraged to apply.  Qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin.  Applicants have the option to confidentially self-identify or not self-identify when applying.