Industrial Engineer - Continuous Improvement (Regional)

Dexteris actively hiring aRegional Industrial Engineer – Continuous Improvement. This is a strategic and hands-on role supporting multiple manufacturing sites across our axle, brake, suspension, and chassis product lines. This role is critical to sustaining Dexter’s reputation as the leading manufacturer of trailer axles and mobility solutions in North America.

The Regional Industrial Engineer partners with plant managers, engineering teams, and frontline supervisors to drive measurable gains insafety, quality, delivery, and cost (SQDC). With a balance of technical expertise and leadership influence, the role advances Dexter’s continuous improvement culture by aligning Lean and Six Sigma practices with Dexter’s values: Execute with Determination, Connect with People, and Do the Right Thing.

Scope of Responsibility – Regional Coverage

Dexter’s Industrial Engineering organization is structured regionally to provide hands-on support to multiple facilities. This role will be aligned with one of the following regional clusters, requiringmulti-plant influence, travel, and collaboration:

• IE #1 – Midwest Region IE #2 – Southeast Region IE #3 – Southwest Region IE #4 – Northern Indiana Region

Key Responsibilities:

Process & Technical Expertise

• Leadcontinuous improvement projectsacross assigned plants (welding, machining, stamping, axle/brake assembly).
• Conductvalue stream mapping, time studies, and process flow analysisto optimize throughput, takt time, and resource allocation.
• Design and implementergonomic workstations and assembly linesto improve operator safety, efficiency, and quality.
• Develop and maintainlabor standards, capacity models, and production forecaststo support planning and scheduling accuracy.
• Optimizematerial flow, internal logistics, and line-side delivery systemsto reduce handling, downtime, and waste.
• Implementvisual management systems(kanban, Andon, production boards) to improve shop floor communication and accountability.
• Lead**root cause analysis and structured problem-solving (8D, A3, FMEA)**to drive permanent solutions to production challenges.
• Partner with welding engineers to advancerobotic welding automation, weld sequence optimization, and fixture/tooling design.
• Supportautomation and technology integration(PLC-controlled systems, robotics, smart manufacturing, IoT-enabled equipment).
• Apply**statistical process control (SPC)**and advanced data analytics to monitor quality and process performance.
• Collaborate with Maintenance/Engineering teams on**Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)**to improve equipment uptime and reliability.
• Work with New Product Engineering to integrate**Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA)**into new axle and suspension designs.
• Identify and implementcost reduction initiativesin direct labor, indirect labor, scrap, rework, and utilities.
• Standardizebest practices across regions, ensuring sustainability and replication of improvements.

Leadership & Influence

• Act as aregional CI coach and trainer, mentoring plant engineers and supervisors.
• FacilitateKaizen workshops and problem-solving events.
• Track and report**KPIs (OEE, scrap, safety, cost savings)**across the regional cluster.
• Promotebest practice sharingacross regions to reduce variation.
• DriveDexter’s Lean culturethrough engagement with both leadership and frontline employees.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).

• Experience: 7–10+ years in manufacturing (axle, chassis, suspension, automotive/trailer components preferred).

• Technical Skills:

  • Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt preferred).
  • Welding knowledge (manual/robotic, MIG, TIG, resistance).
  • Time studies, labor standards, and plant layout design.
  • ERP/MES (Oracle, Plex, SAP) and data analytics.

• Dexter Fit: Collaborative, safety-first, hands-on problem solver who thrives in amulti-site manufacturing environment.

Competencies

• Customer Focus– aligns CI work with Dexter’s product reliability and customer commitments.
• Collaboration– effective across plants, union environments, and functional teams.
• Operational Excellence– uses Lean/Six Sigma to drive sustainable results.
• Communication– able to translate CI strategy from plant floor to executive level.
• Change Leadership– drives adoption of CI culture in established operations.

**For more information about Dexter,**go toour web site at www.dextergroup.com

Apply now to joinan industry leader and make a difference in what we do for the customers we serve!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Offers of employment are contingent upon successfully passing a background check and drug screen.Dexter Axle Company is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for positions without discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.