Industrial Engineer

Job Summary

We are seeking an Industrial Engineer to work directly on-site at a key strategic supplier, partnering closely with the supplier’s ownership and leadership team to improve operational performance, establish scalable business processes, and strengthen the overall supplier relationship. This role will require heavy travel to Chino, CA in year one.

This is a highly hands-on role. The successful candidate will become deeply embedded in the supplier’s day-to-day operation—working alongside the owners, supervisors, and shop-floor employees to understand how the business operates and then implement practical systems that improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and visibility.

This role is not a traditional supplier quality or procurement position. The individual will function as an extension of both our organization and the supplier’s team, helping the supplier establish the foundational operating disciplines needed to support sustainable growth.

What You Will Do

• Shop Floor Management & Operational Discipline
  • Establish and implement practical shop-floor management processes and daily operating routines.
  • Develop visual management systems that clearly communicate production status, priorities, constraints, quality issues, and performance.
  • Establish standard work and basic process controls where needed.
  • Identify bottlenecks, waste, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improved flow.
  • Work directly with operators and supervisors to implement improvements rather than simply recommending them.
• Production Planning & Scheduling
  • Assess the supplier’s current planning and scheduling processes and identify gaps.
  • Establish practical production planning, scheduling, and prioritization processes.
  • Improve visibility to customer demand, production capacity, work-in-process, and delivery commitments.
  • Develop simple tools and routines to support short-term and medium-term production planning.
  • Help establish realistic production commitments and improve on-time delivery performance.
• ERP / Business Systems Implementation
  • Lead implementation of a simple, practical ERP or production management system appropriate for the supplier's needs.
  • Avoid unnecessary complexity by focusing on systems that provide meaningful operational visibility and control.
• Supplier Development
  • Develop a deep, trusted working relationship with the supplier's owners and leadership team.
  • Partner with ownership to identify and prioritize the highest-impact opportunities.
  • Develop and execute improvement roadmaps with measurable objectives and milestones.
  • Help build the supplier's internal capabilities so improvements are sustainable after implementation.
  •  Act as a trusted advisor and problem-solving partner rather than an external auditor.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Apply Industrial Engineering and Lean principles to improve productivity, flow, capacity, quality, and delivery.
  • Use data and direct observation to identify root causes and prioritize improvement opportunities.
  • Lead focused improvement projects and measure results.
  • Establish performance metrics and management routines that allow the supplier to sustain improvements.
  • Promote practical, low-cost solutions before pursuing more complex investments.
• Relationship & Communication
  • Serve as a primary day-to-day interface between our organization and the supplier.
  • Build credibility through presence, follow-through, technical expertise, and respect for the supplier's business.
  • Establish a partnership mentality while maintaining appropriate accountability for performance.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience in manufacturing operations, industrial engineering, Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or supplier development.
• Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, process improvement, and shop-floor management.
• Ability to work independently in a manufacturing environment with limited structure.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate analysis into practical, sustainable improvements.
• Willingness to spend the majority of working time physically on the supplier's shop floor.
• Lean/Six Sigma experience or certification.
• Experience developing visual management and daily management systems.
• Experience working with company owners or senior leadership in an entrepreneurial environment.
• Experience working directly with small- or medium-sized manufacturing companies.
• Experience implementing ERP, MRP, scheduling, or production management systems.
• Strong project management and change management skills.