Continuous Improvement Champion at Harold Beck & Sons Inc – Newtown, Pennsylvania

Company Overview:

Harold Beck & Sons, Inc. (Beck Electric Actuators), founded in 1936, designs and manufactures high quality electric actuators for industrial process control applications. These uniquely designed actuators provide consistent, precise control without the performance and maintenance limitations of typical actuators. Beck electric actuators provide excellent control of valves, dampers, fluid couplings and other final control elements in a wide variety of industries such as Electric Power, Water and Wastewater, Steel, Pulp and Paper, Glass, Cement and Lime, Minerals, Metals and Chemical/petrochemical.

The company is 100% employee-owned and is headquartered in Newtown, PA. Beck continues its tradition of top-notch, direct-factory support that is unmatched by other actuator companies. Today, more than ever, they are committed to delivering high-quality solutions that meet the evolving needs of their customers.

Role Summary:

Harold Beck & Sons, Inc. is seeking an experienced Continuous Improvement (CI) Champion to lead and facilitate CI initiatives that drive improved Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Growth, and Employee Engagement (SQDCGE) across all functions within the business. This role drives cultural transformation by embedding CI thinking into daily operations, fostering employee engagement, and ensuring sustainable improvements in SQDCGE. The CI Champion acts as a change agent, coach, and facilitator to build a company-wide culture of continuous improvement. This position reports to the Director of Operations

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop a strategic CI roadmap aligned with business goals by identifying, prioritizing, and implementing process improvement opportunities.
• Lead and facilitate cross-functional teams in executing the CI roadmap through the deployment of appropriate CI tools; including Value Stream Mapping, A3 Problem Solving, Standard Work, Pull Systems, Change-over Reduction, Transactional Process Improvement, Value Analysis Value Engineering, Design for Manufacturing and Assembly, and other CI tools as appropriate.
• Support leadership in embedding CI thinking into management systems and decision-making.
• Develop and maintain appropriate KPIs and visual management tools to monitor progress.
• Train and mentor employees on CI tools and continuous improvement principles.
• Collaborate with all departments to eliminate non-value-added activities and improve workflows.
• Analyze data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.
• Support strategic initiatives such as cost reduction, quality enhancement, and throughput improvement.
• Document and standardize best practices across the organization.
• Benchmark best practices and continuously evolve the CI strategy.
• Champion a safe working environment by upholding Beck safety policies and integrating safety practices into continuous improvement initiatives to enhance employee well-being and operational efficiency.

Professional and Personal Requirements:

• Resilience and adaptability -- remain composed under pressure and adjusting strategies and tactics in response to business shifts.
• 5+ years of experience in facilitating and applying CI tools in product design, manufacturing, sales/marketing, and finance.
• Strong knowledge of CI tools and techniques (e.g., VSM, A3, SW, Kanban, SMED, TPI, VAVE, DFMA).
• Proven ability to lead and facilitate cross-functional teams.
• Analytical, data-driven, and process oriented.
• Ability to influence and lead change across diverse teams.
• Customer-centric mindset.
• Proven record of leading successful CI transformations.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools (Excel, Tableau, Power BI, Minitab, etc.).
• Excellent facilitation, coaching, communication, listening, and structured problem-solving skills.
• Experience with ERP systems and manufacturing software is a plus.
• Ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external customers.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the company’s mission.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering
• Experience in a business that effectively utilizes CI tools.
• Advanced knowledge of assembly and machining processes are a plus.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift and move equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to stand, sit, and walk for extended periods.
• Regular exposure to manufacturing areas requiring personal protective equipment.

Work Environment:

• Office environment with regular exposure to manufacturing areas.
• Predictable and reliable attendance required.
• Position requires 40 hours/5 days a week in-person at the Company’s Newtown, PA facility.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Harold Beck & Sons, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, Pennsylvania, or local law.