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For more than 115 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that enable moments of sweetness, celebration, and connection for candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is the #1 sugar confectioner in the United States. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of nearly 9,000 employees creating and delivering hundreds of products sold under 20 popular brands like Brach’s®, NERDS®, SweeTARTS®, Laffy Taffy®, and Trolli® to more than 66 million U.S. households annually and popular Dori snacking products under brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100 in Brazil. Additionally, Jelly Belly, known world-wide for its confections, was acquired in November of 2023.

Continuous Improvement Specialist

Work Location: ​Bellwood​

This position is based out of our Bellwood, IL, manufacturing facility. Due to nature of the projects, up to 10% travel may be required and willingness to work off-shit, weekends, and holidays if needed for projects.

Want to make an impact?

The Continuous Improvement Specialist drives Continuous Improvement in Production, Processing, and Packaging activities with a focus on CI projects that achieve safety, quality, customer service, and costs goals. The Continuous Improvement Specialist collaborates closesly with factory, engineering, and corporate teams to achieve project objectives aligned with business needs. This position plays a key role in customer driven manufacturing function chraged with continuously improving all aspecs of performance. 

Ways you will make a difference

 

  • Responsible for identifying, chartering, and leading CI productivity improvement initiatives and delivering the project results on time
  • Provide project updates to the factory leadership team and project stakeholders highlighting the current status, adherence to the project time plan, work accomplished, quick wins, points of escalation, elements of risk and the associated mitigation plans
  • Utilize continuous improvement tools and methodologies including TPM, RCA, DMAIC, Loss Tree Analysis, IPA, and more to drive sustainable operational improvements
  • Cost Escalate issues in a timely manner Measure and improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
  • Collect and analyze given data and operating conditions; implement changes and follow-up on results by involving key responsible parties 
  • Determine means to reduce material usages, material losses and rework, and to increase process efficiencies
  • Carry out follow-up programs to maintain the achieved savings, to complete additional training, to detect further savings opportunities, as well as ensure the overall continuity of projects.
  • Participate in annual budget process to assess all run rate efficiencies, nominal speeds, and scrap values by component
  • Contribute to respective trials, together with the supervisors and managers, before any change or newly designed system or method is installed
  • Assist the operators, supervisors, and managers for adapting changes to take the necessary actions and any other steps required to ensure the achievement of the best possible result
  • Work collaboratively with product development, marketing, supply chain, finance, and operations to bring new products to market and meet the defined project objectives
  • Ensure that factory safety, operational and quality standards are adhered to
  • Facilitate improvements in hourly workforce proficiency, training, and development programs
  • Interact with other department’s heads to exchange information impacting productivity performance
  • Utilize SAP to create and maintain product standards

 

Skills that will make you successful

 

  • Strong project management skills including excellent planning and organizational skills
  • Proficient in hi-speed packaging and process equipment application/design, process development
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment 
  • Superb people skills and adept at collaborating and team building with employees across all levels and functions
  • Creative, highly motivated, and self-starting
  • Exceptional analytical, root-cause-analysis, and decision-making abilities
  • Effective written and verbal communication/presentation skills

Experiences that will support your success

  • Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or other Engineering or Business strongly preferred
  • Two years of experience in food manufacturing 
  • Six Sigma orLean background with examples of application and results 
  • Experience working with Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) 
  • Knowledge of SAP
  • Well-versed in Microsoft Office Suite with Advanced Microsoft Excel experience

 

 

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What We Offer

At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO).  Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR

Compensation

Ferrara’s success in industry-leading innovation has been driven by deep consumer insights, strong retailer co-creation and partnerships, and a dedication to diversity of thought, experience, and people. A privately held company, Ferrara has its global headquarters in Chicago and an operational network of more than 27 locations in North America, Brazil, and China that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities. Ferrara is a privately held Ferrero related company. Learn more at www.ferrara.com or www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara-.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.

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