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Lean manufacturing engineer vs packaging engineer

The differences between lean manufacturing engineers and packaging engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a lean manufacturing engineer, becoming a packaging engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a packaging engineer has an average salary of $88,452, which is higher than the $75,994 average annual salary of a lean manufacturing engineer.

The top three skills for a lean manufacturing engineer include lean manufacturing, kaizen events and process improvement. The most important skills for a packaging engineer are CAD, project management, and solidworks.

Lean manufacturing engineer vs packaging engineer overview

Lean Manufacturing EngineerPackaging Engineer
Yearly salary$75,994$88,452
Hourly rate$36.54$42.52
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs59,19354,028
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age4342
Years of experience24

What does a lean manufacturing engineer do?

Lean manufacturing engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for executing the lean manufacturing method, a process that reduces waste in a manufacturing system without sacrificing productivity. These engineers must utilize lean tools and train all plant personnel about using these tools to identify wastes and reduce costs. They must lead the process improvement teams to initiate activities that eliminate waste in all aspects of the operation. Lean manufacturing engineers must also perform cost or benefit analysts to determine the return of investment (ROI) of capital expenditures and project initiatives.

What does a packaging engineer do?

A Packaging Engineer plans and implements packaging designs to ensure product integrity and appeal. Their primary duties include supervising and managing the complete packaging development process, analyzing engineering drawings, and conducting periodic vendor reviews.

Lean manufacturing engineer vs packaging engineer salary

Lean manufacturing engineers and packaging engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lean Manufacturing EngineerPackaging Engineer
Average salary$75,994$88,452
Salary rangeBetween $59,000 And $97,000Between $65,000 And $118,000
Highest paying CityMilpitas, CASanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyStrykerApple
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between lean manufacturing engineer and packaging engineer education

There are a few differences between a lean manufacturing engineer and a packaging engineer in terms of educational background:

Lean Manufacturing EngineerPackaging Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common majorIndustrial EngineeringEngineering And Industrial Management
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Lean manufacturing engineer vs packaging engineer demographics

Here are the differences between lean manufacturing engineers' and packaging engineers' demographics:

Lean Manufacturing EngineerPackaging Engineer
Average age4342
Gender ratioMale, 84.4% Female, 15.6%Male, 77.1% Female, 22.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.5% Asian, 17.1% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 13.1% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage5%4%

Differences between lean manufacturing engineer and packaging engineer duties and responsibilities

Lean manufacturing engineer example responsibilities.

  • Lead several independent, cross-functional projects and improve manufacturing quality, reduce cost, ensure environment are supported and FDA compliant.
  • Develop the Kanban system base upon customer demand to reduce inventory, overproduction and increase cycle times.
  • Update and clarify processes as needed to ensure they conform to ISO, GMP and FDA standards.
  • Support implementation infrastructure of Kanban system to the production floor.
  • Compile and update documentation require by OSHA and ISO certification.
  • Champion ergonomics evaluation team, assess manufacturing projects for ergonomic risk and generate solutions to resolve or mitigate risk exposure.
  • Show more

Packaging engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage UAT testing of App-V/Thin-App applications.
  • Manage implementation and changes using FDA compliant documentation and change management processes.
  • Manage Linux staging and testing environments and also automate application packaging and deployments.
  • Manage packaging redesign project to maintain compliance with current FDA regulations for medical device packaging.
  • Manage in-house process, which include art direction, copy/editorial development, photography, and print production management for domestic/international market.
  • Develop windows application in c #to process customer and policy information.
  • Show more

Lean manufacturing engineer vs packaging engineer skills

Common lean manufacturing engineer skills
  • Lean Manufacturing, 15%
  • Kaizen Events, 7%
  • Process Improvement, 6%
  • Sigma, 5%
  • Kanban, 5%
  • PDCA, 4%
Common packaging engineer skills
  • CAD, 9%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Solidworks, 7%
  • ASTM, 5%
  • Package Design, 5%
  • ISTA, 4%

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