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The differences between lean manufacturing managers and continuous improvement managers 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 manager, becoming a continuous improvement manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a lean manufacturing manager has an average salary of $106,060, which is higher than the $99,644 average annual salary of a continuous improvement manager.
The top three skills for a lean manufacturing manager include lean manufacturing, sigma and process improvement. The most important skills for a continuous improvement manager are lean six sigma, sigma, and continuous improvement.
| Lean Manufacturing Manager | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $106,060 | $99,644 |
| Hourly rate | $50.99 | $47.91 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 31,632 | 154,463 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A lean Manufacturing Manager is part of the manufacturing department. They are the one who is responsible for creating the design as well as strategies to improve the operation of the company. They monitor the daily activities of the employees and report them to the Area or division head. They must also ensure that all the job descriptions and responsibilities of the employees are met based on the company's policy. Also, their job includes identifying ways to improve the system operation and setting a future goal for a company.
A Continuous Improvement Manager initiates and facilitates lean improvement programs and activities. They ensure that progress is maintained on an ongoing basis.
Lean manufacturing managers and continuous improvement managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lean Manufacturing Manager | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Average salary | $106,060 | $99,644 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $154,000 | Between $74,000 And $133,000 |
| Highest paying City | Winston-Salem, NC | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Accenture | |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a lean manufacturing manager and a continuous improvement manager in terms of educational background:
| Lean Manufacturing Manager | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between lean manufacturing managers' and continuous improvement managers' demographics:
| Lean Manufacturing Manager | Continuous Improvement Manager | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% | Male, 81.4% Female, 18.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.0% Asian, 9.1% White, 69.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |