What does a process improvement analyst do?
A process improvement analyst specializes in performing research and analysis to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a company's operations and procedures, recommending changes for optimal performance. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather records and data, conduct inspections, identify customers' needs, and spearhead projects for various operations. They must also maintain records of all observations and changes, produce progress reports, and conduct presentations for stakeholders and other high-ranking officials. Furthermore, it is essential to keep an active communication line with the workforce, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Process improvement analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real process improvement analyst resumes:
- Participate in and hold daily scrum meetings to perform iterative and incremental agile software development framework when managing product development.
- Publish KPIs results and elaborate reports to identify possible issues and recommend actions to keep improving.
- Interview I2TS stakeholders and facilitate working sessions to document their current state and future state processes in Visio.
- Collaborate with project team in the creation of a new SharePoint site to record and track customer feedback.
- Regard for the ability to identify root causes, track defects, measure performance against KPIs, and resolve issues.
- Conduct divisional and inter-departmental physical and electronic ISO audits.
- Assist development of data/reporting and project tracking dashboards, and upload updates and periodic management reports, using SharePoint.
- Evaluate and test administrative system changes to provide ongoing support to existing applications and newly implement PeopleSoft and Hyperion Essbase applications.
- Facilitate educational training of unit personnel using CPI principles and methodologies.
Process improvement analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Process Improvement Analysts are proficient in Lean Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, and Sigma. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Process Improvement Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Lean Six Sigma, 12%
Achieved a 6% reduction in defects by optimizing a process through the execution of a Lean Six Sigma DMAIC project.
- Continuous Improvement, 11%
Participate in continuous improvement activities to improve product quality, reduce manufacturing costs, and reduce manufacturing process cycle time.
- Sigma, 9%
Formulated and documented process improvement solutions and associated savings by applying BPMN and Lean Sigma methodologies.
- Project Management, 9%
Implemented Lean Six-Sigma project management initiatives to decrease the process time for Medicaid Waiver service authorization approval.
- Process Improvement, 4%
Worked with a multidisciplinary team to propose improvements to increase productivity, monitored indicators and monitored the implementation of process improvements.
- Data Analysis, 4%
Provided data analysis, auditing, integration testing, and reporting assistance for system implementation.
"lean six sigma," "continuous improvement," and "sigma" are among the most common skills that process improvement analysts use at work. You can find even more process improvement analyst responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a process improvement analyst to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." Additionally, a process improvement analyst resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "build out agent tools and internal data resources using html, javascript, and vba to increase agent performance and efficiency. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling process improvement analyst duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "management analysts work with managers and other employees of the organizations for which they provide consulting services." According to a process improvement analyst resume, here's how process improvement analysts can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "experience in customer service, interpersonal skills, and computer skills. "
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of process improvement analysts is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday process improvement analyst duties, as "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "served as sme and customer interface for communication and user support for change management module and change request process inquiries. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain process improvement analyst responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a process improvement analyst rely on this skill, as "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what process improvement analysts do: "improved business processes by interpreting sub-companies' data using statistical analysis and provided business solutions to senior executive team. "
Time-management skills. Another common skill required for process improvement analyst responsibilities is "time-management skills." This skill comes up in the duties of process improvement analysts all the time, as "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." An excerpt from a real process improvement analyst resume shows how this skill is central to what a process improvement analyst does: "improved process of creating a new product in erp system, reducing creation time from 6 days to 3 days. "
The three companies that hire the most process improvement analysts are:
- CBRE Group180 process improvement analysts jobs
- Highmark51 process improvement analysts jobs
- Church Mutual Insurance13 process improvement analysts jobs
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Compare different process improvement analysts
Process improvement analyst vs. Analyst lead
The duties of an analyst lead depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather leads and data, reviewing findings, and producing reports and presentations for the stakeholders and other higher-ranking officials. Through the results, an analyst lead can provide advice, devise strategies for business optimization, spearhead the development of processes, identify strengths and weaknesses, and offer recommendations on areas in need of improvement. All of this is done while in adherence to the company's vision and mission.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, process improvement analyst responsibilities require skills like "lean six sigma," "continuous improvement," "sigma," and "value stream." Meanwhile a typical analyst lead has skills in areas such as "analytics," "customer service," "excellent interpersonal," and "java." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Analyst leads really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $110,488. Comparatively, process improvement analysts tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $74,815.analyst leads tend to reach similar levels of education than process improvement analysts. In fact, analyst leads are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Process improvement analyst vs. Business analyst-consultant
A business analyst-consultant is responsible for overseeing the project management and ensuring that the operations meet the agreed-upon project deliverables. Business analyst-consultants closely coordinate with the clients for their specifications and requirements, monitoring the resources and processes for the project completion, and aligning those to the clients' budget goals. A business analyst-consultant helps the development team on strategizing techniques for brand promotions with minimal costs with maximum quality and productivity. They should have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on identifying business opportunities to drive revenues and increase profitability.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that process improvement analyst responsibilities requires skills like "lean six sigma," "continuous improvement," "sigma," and "value stream." But a business analyst-consultant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "strong analytical," "business process," "business analysts," and "business analysis."
On average, business analyst-consultants earn a higher salary than process improvement analysts. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, business analyst-consultants earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $105,940. Whereas process improvement analysts have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $74,815.business analyst-consultants earn similar levels of education than process improvement analysts in general. They're 3.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for process improvement analysts in the next 3-5 years?
Erik Johnson Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Economics, Carthage College
Process improvement analyst vs. Analyst
Analysts are employees or individual contributors with a vast experience in a particular field that help the organization address challenges. They help the organization improve processes, policies, and other operations protocol by studying the current processes in place and determining the effectiveness of those processes. They also research industry trends and data to make sound inferences and recommendations on what the company should do to improve their numbers. Analysts recommend business solutions and often help the organization roll out these solutions. They ensure that the proposed action plans are effective and produce the desired results.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from process improvement analyst resumes include skills like "lean six sigma," "continuous improvement," "sigma," and "value stream," whereas an analyst is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "troubleshoot," "strong analytical," and "digital transformation. "
Analysts earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $79,330. Process improvement analysts earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $74,815.analysts typically earn similar educational levels compared to process improvement analysts. Specifically, they're 4.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Process improvement analyst vs. Process leader
A process leader is responsible for overseeing the operational processes of an organization to support business functions and client requirements. Process leaders evaluate the efficiency of workflow procedures, identifying inconsistencies, and revising processing techniques as needed to improve deliverables and maximize productivity. They also train new employees, share best practices, and address their difficulties by organizing a specific learning approach. A process leader must have excellent communication and organizational skills, such as writing progress reports and identifying opportunities that would drive revenue resources for the business.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between process improvement analysts and process leaders, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a process improvement analyst might have more use for skills like "data analysis," "visio," "business process improvement," and "statistical analysis." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of process leaders require skills like "customer service," "cleanliness," "sales floor," and "payroll. "
In general, process leaders earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $83,430. The highest-paying industry for a process improvement analyst is the technology industry.process leaders reach similar levels of education compared to process improvement analysts, in general. The difference is that they're 3.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of process improvement analyst
Updated January 8, 2025
