What does a process improvement engineer do?
A process improvement engineer specializes in conducting research and analysis to develop new strategies and ideas to improve the processes in a manufacturing plant or a similar setting. They prioritize efficiency and profitability. Most of the time, engineers participate in a series of meetings where they coordinate with fellow engineers to determine opportunities for product growth and development. Moreover, a process improvement engineer is also responsible for crafting new policies and regulations, upgrading systems, and developing new practices to ensure product quality and customer satisfaction.
Process improvement engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real process improvement engineer resumes:
- Utilize PMO best practices to identify and manage timelines, risks, dependencies, resource utilization and escalation points.
- Implement appropriate process validation procedures and documentation to achieve operating efficiency while meeting FDA regulations.
- Lead and assist maintenance in resolving equipment malfunctions, troubleshoot process problems, and organize and implement preventative maintenance procedures.
- Migrate legacy systems into a single CRM system.
- Complete basic lean training to department heads and assign projects align to meet GBU KPIs.
- Created/Present an innovative ERP and CRM decision support model for business investments to global CEOs.
- Generate SQL queries to extract data elements during proof of concept for data driven test initiatives.
- Plan, lead, and implement lean manufacturing initiatives, Kaizen events, and special projects, as needed.
- Implement kanban pull system for purchase parts and coordinate ERP system to reflect accurate supplier data and target inventory.
- Reduce inventory by $580,000 and remove 5000 skids from the system through development and implementation of Kanban system.
- Evaluate and recommend acquisition of software tools, and assist with evaluating needs, purchasing and upgrading server architecture.
- Used Minitab to analyze statistical data.
- Develop performance KPIs and measurement methodologies.
- Perform ISO internal audits and prepare associate documentation.
- Conduct project members training on Minitab statistical software.
Process improvement engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Process Improvement Engineers are proficient in Lean Six Sigma, Sigma, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Listening skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Process Improvement Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Lean Six Sigma, 11%
Incorporated time saving suggestions, implemented productivity improvement processes and sustained the efficiency accomplished through the Lean Six Sigma Program.
- Sigma, 9%
Analyzed effectiveness of processes and implemented action to improve equipment up-time and yield using lean manufacturing and six sigma principles.
- Project Management, 8%
Proposed and implemented a formal cross-functional review process and structure to insure accurate project management and implementation of process excellence groups.
- Healthcare, 8%
Perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of healthcare data to support program management within Performance Improvement Department.
- Data Analysis, 5%
Documented organizational and process structure through value stream mapping; provided data analysis supporting key process design and re-engineering.
- Performance Improvement, 5%
Implemented performance improvement training for all new and existing staff, resulting in increased awareness agency wide of performance improvement initiatives.
"lean six sigma," "sigma," and "project management" are among the most common skills that process improvement engineers use at work. You can find even more process improvement engineer responsibilities below, including:
Creativity. One of the key soft skills for a process improvement engineer to have is creativity. You can see how this relates to what process improvement engineers do because "industrial engineers use creativity and ingenuity to design new production processes in many kinds of settings in order to reduce the use of material resources, time, or labor while accomplishing the same goal." Additionally, a process improvement engineer resume shows how process improvement engineers use creativity: "train end users on the autodesk family of products including inventor, autocad & data management solutions. "
Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform process improvement engineer duties is listening skills. Process improvement engineers responsibilities require that "these engineers often operate in teams, but they also must solicit feedback from customers, vendors, and production staff." Process improvement engineers also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated and documented process changes to associates. "
Math skills. process improvement engineers are also known for math skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to process improvement engineer responsibilities, because "industrial engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." A process improvement engineer resume example shows how math skills is used in the workplace: "interviewed and collected data from stakeholders across multiple agencies; performed quantitative/qualitative data analysis; developed and validated program requirements. "
Speaking skills. For certain process improvement engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "speaking skills." The day-to-day duties of a process improvement engineer rely on this skill, as "industrial engineers sometimes have to explain their instructions to production staff or technicians before they can make written instructions available." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what process improvement engineers do: "prepared and presented productivity reports to management by using trend data analysis, providing a baseline to set monthly bonus goals. "
Writing skills. A commonly-found skill in process improvement engineer job descriptions, "writing skills" is essential to what process improvement engineers do. Process improvement engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "industrial engineers must prepare documentation for other engineers or scientists, or for future reference." You can also see how process improvement engineer duties rely on writing skills in this resume example: "analyzed, process mapped and streamlined the process for the medical writing document management function. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill commonly found on process improvement engineer job descriptions is "problem-solving skills." It can come up quite often in process improvement engineer duties, since "in designing facilities for manufacturing and processes for providing services, these engineers deal with several issues at once, from workers’ safety to quality assurance." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day process improvement engineer responsibilities: "focus on process improvement opportunities and implement solutions using lean six sigma principles. "
The three companies that hire the most process improvement engineers are:
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Process improvement engineer vs. Industrial engineering internship
An industrial engineer intern is a student working in a company to do industrial engineering tasks. Industrial engineering interns assist industrial engineers. They perform process improvement tasks such as the increase in production efficiency and lean manufacturing analysis. They design and implement improved facility layout to optimize product flow and provide improvement times. More so, they conduct self-study for the calculation of efficient performance time, create assembly line drawing, and determine ergonomic issues.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a process improvement engineer are more likely to require skills like "lean six sigma," "project management," "healthcare," and "performance improvement." On the other hand, a job as an industrial engineering internship requires skills like "strong analytical," "logistics," "material flow," and "capacity analysis." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, industrial engineering interns reach similar levels of education than process improvement engineers. Industrial engineering interns are 4.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Process improvement engineer vs. Manufacturing engineering internship
A manufacturing engineering intern is responsible for assisting the manufacturing engineers on the plant's daily operations, analyzing the manufacturing process and procedures, and recommending strategic solutions to maximize productivity and minimize costs. Manufacturing engineering interns shadow the production staff, inspect the tools and equipment of the manufacturing, analyze the quality control documentation, and perform related administrative tasks to familiarize themselves with the plant structure. A manufacturing engineering intern must have excellent communication and organization skills, as well as the ability to adapt quickly to a fast-paced environment.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that process improvement engineer responsibilities requires skills like "lean six sigma," "project management," "healthcare," and "performance improvement." But a manufacturing engineering internship might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cad," "solidworks," "assembly line," and "pallets."
Manufacturing engineering interns earn a lower average salary than process improvement engineers. But manufacturing engineering interns earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $49,245. Additionally, process improvement engineers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $89,829 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Manufacturing engineering interns tend to reach lower levels of education than process improvement engineers. In fact, they're 6.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Process improvement engineer vs. Quality control engineer
A quality control engineer is responsible for conducting quality assessments for the company's products and services to ensure adherence to federal regulations and quality standards. Quality control engineers recommend strategic methods by analyzing processes and writing test results. They also identify opportunities for more services that meet public demands and market trends, helping the business generate more resources for revenues. A quality control engineer utilizes various software tools and applications to document findings, requiring them to have excellent communication and technical skills.
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 engineer resumes include skills like "lean six sigma," "project management," "healthcare," and "performance improvement," whereas a quality control engineer is more likely to list skills in "test procedures," "quality system," "process control," and "test results. "
Quality control engineers earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $83,131. Process improvement engineers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $89,829.quality control engineers typically earn lower educational levels compared to process improvement engineers. Specifically, they're 5.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Process improvement engineer vs. Industrial engineer
An industrial engineer specializes in devising various systems to improve the workflow and the workforce in a manufacturing setting. One of their primary responsibilities is to understand all of the procedures in a manufacturing plant and develop strategies to resolve issues or improve production operations, such as designing a cost-efficient machine or system that will enhance the quality of goods and boost the productivity of workers. Moreover, it is also essential to adhere to all the company's policies and safety regulations to maintain a safe and productive work environment for all employees.
Types of process improvement engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
