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Continuous Improvement Manager

Generac · Belvidere, IL · $99,500–$149,200 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a kaizen event you led from start to finish. What was the problem, what did the team try, and what actually stuck six months later.

What they are checking: whether they can drive lean events beyond a one-week high and sustain results

Tell me about a time you had to coach a plant manager or senior leader who was skeptical of lean tools. How did you get their buy-in.

What they are checking: ability to influence senior management without formal authority, which the posting calls out directly

Give me an example of a problem where the obvious fix wasn't the right one, and how you used root cause analysis to get past it.

What they are checking: real problem-solving discipline versus surface-level tool application

Tell me about a time a kaizen or CI initiative failed or stalled. What happened and what did you change afterward.

What they are checking: honesty and learning orientation rather than a polished success-only narrative

Describe a time you worked in a matrix organization or with an international team and had to get alignment without direct reporting lines.

What they are checking: comfort operating in Generac's likely matrixed, multi-site structure

What would you do

You're managing lean deployment across multiple facilities with different production profiles, one high mix low volume and one high volume low mix. How do you keep a common CI standard without forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.

What they are checking: business acumen across different production environments, which the posting explicitly requires

Say you're six weeks into a strategy deployment cycle and the site metrics aren't moving even though the kaizens are happening on schedule. What do you look at first.

What they are checking: understanding of the link between activity and actual results, and diagnostic instinct

Tell me about a time you had to prioritize between two urgent CI requests from different sites with limited time to give either one full attention.

What they are checking: organization and prioritization skill under competing cross-site demands

If a line supervisor pushes back on a proposed standard work change because it slows down their team in the short term, how do you handle that conversation.

What they are checking: interpersonal skill in getting frontline buy-in for changes that carry short-term pain

About the work

Describe how you'd assess a facility that has never done formal continuous improvement work and build a lean deployment plan for it.

What they are checking: depth of hands-on knowledge of Toyota Production System or Shingo methodology and ability to structure a real rollout, not just recite terms

How do you train a team of facility lean professionals so they can run kaizens themselves instead of relying on you to lead every event.

What they are checking: capability to build internal capacity, since the role is about developing a team, not just personally executing

What's your experience with demand flow or plan for every part, and how have you used it to reduce waste in materials flow.

What they are checking: depth on a named preferred methodology, checking if it's real experience or just familiarity with the term

How do you translate a lean improvement, like reduced cycle time or lower scrap, into the financial language a plant controller or VP would care about.

What they are checking: business acumen and understanding of financial measurement in a lean enterprise, called out explicitly in the posting

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? Primary Purpose The Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager is responsible for the design, leadership, training, coaching and execution of lean improvements. The CI Manager leads and manages the deployment of Lean CI principles, methodologies, tools and metrics utilizing Toyota Production System and Shingo Prize methodology. Delivers hands-on coaching and problem solving to associates in lean methodology and tools to eliminate waste in all functions. Overall responsibility for coordinating and leading team members cross-functionally and with multiple facilities to meet or exceed company business objectives. Major Responsibilities - Supports production operations in development and execution of lean continuous improvement plans and kaizens. Facilitates lean CI kaizens to improve site metrics and deliver strategy deployment goals. - Trains, develops, motivates, monitors, and leads a team of facility lean professionals with an emphasis on championing the goals, objectives and implementation plans relative to the lean assessment needs and strategic direction. - Develops, deploys, and trains standard Generac CI tools, methodologies, standards, practices and processes. R equirements Education • B achelor’s Degree or equivalent Work Experience • 5 years of lean continuous improvement implementation experience in a manufacturing environment using Toyota Production System, Danaher Business System, or Shingo Prize methodology Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Strong project leadership experience with a diversity of team skills • Ability to set the agenda (based on business needs and priorities) and bring others with you • Demonstrated ability to influence senior management, teams and individuals across a variety of settings • Demonstrated problem-solving ability, including the ability to identify creative and effective solutions and the ability to ask the right questions and help frame logical conclusions. • Proven experience in collaborating with multiple sites and functions to drive common solutions • Strong organization, prioritization, and time management skills with the ability to adapt quickly to shifting priorities • Sound business acumen operating in high mix, low volume and high volume, low mix production environments • Demonstrated personal flexibility in approach and ideas • Strong interpersonal communication skills Preferred Job Requirements Education • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems) Certification / License Work Experience • Line operations experience working in a production or supply chain environment: Production supervision, materials, sourcing, distribution, logistics, planning, quality, or service • Experience working with international companies and in matrix organizations • Experience in demand flow principles and plan for every part (PFEP) methodology Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Demonstrated understanding of financial measurements and goals in the lean enterprise Generac is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices . The salary range for this role based in Belvidere, IL is $ 99,500.00 - 149,200.00 USD. This compensation will ultimately be in line with the location in which the position is filled . Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skills, certifications and geographic location . This role is eligible for variable compensation including short-term and long-term incentives. This position includes a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental and vision plans; life, long-term disability, flexible spending and health savings accounts, accrued paid time off, 8 paid Holidays and 401(k) retirement benefits . PHYSICAL DEMANDS : Office Environment (Includes field sales): While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls . The employee is regularly required to stand and walk . On occasion, the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Occasional travel. DISCLAIMER All responsibilities and requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only responsibilities to be performed by an employee occupying this job or position . Employees must follow any “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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