Continuous Improvement Specialist
Continuous Improvement Specialist
Schumacher & Co., America’s leading name for home and interior design – for fabric, wallcovering, and rugs – is seeking a motivated, analytical, and hands-on Continuous Improvement Specialist to support process improvement initiatives across our manufacturing and distribution operations.
This role will focus on improving how materials, inventory, orders, people, and information move through the operation—from receiving and inventory through manufacturing, fulfillment, shipping, and ultimately to the customer.
The Continuous Improvement Specialist will partner closely with operational leaders and cross-functional teams to identify inefficiencies, analyze performance, implement solutions, and ensure improvements are sustained.
This is an excellent opportunity for a professional with 2–4 years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Lean, manufacturing, quality, process improvement, distribution, or a related field who is ready to take greater ownership of improvement projects and continue developing their CI expertise.
What You’ll Do
Continuous Improvement & Process Optimization
Analyze operational processes to identify bottlenecks, waste, duplication, and inefficiencies
Support and lead Continuous Improvement projects from identification through implementation
Develop and implement standard work, best practices, and improved operating procedures
Use Lean, Kaizen, 5S, root-cause analysis, and other Continuous Improvement methodologies
Create process maps, workflows, and standard work instructions
Identify opportunities to improve productivity, quality, accuracy, safety, service levels, and operating costs
Measure project results and ensure improvements are sustained
Evaluate processes to support business growth, increased volume, and changing operational needs
Distribution & Warehouse Operations
Identify opportunities to improve receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, packing, staging, and shipping
Support improvements to warehouse layouts, storage locations, material flow, and space utilization
Help improve order fulfillment speed and accuracy
Analyze labor utilization, productivity, travel time, touches, and material handling
Support initiatives to improve dock-to-stock time and overall shipment flow
Assist with facility-capacity and workflow planning
Manufacturing Operations
Partner with Manufacturing leadership to improve material and workflow through production
Identify operational constraints and bottlenecks
Improve handoffs between Manufacturing, Inventory, Receiving, and Distribution
Support efforts to reduce downtime, rework, scrap, errors, and material shortages
Improve coordination between production schedules and downstream operations
Help develop processes that support new products, increased SKU volume, and changing customer demand
Inventory & Quality
Support initiatives to improve inventory and location accuracy
Analyze inventory discrepancies and assist with root-cause investigations
Improve labeling, scanning, inventory transactions, and cycle-count processes
Identify opportunities to reduce damaged, excess, obsolete, or slow-moving inventory
Partner with Operations and Quality teams to reduce errors, defects, rework, and waste
Develop sustainable inventory-control and accountability processes
Technology & Systems
Identify opportunities to improve ERP, WMS, and other operational system processes
Partner with Operations and IT on system and workflow improvements
Support opportunities involving barcode scanning, RF technology, automation, and other operational tools
Analyze system transactions and data to identify process gaps
Participate in system testing, implementations, upgrades, and process validation
Data & Performance
Analyze operational data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
Support the development of dashboards, KPIs, and operational reporting
Establish baseline performance and measure results following process changes
Translate operational data into actionable improvement recommendations
Track project performance and document measurable business impact
Key metrics may include:
Productivity and throughput
Order accuracy
On-time shipment
Dock-to-stock time
Inventory accuracy
Labor utilization
Order cycle time
Manufacturing throughput
Quality and rework rates
Warehouse utilization
Safety performance
Cost savings and cost avoidance
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Manufacturing, Distribution, Receiving, Inventory, Quality, Purchasing, Customer Service, Finance, IT, and other business partners
Facilitate process-improvement discussions and working sessions
Communicate project objectives, progress, recommendations, and results
Support implementation of new processes and operating standards
Engage employees in identifying and solving operational problems
Help build accountability and adoption around Continuous Improvement initiatives
Safety
Identify process-related safety risks and opportunities for improvement
Support improvements to material handling, traffic flow, workstation design, and operational practices
Incorporate safety considerations into process and facility improvements
Support company safety, quality, OSHA, and compliance requirements
What We’re Looking For
2–4 years of experience in Continuous Improvement, process improvement, manufacturing, distribution, quality, Lean, operations, or a related field
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Experience using data to evaluate operational performance
Ability to conduct root-cause analysis and develop practical solutions
Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities
Comfortable working directly within manufacturing and distribution environments
Ability to move between strategic analysis and hands-on process observation
Strong organizational and follow-through skills
Experience with Lean, Kaizen, 5S, Six Sigma, process mapping, standard work, value-stream mapping, or similar Continuous Improvement methodologies is preferred.
Compensation & Development
We offer a competitive compensation package based on experience, skills, and qualifications.
This position is also eligible for performance-based incentives tied to measurable results and achievement of established Continuous Improvement objectives.
Performance may be evaluated based on:
Verified cost savings and cost avoidance
Productivity and throughput improvements
Quality improvements and waste reduction
Safety improvements
Completion and sustainment of CI projects
Standard work implementation and adoption
Employee engagement in Continuous Improvement initiatives
Growth Opportunity
The Continuous Improvement Specialist position is designed to provide a clear professional development path.
As the Specialist demonstrates sustained results, successfully manages increasingly complex projects, and expands their operational knowledge and responsibilities, there will be opportunities for increased responsibility and continued growth within Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence.
The Impact
The Continuous Improvement Specialist will help strengthen the entire operational flow:
Supplier → Receiving → Inventory → Manufacturing → Finished Goods → Distribution → Customer
The goal is simple: identify where the process breaks down, understand why, implement a better solution, measure the impact, and ensure the improvement lasts.
If you enjoy solving operational problems, working with people and data, and seeing measurable results from your improvements, we’d love to hear from you.
ABOUT FSCO:
Schumacher & Co is a 136-year‐old interior design company that creates and distributes fabric, wallcovering and furniture to skilled businesses around the world. Our family‐owned company is synonymous with style, taste and innovation. Our collections are comprehensive, with an extraordinary range united by respect for classicism, an eye for the cutting edge, and an unparalleled level of quality.
But don’t be fooled! While we celebrate our storied heritage, we operate like a 136-year‐old startup. Our talented team is innovative and dynamic, and our culture is progressive and fun. In order continue our success; we are always looking for talented people that fit.
Culture: In our company, you are judged by your ideas and results, not by your experience or title. So, we encourage you to be thoughtful, casual, and to speak your mind.
Development: We strive every day to develop you and your colleagues for what we believe is a challenging and supportive business environment.
Teamwork: We believe that success and efficiency can only be a product of collaboration. At FSCO, working together is the rule, not the exception.
Innovation: We have achieved success and longevity through innovation. And we encourage experimentation and rule breaking. Mistakes? Those are things we embrace, talk about and learn from.
Life balance: Focused, productive time is more important than long hours. We believe in having enough time to be happy both in the office and out of it.
Schumacher & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and equality in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, physical and mental disability, genetic or any other status prohibited by applicable national, federal, state or local law.