Lean Operations Engineer – Distillery Packaging Systems

Shape How America’s Favorite Spirits Are Made

Picture a day where you start on Line 3 with a fast 5S walkthrough, coach a cross-shift team through a kaizen on changeover reduction, and wrap up by turning downtime trends into a prevention plan. That is a typical rhythm for the Lean Operations Engineer at Barton 1792 Distillery, where nine high-speed lines produce roughly 10 million cases each year.

Located in Bardstown, Kentucky, Barton 1792 Distillery traces its roots to the Tom Moore Distillery founded in 1879. In 2009, we joined Sazerac Company, established in 1850 and recognized as a leading U.S. spirits supplier with the world’s most decorated distillery and a portfolio of award-winning brands.

What you will do

• Facilitate core continuous improvement events and routines, including kaizen workshops, 5S audits, value stream mapping, and root cause analysis.
• Coach and train teammates on Lean and Six Sigma tools such as DMAIC, 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, and PDCA to build site-wide capability.
• Lead root cause analysis initiatives and implement preventive and corrective actions that stick.
• Own project tracking: define metrics, report progress and outcomes, and quantify return on investment.
• Mine production and downtime data to identify patterns, validate hypotheses, and drive targeted countermeasures.
• Partner with front-line operators and technicians to eliminate risks to safety, quality, and throughput.
• Foster idea flow by gathering feedback and following up consistently to sustain a culture of innovation.
• Motivate and guide teams to put in place standard work and controls that protect the gains.
• Develop and implement key performance indicators to measure improvement success and ensure visibility.

Schedule

Our facility operates around the clock. This role flexes across all shifts to support the operation.

What you bring

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Engineering or Business Management.
• At least 2 years of experience in continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, or process improvement.
• Evidence of leadership and the ability to influence across levels.
• Proficiency with computer systems, including MS Office.
• Comfort communicating with and presenting to all levels of the organization.
• Excellent written, verbal, and facilitation skills.

Preferred

• Background with high-speed bottling or packaging equipment.
• Supervisory experience in a fast-paced production setting.
• Successful leadership within a unionized manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of manufacturing best practices and standards.
• Strong planning and organizational abilities.
• Experience with GMP and HACCP.
• Lean Six Sigma or comparable certifications.

Why Barton 1792

Our people are our advantage. Bring your drive and curiosity; we will match it with a legacy of craftsmanship and a team culture built to win together.