Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Are you ready to build what matters? Build More Than Machines. Build a Career.  

Caterpillar is looking for candidates that want to build a career. Position includes a wage of $20.20/hour, quarterly goal sharing program and a comprehensive benefit program that begins on Day 1. 

What this looks like:

1st Shift Starting Pay: $20.20/hour

1st Shift: Monday-Friday 6:15 AM - 2:15 PM, Overtime as business needs require

We don’t lead our industry - our people do. Watch our video to see our team build top-of-the-line compact track loaders.

Job Purpose

The 5S Coordinator/Specialist is responsible for implementing, sustaining, and continuously improving 5S practices—Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain—to create a clean, safe, efficient, and visually controlled workplace. This role supports operational excellence by enabling teams to eliminate waste, improve workflow, and maintain consistent standards through disciplined work habits.

Key Responsibilities

1. 5S Implementation & Oversight

Lead and facilitate 5S activities across assigned areas, ensuring adherence to Caterpillar’s structured 5S methodology.

Guide teams through Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize, Sustain according to company standards, including proper use of Red Tags, point‑of‑use storage, and visual standard practices.

Ensure the 5S process supports creation of a “visual factory” and exposes hidden waste such as excess motion and transportation.

2. Workplace Organization & Visual Control

Establish visual standards that define how areas should look at shift change. Standards may include layout diagrams, PPE requirements, and emergency information.

Create, update, and maintain 5S documentation and standard work instructions to ensure uniformity and repeatability.

3. Training & Employee Engagement

Educate employees on 5S principles and disciplined work habits needed to sustain improvements.

Coach work groups on using 5S as a tool for continuous improvement, defect reduction, and safety enhancement.

Partner with Lean/CI facilitators for workshops, rapid improvement events, or area transformations.

4. Auditing & Compliance

Conduct regular 5S audits to ensure compliance and sustainment using Caterpillar’s audit processes.

Identify abnormalities in work areas and work with leaders to resolve root causes.

5. Continuous Improvement

Support cross-functional teams in identifying waste and recommending improvement ideas.

Help maintain stability in work areas by reinforcing standard work and addressing deviations immediately.

Document before/after improvements to show impact and encourage engagement.

Required Skills & Competencies

Technical

Understanding of Lean methodologies and CPS principles (5S, Standard Work, Waste Elimination, Kaizen).

Ability to identify abnormal vs. normal conditions at a glance through visual management.

Operational

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Ability to assess workplace conditions, storage practices, cleanliness, safety, and workflow.

Leadership / Soft Skills

Effective communication across cross-functional teams.

Ability to train, influence, and engage frontline employees.

Problem-solving abilities to address barriers to 5S sustainment.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

(Based on Caterpillar shop-floor job descriptions where 5S is embedded.)

Ability to spend extended periods on the shop floor.

Ability to lift materials or objects when facilitating workplace organization.

Preferred Experience

Prior experience in Lean deployment, workplace organization, industrial operations, or continuous improvement roles.

Experience leading CI events or acting as an area point-of-contact for operational excellence.

Why This Role Matters

5S is not just “cleaning”—Caterpillar’s 5S standards emphasize:

Enabling safety

Improving productivity

Reducing defects

Supporting sustainable continuous improvement practices

Additional Information: Resumes are highly encouraged for all applicants. Failure to attach a resume may lead to application to not be considered.

Employee benefit details

Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Here you earn more than just an hourly wage. We offer a total rewards package that provides Day ONE benefits (medical, dental, vision, RX, and 401K) along with the potential of a quarterly bonus. Additional benefits include paid holidays and paid time off.

Final details

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as H, L, TN, F, J, E, O.

Summary Pay Range:

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

401(k) savings plans*

Health Savings Account (HSA)*

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

Health Lifestyle Programs*

Employee Assistance Program*

Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

Career Development*

Incentive bonus*

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Adoption benefits

Tuition Reimbursement

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Posting Dates:

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.     

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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