Lean Engineer Apprentice
DAHER AEROSPACE LIMITED
DERBY (DE24 9RE)
Closes in 16 days (Friday 12 June 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 27 May 2026
Contents
Summary
Supports logistics operations by applying lean principles to improve flow, reduce waste, and optimise processes. Assists the Logistics Engineer in data analysis, process mapping, and continuous improvement initiatives while gaining hands-on experience in supply chain efficiency and problem-solving.
- Wage
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£15,600 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
- Hours
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8am - 4pm, Monday to Friday.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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1 year
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Daily activities often include reviewing KPIs (inventory levels, delivery times, picking accuracy), walking the floor to observe processes, identifying waste (delays, excess motion, overstock), and updating process maps. They may assist in analysing data in Excel, tracking performance trends, and supporting small continuous improvement tasks assigned by the Logistics Engineer.
Weekly work usually involves participating in team meetings, contributing to lean initiatives (like 5S or process standardisation), helping run time studies, and preparing reports or presentations on findings. Support implementation of improvements, testing changes, gathering feedback, and measuring results to ensure efficiency gains.
Where you'll work
AMBERLEY DRIVE
SINFIN
DERBY
DE24 9RE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
DCG
Training course
Lean manufacturing operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, and other relevant guidelines. Identifying risks within their processes and support/carry out countermeasure activities to improve safe working. Manage tooling, equipment and materials daily in-line with supplier standards e.g. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
- Comply with environmental procedures and systems and contribute to the achievement of specific standards e.g. ISO 14001 or other relevant environmental standards and use the 4R’s (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Recover) where possible
- Demonstrate their ability to carry out their role effectively, efficiently and flexibly maintaining lean manufacturing principles to meet customer’s demands e.g. JIT
- Demonstrate their skill and knowledge following SOPs and building their versatility across a number of processes and process areas. Select and use appropriate tools, equipment and materials to carry out the manufacturing operation
- Demonstrate appropriate process documentation control. Accurately completing check sheets, monitoring process and equipment data efficiently and legibly using the correct terminology required to meet the quality standard e.g. ISO 9002
- Demonstrate their ability to identify and resolve problems within the lean manufacturing environment using effective problem solving tools and techniques. Manage problems that may occur during the manufacturing process within the limits of their responsibility and escalate as appropriate
- Generate ideas and contribute to process improvement activities individually or as part of a team through fact finding and analysis to improve the safety, environment, quality, cost or production process. Identifying and eliminating the 7 wastes (defects, over production, transportation, waiting, inventory, motion and processing)
- Demonstrate communication skills which include oral, written, electronic (PC), information boards or visual displays to effectively share information
- Maintains and monitors the work site efficiently and effectively at all times using the elements of sifting, sorting, sweeping, spick & span (5’s) within the lean manufacturing environment
- Check components for damage and that they are in a usable condition
- Correctly position, align and secure the components
- Secure the components in position using the specified fastening device/method
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions/Standard operating procedures production/assembly specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the production/assembly activity
- Produce components which comply with the specification and quality requirements
- Carryout quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies and deal with quality concerns and defects in line with their responsibility
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, inspection/quality procedures and product specifications in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the inspection/quality assurance activity
- Collect production samples at the required frequency in accordance with inspection specification and operating procedures
- Carryout inspection and testing activities using the specified methods and equipment
- Prepare, Handle, transfer and store samples safely and correctly in accordance with quality control procedures
- Accurately interpret the data/results gained from the inspection and testing procedures being used
- Record and report inspection findings to relevant person
- Safely move materials to the correct location using the relevant equipment
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, specification details and specific transfer/handling procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the logistic/material handling activity
- Move materials using the appropriate procedures, ensuring the materials are correct, safely loaded and secure.
- Check materials selected to be moved are in line with job requirements
- Carryout quality checks on materials that are to be moved and deal with quality concerns and damage in line with their responsibility
- Return equipment to its correct location on completion of the activities and leave it in a safe and usable condition
- Perform one processing/finishing operation method e.g. hand processing, manually operated machine processing, fully automated machine processing, combined processing
- Obtain and follow the correct Job instructions, processing/finishing procedures and equipment operating procedures in accordance with time constraints and the roles and responsibilities identified for the processing/finishing activity
- Perform the processing/finishing operation according to instructions and safe operating procedures
- Monitor and control the processing/finishing operation
- Produce processed/finished products which comply with processing specification
Training schedule
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C/4 or above)
- Maths (grade C/4 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Reliable
- Punctual
- Willing to learn
Other requirements
If we are interested in taking your application further, you will receive an email from a derby college email address (@derby-college.ac.uk). Please make sure that you check your inbox as well as your spam/junk folders, so you do not miss out on the opportunity to apply.
About this employer
Daher Aerospace Ltd is a global manufacturer and logistics provider supporting the aerospace industry. The Derby site operates in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment, supplying high‑quality bespoke aerospace packaging and logistics solutions while focusing strongly on safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
https://www.daher.com/en/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- 20 days holidays in year one increasing to 25 in second year
- Medicash health programme
- Company pension
After this apprenticeship
There may be opportunities to progress into roles such as Lean Technician, Logistics Engineer, or Continuous Improvement Engineer, with further professional development and higher‑level qualifications supported.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DCG
Chloe Westhead
chloe.westhead@derby-college.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000033246.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Friday 12 June 2026 at 11:59pm)