Continuous Improvement Manager

General Expectations

The position reports directly to the Production Manager. 

The CI Specialist delivers a clear understanding of the requirements for the continuous improvement process in order to deliver conversion productivity targets.

Plays a key role in plant continuous improvement roadmap preparation, execution, and follow up. 

Drives behavioral change across the plant, including support functions, through coaching and influencing employees.

Set up and maintain Go & See meetings and supporting documentation.

Ensures appropriate use of metrics and data to drive continuous improvement

Specific Responsibilities

 Acts as a safety leader and puts safety first in all responsibilities. Works in conjunction with the EHS

Manager to establish and maintain all policies and programs to assure a safe working environment.

 Manages and executes plant continuous improvement projects (lean manufacturing). 

 Initiate and lead employee training to further instill the continuous improvement skill set in the organization.

 Develop new processes and programs as need and where gaps exist.

 Continuously challenges the status quo understood as a day-to-day activity in the section / business unit. 

Identifies best practices for internal and external processes via benchmarking.

 Develops and applies necessary technical skills to deliver improvement results

 Engages line/process/department personnel in all phases of improvement work

 Involve all employees using visually charted measurements to gauge their performance to targets which in turn reveals how well they are using and implementing their written procedures

 Maintains appropriate documentation including project charter, progress updates and final reports

 Assist in the development of Detailed Process Sheets or Standardized Work Instructions.

 Captures and communicates learning to enable best practice replication

 Committed to continuous learning and growth

 Effectively collaborates with other functions to achieve business goals

 Manages the ISO 9001 process.

Able to develop and implement Lean Manufacturing programs, including tracking, analyzing, reporting and

problem solving internally and as relates to customer evaluation criteria.

 Able to plan, control and assure product and process quality in accordance with quality principals, which include planning processes, material control, acceptance sampling, and measurement systems.

 Basic knowledge of reliability, maintainability, and risk management, including key terms, and definitions, modeling, systems design, assessment tools, and reporting.

 Thorough understanding of problem solving, and continuous improvement tools and techniques. This includes knowledge of management and planning tools, quality tools, preventative and corrective actions, and how to overcome barriers to quality improvements.

 Able to acquire and analyze data using appropriate standard quantitative methods across a spectrum of

business environments to facilitate process analysis and improvements.

Must be proficient in using a PC to perform tasks with Excel, Word, Visio, PowerPoint and statistical software.

Frequent and regular contact with Senior Management, Plant Managers, design engineers, purchasing,

quality personnel, supervisors and production workers. Some contact with customers and suppliers.

 Must be flexible in adapting to changing needs of the business.

 Must be people oriented and logical in balancing daily operations to support the production operation.

 Must utilize a team focus as a member of plant management to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.

Speed and accuracy are required in a fast paced industrial environment.

This position involves working in an office environment as well as in the manufacturing facilities and / or customers / vendors. This position may have limited domestic and / or international travel.

 Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business or Related Field

 Must be able to work a flexible schedule,

 2-3 years of plant manufacturing and process expertise/experience

 Demonstrated knowledge of safety and environmental requirements

 Proven problem solving, leadership and coaching skills

 Knowledge of ISO 9001: 2015

 Experience with business and financial analysis.

 Proven experience in establishing and maintaining relationships with multiple levels of an organization

 Experience delivering results as a change agent and providing change management within a manufacturing environment