What are the responsibilities and job description for the Operational Excellence Specialist I position at Discount Tire?
Overview:
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Work Hours:
Discount Tire provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
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Here at Discount Tire, we celebrate the spirit of our people with extraordinary pride and enthusiasm. Our business has been growing for more than 60 years and now is the best time in our history to join us. We are opening more locations every year and we are always looking for qualified individuals to join us in our growth. We are a company that promotes from within, both in our retail and corporate operations. The Operational Excellence 1 supports the development and integration of an effective and progressive Operational Excellence process that drives SQDC. The role will provide research, support, and participate in the company’s continuous improvement initiatives. These initiatives involve improvement tools and concepts, such as Lean, 8 Areas of Waste, FIFO, Flow and 5S. The position reports to the segment CSI and Quality leadership. This position is a critical team member responsible for collaborating and benchmarking with the corporate teams, regional SME’s, industry leading continuous improvement thinkers, Training Within Industry (TWI), Toyota KATA and leading applied continuous improvement concept development. This person will operate in a high performing environment and executes against a diversity of work including but not limited to Tool and Equipment testing, project implementation support, and presenting findings or learnings from these at a high level. The Operational Excellence Practitioner 1 will be a key supporter and participant in updating and drafting all Service Area processes. The Operational Excellence Practitioner 1 monitors and validates the understanding and execution of continuous improvement concepts by Regional Staff and business segment leadership. They identify opportunities for improvement through coaching DTMS’s Improvement Cycle and apply it to the retail store’s environment and corporate business segments. If needed, they will also coach and validate the understanding and execution of Improvement tools and concepts by Regional Staff. Doing so promotes a culture that cultivates critical thinking and eliminates waste, focusing on delivering increased value to the customer.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Operate in a high performing environment and executes against a diversity of work offering growth and developmental opportunities that crosses the value stream and spans from the Store to the Corporate Business segments
- Assist in the training, coaching, and validating the understanding and execution of continuous improvement concepts by Regional Staff and opportunities for improvement through coaching DTMS’s Improvement Cycle applied to the retail store’s environment.
- Assist in the development, maintenance and improvements for all Service Area processes.
- Provide feedback to assist with the understanding and execution of Improvement tools and concepts, as examples, Lean, 8 Areas of Waste, FIFO, Flow and 5S by Regional Staff.
- Responsible for collaborating and benchmarking with the corporate teams, regional SME’s, industry leading continuous improvement thinkers, Training Within Industry (TWI), Toyota KATA and leading applied continuous improvement concept development.
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Support RMOQ strategy deployment:
- Collaborating and developing yearly actions to support strategy of “To provide the most inviting, easy, and safe wheel and tire purchase and service experience in the world.”
- Assist in the development of tactics to deliver annual and long term leading and lagging indicators. (Operational Service Execution, 5s, Bay/Wait Time, and Additional Leading Indicator’s Defined By The Maturity Of The Culture)
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Support Corporate Business Segments:
- Assist when Business Segments need help in identifying waste and developing Improvement Efforts
- Help Business segments identify process gaps by Process mapping, Value Stream mapping and identifying value propositions
- Assist Business segments align processes to Corporate Strategy
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Standardizing Workflow:
- Coach regional staff on Workflow Standards – Best Practices
- Support and coach applications of Scheduling Best Practices
- Identify Current GAPS in Workflow Best Practice training, execution and validate the content is aligned to AOR’s, is accurate and up to date.
- Work with L&D to properly document Best Practices, align the training to AOR’s and drive visibility on the Knowledge Center.
- Work with L&D to continuously compare current Best Practices to training courses/material and the changing landscape of the work we perform.
- Incorporate an approach that includes observation, audit, and inspection to ensure execution of all our Workflow Best Practices.
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Store’s Service Area support:
- Observe and Audit operational effectiveness of Tools, Equipment and Processes in the Service Area on a set cadence
- Provide input on quality design and assurance for new product, tool, equipment and store process(s) development, changes and improvements.
- Manage an effective communication stream.
- Provide input for test environment tool, equipment and process.
- Create and socialize reporting on trends and statistics.
- Determine work flow process to improve store performance and customer satisfaction.
- Consult with L&D on all training material for 5s, Lean, Flow, Waste, for Workflow Asst. Manager
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Support Regional Staff:
- Coach Regional Staff to “See” Flow and Waste in the Service Area
- Become SME’s/consult on calls to assist regions with any Workflow, Tools, Equipment, and scheduling questions
- Coach Regional Staff on Workflow Improvement Cycle Calls
- Approve or disapprove of Regional Staff Workflow Coach Certification
- Maintain schedule, facilitate, and ensure Workflow event execution, report out, & follow-up. Ensure publication and recognition of site CI achievements.
- Monitor event tracking and conduct regular event reviews to assure accomplishment of key results.
- Create Bayside Equipment expansion requirements
- Monitor Bayside Equipment expansion
- Provide performance reporting to determine the effectiveness of Workflow Best Practice execution.
- Other responsibilities as assigned
Qualifications:
Minimum of one year of experience in process improvement and operational excellence initiatives, preferably in a manufacturing environment. Store Experience (6 years) preferred.
- Training, coaching, facilitating, and presentation skills.
- Strong knowledge of Lean Six Sigma methodologies and tools, including DMAIC, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping
- Excellent project management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain project plans, manage timelines and deliverables, and allocate resources
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to collect and analyze data to identify root causes of process issues and develop solutions to address them
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization
- Experience in change management and the ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
Educational Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Willing to continue learning and certifications in some, if not all of the following;
- Lean
- 6 Sigma
- Value engineering
- Shainin
- Shingo MBA
- Project management
- Training Within Industries
- Toyota Kata
Work Days:
Normal work days are Monday through Friday. Occasional Saturdays and Sundays may be necessary.
Work Hours:
Normal work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Additional hours may be necessary.
Local Travel is required
Discount Tire provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
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