Program/Launch Manager

Summary Of Responsibility:

The CI/Launch Manager will lead the World Class Manufacturing team towards a culture of Continuous Improvement at LM Manufacturing. In additon, the CI/Launch Manager will be responsibility for overseeing the daily operations of Plant Launch. Leads the department Managers by creating and implementing and updating Industrialization plans. Overall Responsibility for Tracking costs to Launch Budget. Develop and lead change management process to ensure smooth implementation of design and production process changes. Act as Primary Voice of the plant with the customer, corporate senior Management, and suppliers. Assists the General Manager and Assistant General Manager in maintaining a plant wide commitment that the highest quality product possible is manufactured

Job Duties:

• Provide training to all employees so that they clearly understand the concepts of improvement (standardization/MPS/5S/TPS/Lean etc.). 
• Lead Kaizen events and coordinate implementation.
• Provide ongoing tracking, analyzing, reporting and communication of continuous improvement initiatives.
• Make presentations at Employee Communication Meetings.
• Lead teams toward the cost savings goal established annually.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of LMS Best Practices and share best practices with others.
• Develop and maintain model lines as per MAFACT guidelines.
• Conduct Value Stream Mapping and Process Mapping, developing opportunities from these events.
• Work toward a mindset of Lean and elimination of waste.
• Look for new, innovative ideas to further strengthen our Employee Involvement teams to improve overall operations.
• Lead the improvement of MAFACT Assessment scores through auditing and coaching leads/participating in creating improvement opportunities.
• Supervise staff within the department, providing training, mentoring and performance management to ensure employee productivity and effectiveness.
• Perform regular formal/informal workplace inspections.
• Report all accidents/incidents and unsafe conditions/behavior.
• Perform and ensure team performs all job functions in a safe and healthful manner, abiding by all health, safety and environmental rules and regulations, promoting safety in the workplace.
• Train employees on specific job hazards.
• Enforce safety rules and correct unsafe acts or conditions.
• Ensure that all employee questions, suggestions and concerns are addressed in a timely manner; communicate regularly with all employees.
• Maintain work area in accordance with the principles of 5S and operate daily within these standards.
• Manages all launch activities.
• Direct responsibility for overseeing the daily operations of Plant Launch.
• Leads the department Managers by creating and implementing and updating Industrialization plans
• Develop and lead change management process to ensure smooth implementation of design and production process changes.
• Act as Primary Voice of the plant with the customer, corporate senior Management, and suppliers
• Assists the General Manager and Assistant General Manager in maintaining a plant wide commitment that the highest quality product possible is manufactured.
• Accountable for overseeing all aspects of new program launch as it pertains to the assembly plant
• Act as primary interface between Program Team and Plant Team during Launch.
• Provides leadership and daily direction to Plant Departments (Materials, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, IT Services, and Production) concerning upcoming build timing/plans, product configuration, and component part status leading up to pre-production builds.
• Assist Plant Departments/Disciplines in developing Industrialization plans and tracking progress for all disciplines within the launch.
• Establish monitor and update centralized status process (i.e., War Room)
• Lead team report-out to management meetings.
• Overall Budget Tracking for Launch Costs (Tooling/Equipment, Capital, Tracking and Reporting
• Maintain and Publish Launch Status Report for senior management
• Leads plant buildout/launch open issues meetings and drives items to closure.
• Escalate items as required.
• Responsible to oversee the Change Implementation Process on new and current model programs.
• Lead plant participation in customer external plant change meetings and Novi change meetings.
• Understand and communicate engineering changes to the plant team and lead the team to understand plant impacts and develop a coordinated implementation plan.
• Assists in the development and maintenance of the costed BOM’s for the new program development
• Lead the preparation of all impacts/quotes for product design and production process changes
• Map out a plan that provides ownership and accountability for launch activities.
• Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner to establish good working relationships with customers, clients, co-workers, and management.
• Supports and enforces the principles of Company goals and objectives, and decisions and policies by taking ownership and communicating these in a positive and supportive manner.
• Displays a positive attitude towards safety, works safely and follows all the Company's safety policies and procedures./
• Complies with all Health, Safety and Environmental standards in accordance with company policies, the Occupational Health & Safety Act. and the Michigan Occupational Health & Safety Act.
• Ensures all employees and visitors have a safe environment in that safety and housekeeping standards are maintained; and all hazards, unsafe actions, or unsafe conditions have been identified, corrected, and/or eliminated.
• Responds to and investigates all reports of injuries, accidents, illnesses, near misses and property damage immediately.
• Takes an active part in the division’s safety program by performing regular workplace inspections, effectively investigates accidents/incidents promptly, and assists in meeting or exceeding the division’s safety goals.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

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Key Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial or Manufacturing Engineering, Production/Operations Management or related field or equivalent work related experience.
• 5 years’ experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience supervising others.
• Knowledge and proven skills in Lean Manufacturing methods.
• Knowledge in advance problem solving techniques and process improvement methodologies; e.g. Six Sigma, flow and Kaizen process, Value Stream Mapping.  Related professional certifications (Black Belt, Six Sigma, Lean Champion, etc.) desired.
• Ability to apply standard industrial engineering practices.
• Must have excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Must have good organizational skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Office software skills.
• Strong attention to detail.