What are the responsibilities and job description for the Six Sigma Black Belt position at TriMark Corporation?
Accountability Objective
This position leads continuous improvement efforts contributing to improved processes, increased efficiencies, reduced costs, improved productivity and profitability. In support of this, the position is responsible to lead and manage assigned projects to completion while using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. The management of Continuous Improvement projects includes training/engaging all team members and key stakeholders to achieve project success.
Total TriMark Sales /- $100MM
Total TriMark Employees /-400
Nature and Scope
This position reports to the Senior Vice President, as does the Director of Operations, Director of Quality, Director of Purchasing and Corporate Administrative Assistant.
The Six Sigma/Lean Black Belt leads and manages continuous improvement projects while training project team members on Lean/Six Sigma methods and philosophies. The Lean Black Belt ideally leads three to five projects at any given time period. This position collaborates with Senior Vice President to select critical projects that align with the strategic goals of the organization improving costs, through-put, profitability, quality, delivery and inventory levels.
This position is responsible for leading projects where the subject focus and solutions are complex in nature. The Black Belt ensures solid measurement systems exist prior to creating and overseeing the execution of sound data collection plans. Statistical models are used to conduct thorough data analysis to derive statistical inferences for making business decisions. The Black Belt will lead improvement projects within the organization and effectively coordinate these projects with the stakeholders and other improvement project teams. Project leadership includes identifying opportunities, defining, and financially justifying projects, launching project teams, and using good project management skills to manage team activities. The incumbent leads teams to execute projects using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, tracking project status and results, identifying/elevating project barriers, and developing team members.
The Black Belt manages the development and maintenance of methods and systems for tracking and measuring the degree to which project goals and objectives are being met. The Black Belt will share the project goals, objectives and metrics with all stakeholders. The Black Belt will take corrective action as required to improve project results that are below target. The position relies on facts and data to advance teams to project completion. This includes working with the Process Owner through the Control phase of DMAIC and successfully handing off the improved process.
The Black Belt collaborates with the Financial Representative to ensure project benefits have been accurately identified and met. This includes providing quantitative data indicating the measurement of the operation which may include current year and forecast sales, net income, manufacturing absorption, total assets controlled, number of personnel, operating budget, and any other quantitative factors which accurately describe the financial measurement of the project.
The Six Sigma/Lean Black Belt oversees Lean efforts and instills a mindset of waste elimination and Lean philosophy throughout the organization. This position mentor’s management, supervisors and operators regarding Lean initiatives such as 5S, Value Stream Mapping, 8 Wastes, Kanban, and Visual Factory Management.
The Black Belt works in partnership with the Senior Vice President to understand the strategic direction of the company and to establish annual Corporate goals.
A role of the Black Belt is to provide necessary training and coaching to TriMark’s employees involved with 6 Sigma projects.
This position has significant impact and influence on the success of the Six Sigma/Lean initiatives. The improvements will improve the company’s ability to meet customer expectations, improve quality, reduce cycle times, reduce costs and increase profits.
A TriMark Black Belt must be a results-oriented change agent who is an effective business systems thinker (able to see the big picture) while managing risk and ambiguity on each project. The successful Black Belt will encourage cross-function process thinking and work to break down departmental silos. This also includes benchmarking and researching processes and methods attributed to best practices.
Clear and concise communication is vital to the role of the Black Belt. This position ensures and encourages multi-channel open communication throughout the organization.
To be successful in this position, the incumbent must be computer proficient and must understand software applications necessary for the successful completion of job functions including Minitab, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc. The incumbent must possess superb change management skills, organizational skills, project management skills, team leadership skills, and listening skills. The incumbent must possess certification of a Black Belt, as well as education or equivalent experience necessary to successfully complete projects.
Principle Accountabilities
At a minimum, an associate’s degree in a technically focused field is required. A bachelor’s degree in a related technical field and/or 5-8 years project management and/or technical experience is desired. Certification as Six Sigma Black Belt and Lean Practitioner is highly desired and required within the first year of employment if an offer is presented without one in place.
Working Conditions
The office area is air-conditioned and working conditions are excellent. The noise level is 50-80 dB. Normal or corrected vision with no color deficiency, normal depth perception and peripheral vision of 180 degrees is required. Safety glasses are required whenever office personnel are in the plant production area. Hearing protection is not required but its use is encouraged in areas designated as high-noise areas for more than brief visits by office personnel. Safety shoes and safety glasses with side shields are required, and wearing watches or rings is prohibited when working in the plant production area, e.g. working on data collection and/or improvement efforts.
Physical Effort
Bending - Floor level
Stooping - 20% of time
Squatting - 10% of time
Twisting - 20 degrees
Turning - 180 degrees
Reaching - Above shoulder level
Lifting - 20#
Pushing/Pulling - 20#
Standing - 25% or less
Sitting - 50% or more
Walking - 25% or less
Climbing - Stairways
Grasping - Normal dexterity
This position leads continuous improvement efforts contributing to improved processes, increased efficiencies, reduced costs, improved productivity and profitability. In support of this, the position is responsible to lead and manage assigned projects to completion while using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. The management of Continuous Improvement projects includes training/engaging all team members and key stakeholders to achieve project success.
Total TriMark Sales /- $100MM
Total TriMark Employees /-400
Nature and Scope
This position reports to the Senior Vice President, as does the Director of Operations, Director of Quality, Director of Purchasing and Corporate Administrative Assistant.
The Six Sigma/Lean Black Belt leads and manages continuous improvement projects while training project team members on Lean/Six Sigma methods and philosophies. The Lean Black Belt ideally leads three to five projects at any given time period. This position collaborates with Senior Vice President to select critical projects that align with the strategic goals of the organization improving costs, through-put, profitability, quality, delivery and inventory levels.
This position is responsible for leading projects where the subject focus and solutions are complex in nature. The Black Belt ensures solid measurement systems exist prior to creating and overseeing the execution of sound data collection plans. Statistical models are used to conduct thorough data analysis to derive statistical inferences for making business decisions. The Black Belt will lead improvement projects within the organization and effectively coordinate these projects with the stakeholders and other improvement project teams. Project leadership includes identifying opportunities, defining, and financially justifying projects, launching project teams, and using good project management skills to manage team activities. The incumbent leads teams to execute projects using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, tracking project status and results, identifying/elevating project barriers, and developing team members.
The Black Belt manages the development and maintenance of methods and systems for tracking and measuring the degree to which project goals and objectives are being met. The Black Belt will share the project goals, objectives and metrics with all stakeholders. The Black Belt will take corrective action as required to improve project results that are below target. The position relies on facts and data to advance teams to project completion. This includes working with the Process Owner through the Control phase of DMAIC and successfully handing off the improved process.
The Black Belt collaborates with the Financial Representative to ensure project benefits have been accurately identified and met. This includes providing quantitative data indicating the measurement of the operation which may include current year and forecast sales, net income, manufacturing absorption, total assets controlled, number of personnel, operating budget, and any other quantitative factors which accurately describe the financial measurement of the project.
The Six Sigma/Lean Black Belt oversees Lean efforts and instills a mindset of waste elimination and Lean philosophy throughout the organization. This position mentor’s management, supervisors and operators regarding Lean initiatives such as 5S, Value Stream Mapping, 8 Wastes, Kanban, and Visual Factory Management.
The Black Belt works in partnership with the Senior Vice President to understand the strategic direction of the company and to establish annual Corporate goals.
A role of the Black Belt is to provide necessary training and coaching to TriMark’s employees involved with 6 Sigma projects.
This position has significant impact and influence on the success of the Six Sigma/Lean initiatives. The improvements will improve the company’s ability to meet customer expectations, improve quality, reduce cycle times, reduce costs and increase profits.
A TriMark Black Belt must be a results-oriented change agent who is an effective business systems thinker (able to see the big picture) while managing risk and ambiguity on each project. The successful Black Belt will encourage cross-function process thinking and work to break down departmental silos. This also includes benchmarking and researching processes and methods attributed to best practices.
Clear and concise communication is vital to the role of the Black Belt. This position ensures and encourages multi-channel open communication throughout the organization.
To be successful in this position, the incumbent must be computer proficient and must understand software applications necessary for the successful completion of job functions including Minitab, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc. The incumbent must possess superb change management skills, organizational skills, project management skills, team leadership skills, and listening skills. The incumbent must possess certification of a Black Belt, as well as education or equivalent experience necessary to successfully complete projects.
Principle Accountabilities
- Leads process improvement project teams through the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology and utilizes Lean methods in order to improve customer satisfaction and quality, reduce costs and cycle times, increase profits and eliminate waste throughout critical business processes.
- Ensure solid measurement systems prior to creating and overseeing the execution of sound data collection plans to enable thorough data analysis when making business decisions.
- Advise, train and mentor team members to embed the Lean Six Sigma philosophy into the culture of the organization and throughout the supply chain.
- Conducts formal gate reviews with Senior Vice President and Directors, as necessary, to ensure acceptance of recommended solutions prior to implementation.
- Upon completion of Six Sigma projects, ensure improved processes are integrated with other business activities, projects, and business strategy. Capture project case histories, identify other processes the improvements can be applied to, and document lessons learned through the project.
- Collaborate with Senior Vice President to select CI projects that align with TriMark’s strategies to meet or exceed key performance measures.
- Collaborate with Financial Representative for each project to ensure accurate recordkeeping and documentation of project benefits.
- The position is responsible for setting the standard of Continual Improvement within their responsible product scope, communicating the importance and critical nature of ongoing incremental improvements to stakeholders.
- This position supports the continual improvement and compliance of QMS and EMS.
- Perform job functions in a manner that supports TriMark’s mission, vision and values in order for the company to attain its strategic and growth goals.
- Strong communication skills
- Superior data analysis and problem-solving skills
- In-Depth knowledge of and correct application of Six Sigma, DMAIC methodology and Lean Principles
- Strong computer software skills (Minitab, Powerpoint, Excel)
- Excellent math and statistical analysis skills
- Outstanding project management skills
- Proven ability to lead teams and understand team dynamics
- Basic business finance knowledge and cost accounting skills
- Work autonomously, drive positive business results with a sense of urgency
At a minimum, an associate’s degree in a technically focused field is required. A bachelor’s degree in a related technical field and/or 5-8 years project management and/or technical experience is desired. Certification as Six Sigma Black Belt and Lean Practitioner is highly desired and required within the first year of employment if an offer is presented without one in place.
Working Conditions
The office area is air-conditioned and working conditions are excellent. The noise level is 50-80 dB. Normal or corrected vision with no color deficiency, normal depth perception and peripheral vision of 180 degrees is required. Safety glasses are required whenever office personnel are in the plant production area. Hearing protection is not required but its use is encouraged in areas designated as high-noise areas for more than brief visits by office personnel. Safety shoes and safety glasses with side shields are required, and wearing watches or rings is prohibited when working in the plant production area, e.g. working on data collection and/or improvement efforts.
Physical Effort
Bending - Floor level
Stooping - 20% of time
Squatting - 10% of time
Twisting - 20 degrees
Turning - 180 degrees
Reaching - Above shoulder level
Lifting - 20#
Pushing/Pulling - 20#
Standing - 25% or less
Sitting - 50% or more
Walking - 25% or less
Climbing - Stairways
Grasping - Normal dexterity
