The Sr. Lean Specialist, in conjunction with the Director of CI, site leadership and functional organizations, has responsibility for the continued development, promotion and tactical implementation of a lean operating methodology designed to consistently improve on-time delivery, lead-times, efficiencies, and ultimately operating financial performance.
The successful candidate will be a hands-on leader to assist Operations in understanding and improving processes.
Primary Job Responsibilities:
- The Sr. Lean Specialist will inspire management thinking by challenging current practices and methods through the deployment of Lean methodology at all levels of the site operations. This will be accomplished by establishing internal business partnerships to effectively execute strategic planning, value stream mapping, creating gaps analyses, identifying/prioritizing kaizen events, implementing tracking methods to measure results, and leading root cause/countermeasure analysis for misses.
- An evaluation of the business through “current state” mapping and the development of an Action Plan.
- Implementation of Lean System principles across the sites, focusing on the basics of takt, flow, pull and level production.
- Teaching Lean Concepts and tools including: Daily Management, disciplined problem-solving, standardized work, job instruction, material pull systems, value stream mapping, lean scheduling methods, Kaizen activities, variation reduction, 5S, and Six Sigma related initiatives
- Administer training materials to facilitate the understanding of Lean Manufacturing improvement concepts and techniques to all levels of associates.
- Train and develop Kaizen leaders across the business.
- Developing the daily management plan and Gemba, through dialogue and communication with peers, to establish protocols and cadences for next-level efficiency practices; highlighted and evidenced through standard operating reviews.
- Promote and facilitate diagnosis of workflow impediments and other wastes throughout the business and provide expert counsel on appropriate tools to eliminate them.
- Promote and facilitate associate development in various tools, lean production, and Kaizen leadership. Facilitate networking and best practice sharing.
- Develop, track and report on all metrics quarterly associated with Lean and Continuous Improvement activities.
THE REQUIREMENTS
- An undergraduate degree in Industrial or Mechanical Engineering, or related field is preferred.
- Approximately 3-5 years or more utilizing Lean/ TPS or Six Sigma improvement concepts
- SME/AME Lean Certification, or Six Sigma Green Belt is a plus.
- Demonstrated capability or participation of a variety of Lean tools including but not limited to: Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Pull Systems & Kanban, Daily Management, 5S/Visual Management, SMED, TPM, Kaizen is required.
- Experience creating Lean practices that empower employees, accelerate change, and enable personal and team development
- Possesses a high sense of urgency
- Driven by very high expectations and delivers results, not “activity”
- Highly autonomous and self-directed
- A team player who is comfortable with consensus building in a mid-sized company environment
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Normal manufacturing environment exposed to noise if working in production area.
- Occasional travel, approximately 5%, may be required
- Approximately 75% of the time will be spent on the plant floor
- Primarily first shift with overlap to off-shift to ensure continuity
- Ability to lift 50+ lbs
