Lean Transformation Leader, Manufacturing Ops

Kaizen Talent Solutions; Coventry; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaizen Talent Solutions is seeking a hands-on Operational Excellence Manager for a heritage British manufacturing business in the West Midlands. You will lead a site-wide Lean transformation, balancing traditional craft with automation to improve flow and reduce lead times across the factory.

You will coach teams on value-stream transformation, standardise visual management, line balancing, and quality improvements while aligning NPI with capital plans.

Qualifications

• Proven Lean/CI transformations in complex manufacturing environments.
• Experience in high-mix production environments.
• Strong communication and coaching skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end Lean transformation across the site to optimise flow and reduce lead times.
• Plan, facilitate and execute site-wide Kaizen events and coach teams on CI culture.
• Standardise and audit daily visual management to drive data-driven accountability across shifts.
• Conduct takt time/cycle time analyses to balance multi-station assembly lines and update SOPs.
• Partner with Quality to reduce defects and maximise first-time-through yield.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to optimise Kanban, pull systems, and line-side logistics.
• Support NPI rollout and align Lean initiatives with capital equipment roadmap.

Skills

Gemba leadership

Lean transformation

Value Stream Mapping

5S/SMED/TPM

Line balancing

Problem solving (A3, 8D)

Data-driven decision making

Tools

Kanban systems

Job description

Kaizen Talent Solutions is seeking a hands-on Operational Excellence Manager for a heritage British manufacturing business in the West Midlands. You will lead a site-wide Lean transformation, balancing traditional craft with automation to improve flow and reduce lead times across the factory.

You will coach teams on value-stream transformation, standardise visual management, line balancing, and quality improvements while aligning NPI with capital plans.