Lean Leader

ppg; Quattordio; On-site; EUR 35,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

PPG in Italy is seeking a Lean & Operational Excellence Specialist to drive the plant's strategic objectives by deploying Lean Manufacturing and CI across the organization. You will lead initiatives to improve safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost efficiency.

You will develop KPIs, facilitate Kaizen events, mentor teams, and partner with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, EHS, and Maintenance to deliver cross-functional improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, Manufacturing, or Management Engineering.
• 3-5 years of experience in Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Operational Excellence.
• Previous experience in a manufacturing environment; process industries a plus.
• Fluent English (B2/C1 level).

Responsibilities

• Support and sustain the site Continuous Improvement roadmap and initiatives.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping (VSM) activities, and process improvement workshops.
• Identify, prioritize, and lead waste reduction (MUDA) and process optimization projects.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing tools and structured problem-solving methodologies to improve operational performance.
• Develop, monitor, and analyze operational KPIs related to Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Productivity.
• Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, EHS, and Maintenance.
• Train, coach, and support supervisors, team leaders, and employees on Lean methodologies and CI tools.
• Lead and coordinate improvement projects from business case through implementation and sustainability verification.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen Facilitation

Value Stream Mapping

Root Cause Analysis

PDCA

5S

TPM

Visual Management

Excel

Power BI

English Proficiency

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Industrial/Mechanical/Manufacturing/Management Engineering

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Position Summary

The Lean & Operational Excellence Specialist supports the achievement of the plant's strategic objectives by driving the deployment of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement principles across the organization. This role leads initiatives aimed at improving operational performance, eliminating waste, and developing organizational capabilities to enhance safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement & Lean Deployment

• Support and sustain the site Continuous Improvement roadmap and initiatives.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping (VSM) activities, and process improvement workshops.
• Identify, prioritize, and lead waste reduction (MUDA) and process optimization projects.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing tools and structured problem-solving methodologies to improve operational performance.
• Support the standardization and continuous improvement of manufacturing and administrative processes.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement at all levels of the organization.

Operational Excellence

• Develop, monitor, and analyze operational KPIs related to Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Productivity.
• Support the plant in achieving operational and business performance targets.
• Partner with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, EHS, and Maintenance teams to deliver cross-functional improvement initiatives.
• Analyze operational data and trends to identify opportunities for performance improvements and cost reduction.
• Drive sustainable improvements through performance reviews and corrective action plans.

Change Management & Capability Building

• Train, coach, and support supervisors, team leaders, and employees on Lean methodologies and Continuous Improvement tools.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and operational excellence.
• Support organizational and cultural transformation initiatives.
• Facilitate training sessions, workshops, and knowledge-sharing activities to strengthen Lean capabilities across the site.

Project Management

• Lead and coordinate improvement projects from business case development through implementation and sustainability verification.
• Define project objectives, timelines, milestones, deliverables, and expected benefits.
• Monitor project progress and ensure achievement of targeted results.
• Sustain improvements through audits, follow-up activities, and continuous performance monitoring.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• OEE improvement.
• Productivity improvement.
• Manufacturing cost reduction.
• Reduction of process waste and scrap.
• Lead time reduction.
• Inventory reduction.
• On-Time Delivery improvement.
• Number and impact of Continuous Improvement projects completed.
• Employee engagement and participation in Continuous Improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, Manufacturing, or Management Engineering, or equivalent.
• 3-5 years of experience in Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, Industrial Engineering, or similar roles.
• Previous experience within a manufacturing environment; experience in process industries is considered a plus.
• Fluent English (B2/C1 level).

Technical Skills

• Lean Manufacturing.
• Six Sigma methodologies (Green Belt preferred).
• Kaizen Facilitation.
• Value Stream Mapping (VSM).
• Root Cause Analysis (5 Why, Fishbone/Ishikawa).
• PDCA methodology.
• A3 Problem Solving.
• SMED.
• 5S.
• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
• Visual Management.
• Statistical analysis and performance data interpretation.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; Power BI knowledge is a plus.
• Familiarity with ERP systems is an advantage.

Soft Skills

• Strong results orientation and execution mindset.
• Ability to influence and lead without formal authority.
• Change management and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical thinking and structured problem-solving approach.
• Effective collaboration in cross-functional environments.
• Proactive attitude with strong prioritization and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Practitioner certification and/or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt certification.
• Experience within multinational manufacturing organizations.
• Exposure to chemical, coatings, or process manufacturing industries.
• Experience working in a continuous improvement-driven culture.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 12 months, the successful candidate will:

• Develop and implement a structured Lean and Continuous Improvement roadmap for the site.
• Deliver measurable improvements in productivity, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Successfully lead cross-functional improvement projects with quantifiable business impact.
• Increase employee involvement and ownership of Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Strengthen and embed a sustainable culture of Operational Excellence across the organization.

The base salary range for this position is 35.000,00 eur to 38.000,00 eur per year.

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