Operational Excellence Specialist

Balconi - Valeo Foods Group; Castiglione delle Stiviere; On-site; EUR 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Balconi, part of Valeo Foods Group, is seeking an Operational Excellence Specialist at the Castiglione delle Stiviere site to drive Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives. Reporting to the Plant Manager, you will collaborate with Production, Quality, Maintenance and Supply Chain to identify improvement opportunities and monitor KPIs such as OEE, productivity, and waste.

The role offers hands-on exposure to Kaizen, 5S, Visual Management, and Standard Work within a highly automated

Qualifications

• Technical diploma or degree in a related field with interest in manufacturing.
• Experience in continuous improvement or operations is preferred.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.

Responsibilities

• Support analysis of production processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor KPIs such as OEE, productivity, line losses, waste, and downtime.
• Participate in Lean activities (Kaizen, 5S, Visual Management, Standard Work).
• Assist in implementing corrective actions from performance analyses.
• Support data collection and reporting for performance dashboards.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Data analysis

Excel

Power BI

Teamwork

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Technical Diploma or ITS in Food sector

Bachelor's/Master in Industrial Eng

Tools

Power BI

MS Excel

PDCA

Job description

Balconi, part of the Valeo Foods Group, is one of Italy’s leading manufacturers of packaged baked goods. Every day, we produce high-quality products enjoyed by millions of consumers, supported by state-of-the-art manufacturing processes and a strong culture of continuous improvement.

To support the transformation and growth journey of our Castiglione delle Stiviere production site, we are looking for a motivated Operational Excellence Specialist eager to develop their career in the field of Operational Excellence.

Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, the successful candidate will work closely with the Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain teams to support the identification and implementation of continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing operational efficiency, reducing waste, and enhancing plant performance.

This role represents an excellent opportunity for young professionals interested in developing expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies within a dynamic and highly automated manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the analysis of production processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor and analyze plant KPIs such as OEE, productivity, line losses, waste, downtime, and Mass Balance Analysis.
• Participate in continuous improvement projects aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs.
• Support the execution of Lean Manufacturing activities, including Kaizen Workshops, 5S, Visual Management, and Standard Work.
• Contribute to problem-solving activities using structured methodologies and tools such as PDCA, 5 Why Analysis, and Ishikawa Diagrams.
• Assist in the implementation and monitoring of corrective actions resulting from performance analyses.
• Support data collection and analysis for the preparation of performance reports and dashboards.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement across the plant.
• Participate in cross-functional projects in collaboration with other business functions.

Education

• Technical Diploma or ITS qualification in the Food sector, and/or a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial Engineering, Management Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement environments.
• Internship, apprenticeship, or placement experience within manufacturing settings will also be positively considered.

Technical & Soft Skills

• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and methodologies.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement and structured problem-solving tools.
• Good command of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Knowledge of Power BI is considered an advantage.
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or Green Belt certification is preferred.
• Analytical mindset and results-oriented approach.
• Curiosity and a strong willingness to learn.
• Proactive attitude and initiative.
• Ability to work effectively in teams and build strong relationships with different stakeholders.
• Good organizational and communication skills.