Continuous Improvement Manager

Tenneco; Manitowoc (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Tenneco, a global designer and manufacturer of automotive products, is seeking a Continuous Improvement Leader/Manager for its Manitowoc plant. You will lead lean initiatives on the shop floor and drive productivity gains by deploying systems like Kanban, 5S, SMED, and TPM.

Expect to coach teams and partner with Value Streams to sustain improvements. The role emphasizes Kaizen events, data-driven problem solving, and delivering standardized work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related discipline.
• Shows good morale, openness, and highly collaborative approach.
• Effective interpersonal skills, including both oral and written communications.
• Ability to influence individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Energetic, self-starter with a passion for problem solving and implementing corrective actions.
• Ability to lead cross functional teams to drive improvement and find solutions.
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to stay effectively organized.
• Ability to work with data sets and analyze such in Microsoft Excel.
• Interviewing and observation skills to determine patterns, root causes.
• Ability to write SOPs, Standard Work, and Guides using Microsoft Excel/ PowerPoint.
• Good team player – ability to coach and mentor others.
• Familiarity with lean and continuous improvement tools (5 why, 5/7 wastes, RCCA, SMED, OEE).
• Possess or working towards Grean Belt, Black Belt, or Master Black Belt certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Overall understanding of the Lean manufacturing systems and visual controls in the plant, identifying opportunities for improvement
• Ensure that pull systems exist in all areas of the plant.
• Ensure that constraint management techniques are being used to drive improvement throughout the plant
• Work closely with the Value Streams to develop new and improve existing Lean manufacturing systems
• Work closely with the Value Streams to improve the visual systems throughput the plant ensuring that the current conditions in each area are clear to all
• Provide CI training and coaching at all levels of the Plant, including 6S, SMED, Standard Work, and TPM
• Facilitate TiPS aimed at the resolution of quality and safety issues and concerns.
• Support Value Streams and Production Control material improvement projects relating to scheduling inventory management and raw material flow and tracking.
• Coordinate Production Reporting in Value Streams, both manual and digital, including Films, Andons, Hour by hour reporting, and OAE reporting.
• Support the plant by pursuing Lean Certification and Six Sigma Black Belt
• Work to standardize the data used and format for each tier of the multi-tier reporting meetings
• Coordinate/perform Audits of Lean and 6S performance throughout the plant

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Team leadership

Cross-functional

Data analysis

Excel

Troubleshooting

SOP writing

Coaching

6S

Kaizen

TPM

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

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Tenneco is one of the world’s leading designer, manufacturers and marketers of automotive products for original equipment and aftermarket customers, with approximately 78.000 team members working at more than 300 sites worldwide. Through our four business groups, Motorparts, Ride Performance, Clean Air and Powertrain, Tenneco is driving advancements in global mobility by delivering technology solutions for diversified global markets, including light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway, industrial, motorsport and the aftermarket.

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The continuous improvement team at Tenneco works together with the operations team to deploy lean tools and approaches across the shop floor. The Continuous Improvement Leader is under the guidance of the Plant Manager, responsible to identify and implement improvement opportunities to support efficiency and productivity gains across the plant.

The Continuous Improvement Manager is expected to develop and implement shop floor systems and conduct Kaizen events to rapidly identify and execute targeted improvement projects. This may include such items as Kanban, 5S, Standard Work Maps, SMED, and P3 Operating System.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Overall understanding of the Lean manufacturing systems and visual controls in the plant, identifying opportunities for improvement
• Ensure that pull systems exist in all areas of the plant.
• Ensure that constraint management techniques are being used to drive improvement throughout the plant
• Work closely with the Value Streams to develop new and improve existing Lean manufacturing systems
• Work closely with the Value Streams to improve the visual systems throughput the plant ensuring that the current conditions in each area are clear to all
• Provide CI training and coaching at all levels of the Plant, including 6S, SMED, Standard Work, and TPM
• Facilitate TiPS aimed at the resolution of quality and safety issues and concerns.
• Support Value Streams and Production Control material improvement projects relating to scheduling inventory management and raw material flow and tracking.
• Coordinate Production Reporting in Value Streams, both manual and digital, including Films, Andons, Hour by hour reporting, and OAE reporting.
• Support the plant by pursuing Lean Certification and Six Sigma Black Belt
• Work to standardize the data used and format for each tier of the multi-tier reporting meetings
• Coordinate/perform Audits of Lean and 6S performance throughout the plant

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related discipline
• Shows good morale, openness, and highly collaborative approach
• Effective interpersonal skills, including both oral and written communications
• Ability to influence individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Energetic, self-starter with a passion for problem solving and implementing corrective actions
• Ability to lead cross functional teams to drive improvement and find solutions
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to stay effectively organized
• Ability to work with data sets and analyze such in Microsoft Excel
• Interviewing and observation skills to determine patterns, root causes
• Ability to write SOPs, Standard Work, and Guides using Microsoft Excel/ PowerPoint
• Good team player – ability to coach and mentor others
• Familiarity with lean and continuous improvement tools (5 why, 5/7 wastes, RCCA, SMED, OEE)
• Possess or working towards Grean Belt, Black Belt, or Master Black Belt certification preferred.

We are committed to the safety and health of our employees. We adhere to social distancing recommendations and other protocols, ensuring a safe work environment for all.