Continuous Improvement Specialist

Maker's Pride; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Maker's Pride is seeking a CI Specialist in Grand Rapids, MI to coordinate Lean transformation activities and champion change, driving breakthrough results in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale.

You will partner with the CI manager and plant leadership to build an engaged workforce, develop tracking tools, teach CI methods, analyze data for Kaizen opportunities, and lead Kaizen events to sustain improvements across the facility.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; additional college coursework preferred.
• 2+ years of manufacturing experience preferred.
• Ability to identify problems and solve them; driven to execute.
• Sponsorship for work authorization is not available; candidate must be legally authorized to work in the location.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Lean transformation activities with CI manager and Plant Leadership.
• Develop tracking tools and measures to support CI initiatives.
• Provide and teach CI tools to CI and Non-CI employees.
• Analyze data to identify Kaizen opportunities.
• Facilitate Point Kaizen events to drive sustainable improvements.
• Participate in Full Week Kaizen events.
• Monitor 30-day follow-up activities and reports.
• Work with management teams to sustain results.
• Perform root cause analysis individually or in teams.
• Establish productivity roadmaps across departments and the facility.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ensure facility implements and maintains Continuous Improvement initiatives.

Skills

Excellent communication

Problem-solving

Autonomy

Change management

Confidentiality

Ability to drive change

Education

High school diploma or GED

Two years of college courses

Two+ years manufacturing experience

Tools

SAP

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The CI Specialist assists in the coordination of Lean transformational activities, champions change and is a resource for Lean improvement. This position provides leadership, guidance, and follow-through to support the completion of departmental sustainment goals and objectives by delivering breakthrough results in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works closely with CI manager and Plant Leadership to:
• Build an employee engaged work environment
• Develop tracking tools and measures to support CI initiatives
• Provide and teach CI tools to CI and Non-CI employees
• Analyzes data to identify Kaizen opportunities
• Facilitates Point Kaizen events to drive sustainable improvements
• Participates in Full Week Kaizen events
• Monitors 30-day follow-up activities and reports
• Works with management teams to sustain results
• Work individually or as a team member to perform root cause analysis
• Establishes and drives productivity pipeline roadmaps across departments and facility
• Work individually or as a team member to perform root cause analysis
• Responsible for managing multiple projects at the same time.
• Ensure the facility implements and maintains Continuous Improvement initiatives within the facility.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge and experience with SAP preferred
• Skilled in:
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong self-confidence.
• Strong will to drive change.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work with autonomy.
• Must be accurate, detail-oriented and maintain the utmost confidentiality.
• Ability to:
• Communicate in English to give and acknowledge instructions/problems.
• Ability to calculate figures.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in various units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram and/or schedule form.
• Ability to work well with others in stressful situations and meet deadlines as necessary.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and tasks.
• Excellent keyboarding, record keeping and follow-up skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, while at the same time making sound decisions.
• Must have a strong will to drive change and sustain.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• A high school diploma or general education degree (GED); Two (2) years of college courses, preferred
• Two (2) or more years working in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Ability to Identify Problems
• Interested and capable in solving problems and driven to execute
• Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure they are legally authorized to work in the location to which they apply.