Kaizen Technician

Hayward Holdings, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Hayward Holdings Inc. is seeking a Kaizen Technician to support manufacturing operations through standard work, process documentation, training materials, and continuous improvement activities.

This role works with Production, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, and CI to improve process consistency, solve problems, and sustain operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Associate degree and 5+ years in manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Secondary education with courses in Operations Management, 6-Sigma, process improvement or project management is a plus.
• Strong communication and data interpretation skills.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondences and present to groups.
• Excellent organizational skills to promote 5S and lean principles.

Responsibilities

• Maintain Kaizen event calendar and coordinate department activities.
• Provide facilitation and coaching during Kaizen events.
• Document processes and maintain standard work for all work areas.
• Develop and sustain lean metrics, 5S display, and TPM alignment.
• Create production reports and support training during new product launches.

Skills

Basic PC skills

Effective communication

Organizational skills

Mathematical skills

Reading & interpretation of documents

Report writing

Education

Associate degree and 5+ years in manufacturing & CI

Coursework in Operations Management or Six Sigma / PM

Job description

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE “HAYW”) is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control and energy solutions at our company owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China.

KAIZEN TECHNICIAN

POSITION SUMMARY

The Kaizen Technician supports manufacturing operations through development and maintenance of standard work, process documentation, training materials, and continuous improvement activities. This role works closely with Production, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, and Continuous Improvement to improve process consistency, support problem solving, and sustain operational excellence.

The position serves as a key resource for documenting processes, analyzing workflows, supporting Kaizen events, and helping implement improvements throughout the facility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Maintains Kaizen event calendar for the department in accordance with KPO.
• Coordinates all department Kaizen activities, team member selection, preparation, etc.
• Provides facilitation & coaching throughout each Kaizen activity.

LEAN DEPLOYMENT

• Maintains lean tracking metrics for the department such as standard work completion.
• Promotes lean methodology daily and is a source of information to all levels of the department.
• Creates a departmental culture that promotes a high level of 5S display and organization.
• Establish an audit practice with department supervisors to sustain Kaizen results and identify future Kaizen needs.
• Author all sequence standard work and ensure up-to-date documentation is posted at each work area accordingly.
• Assist in developing a strategy to create, implement & sustain a department with TPM Program.

TRAINING

• Provide lean training for all department Kaizen activities.
• Assist new employees with general understanding of lean and provide support during on-the-job training exercises.
• Assist employees when lean improvements warrant new learning such as updates to work content and work cell rebalancing.
• Provide training support during new product launches or modifications to incumbent products.
• Ensure employees performing rework understand appropriate methods & procedures.

GENERAL

• Ability to fill in for Assembly supervisors and leads as needed.
• Coordinate & maintain the timely flow of rework.
• Maintain the various department supply cabinets in a clean & orderly fashion.
• Responsible for event planning, training, preparation, organization, communication and follow-up.
• Creates and maintains production reports, data and documentation.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must possess basic PC skills (Word, Excel, etc.) to produce Sequence standard work, write report, gather and interpret data.
• Must be able to communicate effectively before groups at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent organizational skills are required to promote our vision of 5S.
• Mathematical skills are critical for performing time studies and work cell rebalancing.
• Must be able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence as well as speak effectively before groups of customers.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Associate degree and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in manufacturing and continuous improvement and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Secondary education consisting of courses in Operations Management, 6-Sigma, process improvement and/or project management a plus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near machinery with moving mechanical parts. The noise level is usually moderate. Eye protection and safety glasses are necessary for plant floor work.