Operations Excellence and Lean Manager

W3R; Saint Joseph (MI); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

W3R is seeking an Operational Excellence and Lean Manager in Saint Joseph, Michigan. This role focuses on developing and executing Lean strategies, mentoring staff, and driving change through hands-on leadership. The ideal candidate has a strong manufacturing background, proven Lean experience, and effective communication skills.

Challenging yet rewarding, this position reports to the COO and offers opportunities for advancement within the organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-years of hands-on experience in production management.
• At least 3 years applying lean tools and training others.
• Results-based leadership style with strong impact and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop Lean manufacturing strategy for all NA facility's objectives.
• Provide leadership and training on Lean methodology.
• Identify and lead Lean transformation events to improve performance.
• Analyze complex operational data for improvement opportunities.
• Support management by communicating plant-wide changes.

Skills

Lean manufacturing strategy

Lean methodology

Data analysis

Change facilitation

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s in Engineering (ME, IE, other) or Operations Management

Lean or Six Sigma certification

Tools

MS Office Suite

MS Access

MS Project

Job description

The Operational Excellence and Lean Manager will support plant operations in the development, planning and execution of Lean strategies and metrics providing support to various levels throughout the organization in order to clearly link project metrics to strategy objectives by using the Toyota Production System tools. This position will require an experienced Lean leader with manufacturing industry background. This position requires an individual that is able to facilitate and drive change in a fast paced and “ever changing” environment leveraging strong interpersonal skills. Key to success in this position is the ability to identify and drive operational improvements at all levels utilizing a very “hands on” approach to creating value and buy-in as the lead change facilitator for the plant’s Lean transformation.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop Lean manufacturing strategy for all manufacturing and distribution assets to ensure all NA facility’s objectives are met in the areas of safety, quality, profitability, waste reduction and team excellence.
• This position will provide leadership / mentoring / training to all levels of the operation on the use and practice of Lean methodology and tools.
• This position will have responsibility for identifying, planning and leading the execution of Lean transformation events targeted towards improving the plant’s performance on safety, quality, delivery, inventory, and productivity (SQDIP) as well as establishing a solid foundation around 5S in the workplace with process, metrics, and ownership at all levels.
• This position will require the ability to identify and analyze complex operational data from multiple disparate sources in order to synthesize actionable evidence of root cause or improvement opportunities.
• This position will focus on business performance improvements that yield zero accidents, defect free products, on demand and on time delivery, at the lowest cost by partnering with the plant’s process owners and champions to drive results.
• This position will act as a key driver of change within the plant, supporting management/cross functional decisions by communicating the plant-wide changes to employees and helping them to learn, understand, adjust and grow with the business’s Lean transformation.
• Expert proficiency in the use and implementation of Lean tools such as Toyota Production System/Danaher Business System, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping, Business Process Reengineering, Total Quality Management, Kaizen, TAKT, Kanbans/Pull Systems, Single Piece Flow, Seven Wastes, 5S, Poka-Yoke, PDCA, Hoshin Kanri, Root Cause Analysis, Workshop Management, and KPI's.
• This is a key leadership as well as development role to grow within the operations organization worldwide. This role will be considered for future Management roles to include Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Engineering, and Plant Manager roles. This position reports directly to the COO and is on the COO’s senior management staff for the business and will partner with the Global OpEx leader (Darren Taylor-Ridge) for joint lean strategies that are on-going in Europe and Asia operations today.

Other Scope of Role

• Travel will be 50% of role – typically 4-5 days consecutively for business trips between California, Arkansas, and Michigan.
• Role can have a home base office out of our St Joseph, Michigan or Jonesboro, Arkansas plant locations as both sites can reach 5 of our 6 plants very easily.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-years of hands‑on experience in production management for a manufacturing company with at least 3 years applying lean tools and training others.
• Results based Leadership style skill set with strong impact and influencing skills.
• Bachelor’s in Engineering preferred (ME, IE, other), or Operations Management.
• Lean or Six Sigma certified.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, MS Access and MS Project a plus.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.