Plant Lean Manager

Parker Hannifin; Manitowoc (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Parker Hannifin in Manitowoc, WI is seeking a Lean Practitioner II to lead site-wide continuous improvement initiatives using the Parker Lean System. You will coach leadership and teams across operations, supply chain and customer-facing processes to reduce waste and improve quality, delivery and safety.

Responsibilities include deploying PLS, mentoring kaizen events, managing CI portfolios, and driving standard work, 5S/6S, visual management and data-driven decision making with cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or engineering required.
• 2+ years of progressive lean experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in PLS and Lean methods across value streams.

Responsibilities

• Lead Parker Lean System deployment and governance.
• Coach leadership to drive strategy deployment and kaizen chartering.
• Develop and deploy standard work, 5S/6S, visual management, and KPI tracking.
• Lead cross-functional CI projects across value streams; drive benefits validation.
• Support data-driven decision making and sustainment checks.

Skills

Lean

Kaizen leadership

A3 problem solving

VSM

5S/6S

Kanban/Pull

Root cause analysis

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or engineering

Tools

ERP/MES data systems

Job description

Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 250 global leader in motion and control technologies. For more than a century, we’ve enabled engineering breakthroughs that make energy cleaner, transportation safer, medical treatments more effective, and manufacturing more efficient. With empowered team members in more than 40 countries, Parker serves customers across aerospace & defense, energy, HVAC & refrigeration, in-plant & industrial equipment, off-highway and transportation. Our scale is global, but our purpose is personal. We enable breakthroughs that improve lives, strengthen communities and create a brighter future. Our Purpose — Enabling Engineering Breakthroughs that Lead to a Better Tomorrow — comes to life through our people-first culture where teamwork drives performance, inclusion fuels innovation and growth is encouraged. This environment fosters collaboration and empowers team members from engineering and manufacturing to finance, supply chain, human resources, information technology and beyond. By combining deep expertise with an entrepreneurial spirit, we help customers succeed in markets that demand performance, reliability, and sustainability. As we look to the future, Parker is advancing initiatives in energy efficiency and sustainability while developing the next generation of talent and leaders to engineer a better tomorrow.

About the Role

The Lean Practitioner II is a continuous improvement practitioner responsible for driving large site Lean transformation, coaching leadership and teams, and delivering measurable performance improvements across operations, supply chain, and customer-facing processes. This role leads complex, cross-functional initiatives using Lean principles and the Parker Lean System (PLS) (e.g., value stream mapping, standard work, 5S, visual management, problem-solving) to reduce waste, improve flow, and enhance quality, safety, and delivery. A trusted advisor to site leadership and mentors Lean Practitioner I and helps embed a culture of daily improvement.

Responsibilities

• Parker Lean System deployment, ownership and Governance
• Ensure adherence to Parker Lean System (PLS) methodologies and principles of PLS tools within the site.
• Drive development, documentation, and deployment of PLS fundamentals (e.g., standard work, 5S/6S, visual management, tiered daily management) to meet the varied value streams at the site.
• Partner with and coach site leadership to drive strategy deployment activities: data gathering, deciding on prioritization inputs, determine the goals that will align with strategy, and portfolio tracking; support kaizen chartering and preparation.
• Help standardize and scale best practices across site or multiple sites; contribute to sustainment checks and countermeasure follow-up.
• Prepare and provide advanced Lean expertise support in kaizen events; coordinate logistics, decide on appropriate baseline data to drive strong analysis, track action items, and ensure sustainment activities.
• Assess actions and use advanced judgment to determine the correct PLS tools for the project/events and to drive data collection (e.g., time observation, waste walks, spaghetti diagrams, SMED elements, flow/pull pilots) in a manner that supports and allows improvement for the value steam and/or site.
• Lead value stream, site or multisite continuous improvement projects within one or more value streams; manage timelines, stakeholders, and basic benefits validation.
• Coach team members how to determine and apply appropriate problem-solving tools and methods (5-Why, 10 step problem solving, PDCA; exposure to DMAIC), as needed, to issues of increasing complexity that span multiple PLS elements.
• Coach team member to gather and analyze continuous improvement data (e.g., cycle time, changeover, WIP, FPY) to identify waste, quantify improvements, and update Continuous Improvement boards.
• Oversee and assess data gathered for accuracy to drive root cause decisions around improvement projects or additional projects focuses for continued site or multisite improvement.
• Ensure control and sustainment plans, including standard work updates and visual controls are deployed and following in the value stream or site.
• Participate in, support and coach functional direction to High Performance Teams within the site.
• Using insights and judgments to build productive working relationships with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality to implement process improvements and procedures across one or more value streams.
• Provide direct guidance and leadership on project teams to ensure correct lean processes/practices are being implemented; provide direction/ensure adherence to lean principles in occasional direction settings and prioritization discussions.
• Liaise with vendors and customers on specific issues under guidance from managers or location leadership.
• Provide clear status updates on activities, risks, and needs; contribute to report-outs and project reviews.
• Lead training and coaching on PLS basics for operators and team leaders as directed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or engineering is required with 2+ years of progressive lean experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in PLS and Lean enterprise methods across multiple value streams; proven kaizen leader and capable teacher.

Required Skills

• Strong problem-solving capability with diversified scope; skilled in A3, root cause analysis, and practical implementation of preferred practices and tools.
• Experience with daily management, leader standard work, VSM, standard work, SMED, TPM, 5S/6S, kanban/pull, visual management, and error proofing.
• Ability to design and manage CI portfolios linked to strategy deployment and SQDCI performance; proficient in establishing and tracking KPIs.
• Effective communicator and influencer across shop-floor, managerial, and leadership levels; able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Proficiency with basic data analysis and presentation tools; familiarity with ERP/MES data sources supporting CI preferred.
• Leads larger-scope projects and project teams; may act as HPT lead and mentor to less experienced staff.
• Occasional interaction with suppliers and customers on CI-related initiatives; limited travel may be required.
• Intermittent travel is needed for the role with about 10-15% travel but can vary by location.

Preferred Skills

• None specified.

Pay range and compensation package

None specified.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Parker is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Parker is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status