Senior Operational Excellence Lean Specialist

Allegion plc; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental and vision insurance

401K plan with 6% company match

Tuition reimbursement

Unlimited PTO

Employee discounts

Job summary

Allegion plc is seeking an Operational Excellence Lean Specialist in Cincinnati, Ohio, responsible for leading Lean transformation initiatives. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree, 7+ years of lean manufacturing experience, and excellent communication skills. This role focuses on enhancing operational efficiency across the value stream.

Benefits include health insurance, 401K matching, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for community involvement. Apply now to join a team dedicated to safety and security improvements.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of documented world-class lean manufacturing experience.
• Experience with distribution, warehousing and logistics facilities preferred.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Gather data for key performance indicators and propose future state goals.
• Implement tactical strategies to achieve business objectives.
• Lead continuous improvement projects and facilitate workshops.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor of Science Degree

Tools

WMS

TMS

ERP systems

Excel

Visio

PowerPoint

Job description

Creating Peace of Mind by Pioneering Safety and Security

At Allegion, we help keep the people you know and love safe and secure where they live, work and visit. With more than 40 brands, 14,000+ employees globally and products sold in 130 countries, we specialize in security around the doorway and beyond.

Allegion is proud to be recognized with the 2026 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award (GEWA) for the third consecutive year, earning distinction in both the employee engagement and strengths categories. This year, Allegion also received Gallup’s With Distinction honor—a designation reserved for a select group of organizations that go above and beyond in building exceptional workplace cultures.

Operational Excellence Lean Specialist - Blue Ash, Ohio

Under the direction of the Operational Excellence Manager, this position is responsible for supporting the Lean transformation and daily management initiatives by ensuring strategies are implemented and principles/practices/tools are incorporated in the culture and processes under transformation. This position implements and supports actions that bring about improvements which may include, but are not limited to safety, customer value proposition, quality, delivery, cycle, growth, margin expansion, and inventory.

Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to be employed in the United States. The company does not intend to provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B, TN, etc.) for this employment position.

What You Will Do:

• Gather data for key performance indicators for functions being reviewed, evaluates current state, and proposes future state goals and objectives.
• Implement tactical strategies to achieve the desired vision.
• Execute against long and short-term objectives to support the value stream’s goals.
• Work with necessary site personnel to identify, address, and eliminate process related obstacles.
• Assist in the change of systems/processes as required in support of the Lean initiatives.
• Utilize value stream mapping techniques to design optimal information, material, and production flow methods.

To act as a change agent to bring about improvements in the manufacturing process through the active support, participation and leadership of rapid improvement events or projects, that includes:

• Owning pre and post standard work.
• Lead or facilitate continuous improvement projects and events.
• Participate in Gemba walks and coach employees on continuous improvement, standard work development/modification/adherence, flow, takt time attainment, and problem-solving abnormalities.
• Provide necessary training specific to Lean Transformation tools and methodology.
• Help update and maintain visual performance tools, including mission control and MDI boards.
• Follow up on action plans.
• Assist all teams as needed to ensure improvements are made and sustained.

Executing key activities as part of Lean Transformation and daily management including tasks such as:

• Support value stream analysis events.
• Conduct cycle time analyses, time studies, line balance improvements, workplace analysis improvement.
• Create and implement standard work and teach/coaching line leaders to do the same.
• Implement or coach the use of cell control boards and other visual management tools.
• Lead, coach and assist teams in problem solving activities.
• Resolve issues after continuous improvement events to achieve desired state.

To support the launch of all activities needed to incorporate Lean Transformation and daily management into the Value Stream culture; includes:

• Assist in identifying on-going training needs.
• Support communication of the direction of Lean Transformation and daily management initiatives to employees.
• Utilize change management model.
• Ensure high levels of engagement for continuous improvement events participants.
• Drive change through coaching of employees and leaders to drive lean behaviors, principles and practices.

Track all changes/improvements made to provide assurance that changes are effective and lasting, includes:

• Examine and evaluate the areas after improvements are implemented.
• Post/update results to the Mission Control boards.
• Review new procedures/controls and appraise the efficiency and effectiveness of operations, and work with the Operational Excellence Manager, Site Leader, Department Managers and Supervisors to resolve any issues that might arise during implementation and/or maintenance phases.
• Monitor and report on key metrics.
• Supports and meets Departmental, Plant and Corporate EH&S goals. Works in a safe and efficient manner.
• Other duties as identified by the Value Stream Coach to further the site’s Lean Manufacturing initiative.

What You Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor of Science Degree in a related discipline, preferably an engineering or supply chain degree.
• Minimum of 7 years of documented world class lean manufacturing/transactional/functional experience.
• Experience with distribution, warehousing and/or logistics facilities a plus.
• Basic understanding of WMS, TMS and ERP systems.
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills with the ability to speak and communicate effectively with various audiences at the site level.
• Strong interpersonal and high-performance team building skills, with ability to develop collaborative relationships, influencing up, down and across organizational lines.
• Ability to effectively facilitate a group’s activities and discussions using a defined process.
• Be viewed credibly as either an informal leader or a positive influencer of change.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced and changing work environment.
• Able to influence, persuade, convince and facilitate lean culture change in an environment with varying acceptance.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications required (Excel, Word, Visio, and PP). Excellent Team Facilitation Skills.

Benefits:

• Health, dental and vision insurance coverage, helping you “be safe, be healthy”.
• A commitment to your future with a 401K plan, offering a 6% company match and no vesting period.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Unlimited PTO.
• Employee Discounts through Perks at Work.
• Community involvement and opportunities to give back so you can serve others, not yourself.
• Opportunities to leverage your unique strengths through CliftonStrengths testing and coaching.

Allegion is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer (https://www.allegion.com/corp/en/careers/equal-opportunity.html)