Value Stream Mapping Specialist

Ford; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 162,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Job summary

Ford Motor Company seeks a Value Stream Mapping Specialist to drive continuous improvement across manufacturing sites. You will map current-state processes, design future-state value streams, and partner with plant operations, engineering, and quality teams to implement improvements.

Early-career Lean practitioner with 3 years manufacturing experience will contribute to kaizen workshops, data analysis, and visual management. Travel up to 50–65% is required; hybrid work arrangement applies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM field required.
• Strong knowledge of Lean principles and VSM.
• 3 years of manufacturing experience.
• Ability to analyze processes and interpret data.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead current-state and future-state VSM events at process, department, and system levels.
• Document material and information flow, identify bottlenecks, and highlight improvement opportunities.
• Develop actionable implementation plans from VSM outcomes.
• Collaborate with plant leadership, engineers, and operations teams to drive improvements.

Skills

Value Stream Mapping

Lean Principles

Data Analysis

Communication

Facilitation

Travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Visio

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Value Stream Mapping (VSM) Specialist to support manufacturing teams in identifying waste, improving process flow, and enabling continuous improvement. The VSM Specialist will work directly with plant operations, engineering, quality, and cross-functional teams to map current-state processes, design future-state value streams, and drive implementation of improvement actions.

This role is ideal for an early-career Lean practitioner looking to deepen their expertise and contribute to high‑impact operational improvement initiatives across Ford manufacturing sites.

What you'll do...

Value Stream Mapping

• Conduct current-state and future-state Value Stream Mapping events at the process, department, and system levels.
• Document material and information flow, identify bottlenecks, and highlight improvement opportunities.
• Support teams in developing actionable implementation plans based on VSM outcomes.

Continuous Improvement & Kaizen Support

• Assist in planning and facilitating kaizen workshops focused on quality, productivity, flow, safety, and standardization.
• Partner with operations teams to execute improvement actions identified through VSM and kaizen events.
• Track progress, remove roadblocks, and report results to leadership.

Data Analysis & Process Support

• Collect and analyze process data to validate improvement needs and measure impact.
• Support manufacturing teams with Lean tools such as 5S, standard work, problem-solving, and visual management.
• Maintain documentation and sustainment plans for continuous improvement activities.

Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with plant leadership, engineers, team leaders, and other stakeholders

Communicate findings clearly through presentations, reports, and visual tools.
Uphold Lean principles and assist in strengthening the continuous improvement culture across sites.

You'll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in Applied Science, Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related STEM field.
• Strong knowledge of Lean principles with foundational experience in Value Stream Mapping.
• 3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to analyze processes, interpret data, and identify improvement opportunities.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 50–65% to support multiple Ford manufacturing sites.

Even better, you may have...

• 3 years of experience in an automotive manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to Lean tools such as 5S, kaizen, standard work, and root cause analysis.
• Experience participating in or co-facilitating VSM or kaizen events.
• Lean certification (Yellow Belt or Green Belt) is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio (or similar mapping tools).

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is a salary grade 6 and ranges from $72,480-121,440. This position is a salary grade 7 and ranges from $84,480-141,360. This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $96,720-162,120.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.

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