Lean Manufacturing Specialist

Placements24; Mossel Bay; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical & retirement benefits

Training in lean & Six Sigma

Paid leave

Job summary

Placements24 in Mossel Bay is seeking a dedicated Lean Manufacturing Specialist to drive continuous improvement and embed lean principles across the facility. You will lead lean programs, collaborate with production teams, and deliver sustainable productivity and cost-reduction gains.

The role requires 4+ years of hands-on Lean experience, strong facilitation, and a proven track record with Kaizen, VSM, and 5S in a manufacturing environment, emphasising TPS principles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Industrial Engineering, Business Administration or related).
• Minimum of 4 years hands-on experience implementing and managing Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Proven track record leading Kaizen events, VSM projects and 5S programs.
• Strong understanding of TPS and other lean methodologies.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills, with ability to influence change.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lean Manufacturing programs (5S, Kaizen events, VSM, JIT).
• Identify and eliminate waste across production and supporting processes.
• Facilitate workshops and training on lean concepts and tools.
• Develop and track metrics for lead time, inventory turns and productivity gains.
• Standardize work processes for Mossel Bay operations.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and empower teams to solve problems.

Skills

Facilitation

Coaching

Communication skills

Change management

Education

Industrial Engineering

Business Administration

Related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a dedicated Lean Manufacturing Specialist to drive continuous improvement initiatives within their facility in Mossel Bay . This role is essential for embedding lean principles throughout the organization, fostering a culture of efficiency, and eliminating waste in all operational aspects. You will work closely with production teams and management to identify opportunities, implement lean tools, and ensure sustainable gains in productivity, quality, and cost reduction. This position offers a fantastic opportunity to be at the forefront of operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and ongoing management of Lean Manufacturing programs, including 5S, Kaizen events, value stream mapping (VSM), and Just-In-Time (JIT) principles.
• Identify and eliminate waste (muda) in all forms across production and supporting processes.
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions for employees at all levels on lean concepts and tools.
• Develop and track metrics related to lean implementation success, such as lead time reduction, inventory turns, and productivity improvements.
• Support the development and standardization of work processes to ensure consistency and efficiency in the Mossel Bay operations.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and empower teams to identify and solve problems using lean methodologies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering , Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of hands-on experience implementing and managing Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Proven track record in leading Kaizen events, VSM projects, and implementing 5S programs.
• Strong understanding of Toyota Production System (TPS) principles and other lean methodologies.
• Excellent facilitation, coaching, and communication skills.
• Ability to influence change and drive results in a manufacturing environment.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary with performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive medical, retirement, and other employee benefits.
• Opportunities for certification and advanced training in lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Generous paid leave and holiday benefits.
• A dynamic work environment focused on teamwork and continuous improvement in Mossel Bay .