Remote Lean Manufacturing Specialist

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical aid & retirement contributions

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Remote Lean Manufacturing Specialist to guide remote teams in implementing lean principles across client sites in South Africa. You will drive waste reduction, process optimization, and productivity improvements via virtual Gemba walks, KAIZEN events, and digital collaboration tools.

The role requires 5+ years of hands-on lean experience, strong facilitation and coaching skills, and proficiency with Teams/Zoom/Miro for remote teamwork.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial/ Manufacturing Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years implementing lean in production settings.
• Experience with value stream mapping, 5S, Six Sigma (Green/Black belt preferred).

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement lean manufacturing strategies to reduce waste and optimize production.
• Conduct virtual Gemba walks and analyses to identify improvements.
• Lead remote lean workshops, trainings, and Kaizen events using digital tools.
• Coach plant personnel and management on lean principles like 5S, Kanban, VSM, and Poka-Yoke.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to track lean impact and report progress.
• Support standard work and visual management system development and deployment.
• Analyze production data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
• Promote continuous improvement culture and cross-site knowledge sharing.

Skills

Lean principles

Facilitation

Coaching

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Teams

Zoom

Miro

Data analytics

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent player in the automotive supply sector, is looking for a dedicated and innovative Remote Lean Manufacturing Specialist to join their virtual operations team. This role is entirely remote, offering the flexibility to work from your preferred location within South Africa. You will be responsible for implementing and sustaining lean manufacturing principles across various client sites, driving significant improvements in efficiency, waste reduction, and overall productivity. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of lean methodologies and a proven ability to guide teams through transformation processes, even from a distance. This is an exceptional opportunity for a proactive engineer passionate about operational excellence and continuous improvement to make a substantial impact in a flexible, remote setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute lean manufacturing strategies to eliminate waste and optimize production processes.
• Conduct virtual Gemba walks and process analyses to identify improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate lean workshops, training sessions, and Kaizen events remotely using virtual collaboration tools.
• Coach and mentor plant personnel and management teams on the application of lean principles such as 5S, Kanban, Value Stream Mapping, and Poka-Yoke.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of lean initiatives and report on progress.
• Support the development and implementation of standard work and visual management systems.
• Analyze production data to identify trends, root causes of problems, and areas for continuous improvement.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement across all levels of the organization.
• Document best practices and share knowledge across different sites and teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of hands-on experience in implementing lean manufacturing principles and tools in a production environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Six Sigma (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred), SMED, and Kanban.
• Proven ability to lead change initiatives and drive operational improvements in a complex setting.
• Excellent facilitation, coaching, and communication skills, adapted for a virtual environment.
• Proficiency in using virtual collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Miro) and data analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and supply chain dynamics.
• Self-motivated, disciplined, and able to work effectively with minimal supervision in a remote capacity.
• Experience working remotely or managing distributed teams is highly desirable.

Benefits

• competitive annual salary
• comprehensive benefits including medical aid and retirement contributions
• opportunities for continuous learning and professional development

Our client is committed to fostering a supportive and innovative work environment.

You will have the autonomy to manage your schedule while making a significant contribution to operational excellence for our clients, impacting facilities near Centurion, Gauteng, and beyond.

This position is perfect for a seasoned Lean Manufacturing professional seeking a challenging and flexible career path.