Continuous Improvement Manager

About the role

Lead the Lean initiative and help sustain a Lean transformation by administering continuous improvement activities and providing hands-on technical support. Serve as a facilitator of Kaizen activities and other tools that will drive Lean methodology throughout the organization. Drive cultural change that supports the technical implementation of Lean. Trains suppliers in Lean manufacturing techniques and leads factory Kaizen events to eliminate waste from the supplier's manufacturing processes, resulting in lower product costs for AutoZone. Assesses current and potential suppliers, through intense review of their manufacturing and quality systems, with the goal of improving and enhancing the AutoZone supply base. Improves product quality and reduces warranty costs by identifying warranty drivers, performing teardown analyses to determine root causes of failures, and working with suppliers to identify and implement corrective actions that address root causes of failures. Acts as manufacturing and quality consultant for Merchandising department and assists in competitive benchmarking activities.

Responsibilities

• Trains suppliers in Lean manufacturing techniques and leads factory Kaizen events to eliminate waste from the supplier's manufacturing processes, resulting in lower product costs for AutoZone.
• Participate in and/or lead improvement activities with customers, vendors, and suppliers.
• Assist with corporate-wide, best practices, and standards and assist management to determine financial impact of improvement activities.
• Handles day to day issues, such as product recalls and store testing issues. Supports line review process by reporting on quality and cost improvement activities.
• Assesses current and potential suppliers, through on-site audits of their manufacturing and quality systems, with the goal of improving the AutoZone supply base.
• Create, formalize, document, and administer continuous improvement activities that will drive Lean methodology throughout the organization.
• Develops value stream maps, establish goals and objectives, and establishes processes and procedures.
• Coordinate with outside consultants on Lean initiatives and projects, when needed.

Qualifications

• Master's degree (MA, MS, MBA) in Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Quality Engineering.
• More than seven years of experience in automotive component manufacturing.
• Strong Lean manufacturing implementation experience and proven ability to lead Kaizen improvement activities, with emphasis on: value stream mapping, cellular manufacturing, 5S, TQM, QS9/ISO9 assessment experience, training in APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning).
• Knowledge of Six Sigma methodology.
• Product launch experience.
• Kaizen blitz experience.
• Project management experience.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project, and Visio.

Preferred

• CQE (Certified Quality Engineer)
• CME (Certified Manufacturing Engineer)
• PE (professional engineer)
• Six Sigma Black Belt