Continuous Improvement Manager

About the role

The Continuous Improvement Manager will drive significant improvements to our processes from receipt of order through, planning, supply chain (internal & external), manufacturing and distribution. This position will lead continuous improvement projects working with existing functions and leading analysis and implementation of changes to impact issues affecting the site’s ability to supply high-quality products to our customers as required.

Responsibilities

• Drive significant improvements to processes from receipt of order through, planning, supply chain (internal & external), manufacturing and distribution.
• Lead continuous improvement projects working with existing functions and leading analysis and implementation of changes to impact issues affecting the site’s ability to supply high-quality products to our customers as required.
• Cook up initiatives for the site aligning the Crane Business System philosophy into day-to-day operational excellence.
• Using the Crane Business Model and Kaizen events, as part of the agreed roadmap, this role will be critical in driving changes and getting results that align with company goals and strategy.
• Promote and lead the Crane Business Model by driving improvements to our processes throughout the organization.
• Work with the management team to identify a clear Kaizen Road map linked to our strategic development plans and facilitate Kaizen Events to ensure improvements are followed through, presented and reported using the Crane Co. global metrics.
• Support the Senior Management Team in driving and developing a lean manufacturing culture by using Kaizen tools, including SMED, Standard Work and Value Stream Mapping.
• Facilitate events accordingly.
• Support the need for additional tool champions in the organization and help associates in achieving certifications accordingly.
• Actively support the culture change towards Continuous Improvement by training, developing, implementing and maintaining improvement processes using Operational Excellence tools.
• Identify productivity savings at the site leading to year over year cost benefits.
• Develop a funnel of savings from people, materials and other to ensure adequate savings opportunities are identified and can be activated when needed.
• Report on progress of identified projects including mitigation plans to address any savings gaps.
• Train and develop the team and individuals to achieve departmental flexibility and multi-skilling.

Requirements

• BS Engineering or Operations Management
• Minimum 10 years continuous improvement experience, preferably in manufacturing
• Minimum 5 years continuous improvement leadership from a technical & operational perspective
• Demonstrated experience in leading teams with a proven ability to lead others in use of problem-solving methodology and rigor
• Demonstrated success in process improvement: reduction in waste/cost; improvement in control
• Strong practical knowledge of Lean and Six Sigma techniques, with a particular fluency in TPS methods and approach
• Preferred: BS Chemical Engineering, Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt

Qualifications

• Accomplished self-starter, independent with good multitasking capability
• Strong data generation, management and identification skills, with a desire to solve problems