Senior Manager, Lean

Position

Provides leadership and coaching with the development and implementation of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives within a GE Appliances' manufacturing facility.

Drives positive change by developing a culture of teams that proactively eliminate waste and continuously improve Safety, Quality, and Cost metrics.

Strategic Planning and Development

Sets a strategic direction for the plant manufacturing operation that addresses key operational gaps and drives a culture focused on continual improvement.

Instills APS guiding principles as foundational philosophy for the plant operation.

Sets a directional map for Appliance Performance System (APS) structure, implementation and improvement within a plant/operation.

Key enabler of strategy deployment and hoshin planning for the manufacturing operation, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the goals, objectives and strategies of the organization.

Collaborates in the development of measurement systems and comprehensive reporting to support effective application of continuous improvement processes.

Lead Plant Improvement Activities

Develops and manages the Lean Plan and projects for the plant.

Develops and communicates the plant Lean Hoshin Plan.

Prioritizes and allocates resources to execute plan.

Leads plant teams in defining problems, assessing current state root causes, designing and testing solutions, and implementing solutions leading to desired outcomes.

Improves process quality and capacity by guiding functional teams to develop and execute lean plans for reduced cycle time, inventory, and waste.

Applies lean-based APS methods and tools to promote continuous improvement, increase operating model consistency, and to engage & empower employees in problem-solving to remove waste and improve product quality.

Provides status reports regarding the execution of plant Lean Plan.

Partners with Business Leaders to maintain meeting rhythm, ensure Cost Out progress, and track project status and closure.

Identifies issues and provides recommendations to address roadblocks and areas of opportunity.

Documents and shares best practices and lessons learned.

Factory Master Plan

Along with driving our continuous improvement culture and initiatives, this leader will lead the Manufacturing Factory Master Plan.

Being responsible for developing, maintaining, and executing the factory master plan to support long-term business growth, operational excellence, and manufacturing capacity requirements.

This role leads strategic planning for facility expansion, production layout optimization, infrastructure development, capital investment projects, and cross-functional coordination to ensure manufacturing operations meet current and future business objectives.

Develops and maintains the factory master plan aligned with business growth strategy and production forecasts.

Led facility planning initiatives, including plant expansion, new production lines, warehouse optimization, and utility infrastructure improvements.

Analyzes production capacity, material flow, logistics, and space utilization to maximize operational efficiency.

Collaborates with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, EHS, Quality, Maintenance, Finance, and Commercial teams to define future manufacturing requirements.

Develops factory layout concepts using Lean Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and ergonomic design principles.

Manages capital expenditure (CAPEX) planning, budgeting, and investment proposals for factory development projects.

Collaborates with architects, engineering consultants, contractors, and equipment suppliers during project planning and execution.

Maintains project schedules, budgets, risks, and performance to ensure successful implementation.

Ensures compliance with safety, environmental, building, and regulatory requirements.

Identifies opportunities for automation, digital manufacturing, and process optimization.

Conducts feasibility studies, cost-benefit analyses, and scenario planning for manufacturing investments.

Supports mergers, acquisitions, or new site development by evaluating manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure requirements.

Prepares executive presentations and strategic reports on factory development initiatives.

APS Capability Development

Builds capability within the plant leadership team, front line leaders and plant Lean organization to understand and implement the target APS conditions for the plant.

Serves as Lean process expert for the plant operation.

Creates opportunities for employees to learn through their jobs and within the classroom.

Makes recommendations regarding the enhancement or development of training programs.

Provides coaching, mentoring and training on the application of APS methodology and tools via classroom or hands-on, learning-by-doing activities to reinforce knowledge and skills attained during APS training.

Other Related Duties

Provides direct team leadership to plant Lean team, including work direction, goal setting, mentoring/coaching, performance management and performance/compensation reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5 years minimum experience within in a manufacturing environment utilizing Lean manufacturing tools and processes.
• 3 years minimum experience in driving improvement/Kaizen work within a manufacturing operation.
• Strong understanding of Lean principles (Hoshin, 5S Workplace Organization, A3 Thinking, Standardized Work, Just-in-Time, Production Flow, Jidoka / Build in Quality, Visual Management, Heijunka / Level Load, Pull / Replenishment, Kaizen, Metrics/KPI’s).

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (ME, EE, IE) and/or Advanced Business or Engineering degree.
• 8+ experience within a manufacturing environment utilizing lean manufacturing tools and processes.
• Experience leading, empowering and developing teams within manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated credible leader with proven ability to drive change.
• Experience implementing improvement within a union environment.
• Humble learner and teacher; results oriented and high energy with ability to inspire others.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Black or Green Belt Six Sigma Certification.

Working Conditions

• Working conditions are normal for both an office and manufacturing environment.
• Work may involve lifting of materials and product up to 30 pounds.
• Working in the manufacturing environment requires the use of safety equipment to include but not limited to: safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, work shoes/boots.
• Work may require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

Culture

• Our work is centered on our People and Culture as reflected in our Zero Distance philosophy and we recognize the importance of reaffirming our commitment to inclusion and diversity (I&D).
• This underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute, while positioning our organization to adapt seamlessly to the evolving needs of our workforce and communities.
• This reflects our dedication to creating solutions that:
• Empower colleagues by fostering an environment where all voices are heard, valued, and encouraged to contribute.
• Strengthen communities where we live and work.
• Reinforce a culture of belonging, purpose, and engagement.
• Reflect the diversity of the communities we serve through our workforce, products, and practices.

Equal Opportunity Employer

GE Appliances is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. GE Appliances participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or to apply, please send an e-mail to ask.recruiting@geappliances.com