Specialist, Lean

About the role

The Lean Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing a lean enterprise transformational initiative that produces immediate, measurable results and an action-oriented base plan for continuous improvement throughout the organization. The Lean Specialist consults with business leadership on ways to improve quality, customer service, safety, and reduce overall operating costs using tools such as 5S, ToC, Six Sigma, GS, TPM, Standard Work, Flow Cell, Visual Controls, and other techniques.

Responsibilities

• Assist business leadership in planning, developing, and coordinating improvement plans for effective and sustainable cost-saving initiatives.
• Develop a lean enterprise roadmap by engaging leadership, team-building exercises, and mapping value stream processes between current and future states.
• Use lean and constraints management approaches to help leaders, managers, and end-users understand lean transformation through tools like value stream mapping (VSM), strategic gap analysis, and system-level constraint analysis (ToC).
• Conduct on-site workshops, kaizen events, and provide lean training throughout the facility.
• Eliminate waste and complexity in processes to improve cycle time and increase throughput.
• Improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost in internal operations, supply chain, and customer processes using Lean Six Sigma (LSS) tools and practices.
• Ensure compliance with ISO, governmental, and divisional quality policies, programs, plans, and procedures.
• Institute LEAN methodologies by establishing and managing process metrics and data analysis.
• Evaluate existing machinery and processes to recommend improvements that enhance operator performance and ergonomics/safety.
• Maintain and execute the site’s lean implementation and operational excellence program.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Commitment to company values and ethics: Demonstrates alignment with organizational principles.
• Dependability: Personally responsible, completes work in a timely manner, and performs tasks accurately.
• Motivation: Maintains a positive attitude and strong work energy.
• Initiative: Plans work and carries out tasks without detailed instructions; prepares for problems or opportunities in advance.
• Problem Solving: Ability to develop and implement new ideas to improve processes.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

Requirements

• Ability to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• Effectively utilize resources not directly under their control to achieve individual and team goals.
• Working knowledge of Lean tools (Standard Work, 5S, VSM, ToC, SMED, Poka Yoke, Heijunka, etc.) and the Toyota Production System preferred.
• Hands-on experience implementing Lean in manufacturing and transactional areas preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from a four-year college or university; or eight years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Industrial Engineering or supply chain discipline preferred.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in aviation MRO strongly preferred.
• Certified Six Sigma Green Belt or Lean Manufacturing certification desired.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The employee may be regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach, and move about the facility. The work environment is primarily an office setting, and candidates should be able to adapt to a traditional business environment.

Schedule

Full-time, exempt status.