Value Stream Manager

Job Scope

The Value Stream Manager reports to the Plant Manager and leads all employees assigned to the Value Stream. This includes cell supervisors, team leaders, team members, quality engineers, production planners/schedulers, maintenance employees, and in larger plants, a financial analyst and an HR representative. The VSM has all the necessary resources directly reporting into the Value Stream or supported indirectly by central services.

Job Responsibilities

• Collaborate with staff members to make plant-level decisions.
• Lead all employees assigned to the Value Stream.
• Develop strategies and budgets to achieve operational goals in safety, delivery, quality, and cost.
• Implement and continually monitor safe work practices in the Value Stream.
• Conduct required safety audits and ensure all employees follow safe work practices.
• Achieve/improve the plant's safety metrics.
• Meet or exceed the plant's productivity goal (pieces/hour) and ensure that labor is flexed.
• Ensure delivery targets (OE/OES/AM) are met or exceeded with adherence to plant quality, scrap, inventory, and shipping cost objectives.
• Ensure the implementation of policy deployment and the FM/lean manufacturing principles.
• Develop/apply a consistent system of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and display them on Value Stream white-boards.
• Mentor/teach Value Stream employees on the use/interpretation of KPIs.
• Implement 5S in the Value Stream.
• Develop/implement improvement plans and assure that all employees understand and follow these plans.
• Regularly conduct employee communications meetings.
• Ensure that new product launches follow the required Rings & Liners launch process and are completed within the required timeline and budgeted resources.
• Ensure the implementation of employee training and development objectives.
• Ensure the consistent implementation and application of all company policies, procedures, and requirements for all employees within the Value Stream.
• Create an environment of safety, mutual trust, respect, and motivation.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and 7 years of manufacturing (or equivalent combination of formal education and experience).
• Firsthand experience in at least three (3) of the following areas: Hourly supervision, salaried supervision, quality management/engineering, manufacturing engineering, maintenance management, human relations management, financial management, labor contract negotiations, or operations management.
• Experience in financial matters; understanding the drivers of manufacturing costs; previous experience in efficiency improvements.
• Demonstrated understanding and hands-on experience with the implementation of lean manufacturing principles.
• Exhibits a passion for business process improvements.
• Experience required in OEM automotive or with a diesel power train manufacturing supplier.
• Previous experience in machining is required.
• Strong ability to use and tech problem-solving techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a team.
• Excellent relationship-building skills.
• Experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrates ability in the areas of leadership, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate with all levels of management and hourly employees.
• Good interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy, are necessary to supervise employees in a fair and consistent manner.
• Must be able to counsel, guide, and evaluate the work of others in a manner that motivates the achievement of company goals.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Must have working knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Willing and able to travel.