Kaizen Technician

KAIZEN TECHNICIAN

The Kaizen Technician supports manufacturing operations through development and maintenance of standard work, process documentation, training materials, and continuous improvement activities. This role works closely with Production, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, and Continuous Improvement to improve process consistency, support problem solving, and sustain operational excellence.

The position serves as a key resource for documenting processes, analyzing workflows, supporting Kaizen events, and helping implement improvements throughout the facility.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Maintains Kaizen event calendar for the department in accordance with KPO.
• Coordinates all department Kaizen activities, team member selection, preparation, etc.
• Provides facilitation & coaching throughout each Kaizen activity.

LEAN DEPLOYMENT

• Maintains lean tracking metrics for the department such as standard work completion.
• Promotes lean methodology daily and is a source of information to all levels of the department.
• Creates a departmental culture that promotes a high level of 5S display and organization.
• Establish an audit practice with department supervisors to sustain Kaizen results and identify future Kaizen needs.
• Author all sequence standard work and ensure up-to-date documentation is posted at each work area accordingly.
• Assist in developing a strategy to create, implement & sustain a department with TPM Program.

TRAINING

• Provide lean training for all department Kaizen activities.
• Assist new employees with general understanding of lean and provide support during on-the-job training exercises.
• Assist employees when lean improvements warrant new learning such as updates to work content and work cell rebalancing.
• Provide training support during new product launches or modifications to incumbent products.
• Ensure employees performing rework understand appropriate methods & procedures.

GENERAL

• Ability to fill in for Assembly supervisors and leads as needed.
• Coordinate & maintain the timely flow of rework.
• Maintain the various department supply cabinets in a clean & orderly fashion.
• Responsible for event planning, training, preparation, organization, communication and follow-up.
• Creates and maintains production reports, data and documentation.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must possess basic PC skills (Word, Excel, etc.) to produce Sequence standard work, write report, gather and interpret data.
• Must be able to communicate effectively before groups at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent organizational skills are required to promote our vision of 5S.
• Mathematical skills are critical for performing time studies and work cell rebalancing.
• Must be able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence as well as speak effectively before groups of customers.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• AS/BS degree in Engineering or a related field.
• 0 to 3 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, with exposure to continuous improvement initiatives preferred.
• Equivalent combinations of education and relevant work experience will be considered.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near machinery with moving mechanical parts. The noise level is usually moderate. Eye protection and safety glasses are necessary for plant floor work.