Continuous Improvement Leader - Thermatech - Whitehall, MI

Job Description

Job Description

The Continuous Improvement Leader is an expert in continuous improvement processes who teaches and facilitates implementation of standard operational excellence methods and tools to deliver results in throughput, productivity, cost, and inventory and delivery performance.

This position will be located in Plant 4, supporting the Thermatech Coatings and Titanium Ingot businesses.

Job Roles include:

• Improvement agent --provides expertise and guidance while contributing substantively to implementation and solutions; serves with both strategic and tactical implementation assistance; listens well to ensure the right interventions occur; maintains focus as an internal partner versus outside observer
• Sustainability support --understands plant and enterprise level strategy and prioritizes accordingly; creates follow up plans, support and accountability to ensure adoption and independent implementation
• Educational implementer --conducts planned events and responds to operational needs to create efficiencies that support strategies; enables next steps for the business and creates virtuous cycles of feedback and performance at a local level; manages projects and events efficiently and maximizes allocation of resources under time pressure
• Business acumen --creates compelling business case for events and interventions; understands and communicates the “why” behind efforts; measures success based on business performance
• Analysis and synthesis --seeks first to listen and understand; determines root cause with contributions from others; translates based on observation and input; technical expert in ABS
• Influence --compels others without direct authority; provides business case and data-driven justification for events; appreciates the use of other leaders’ resources and people, holds those things in trust; creates a favorable brand for ABS and CI
• Creativity and innovation --challenges the status quo; networks internally to gather information; offers ideas and potential solutions based on observation and direct feedback from operators and supervisors
• Strategic perspective --driven to improve the plant to improve the business; prioritizes based on hoshin and collaboration with other leaders; identifies areas of greatest potential return and adds value at the decision making level; evaluates effectiveness of events and interventions based on performance metrics in addition to CI and ABS metrics; thinks about the business as it will be in the future when deciding what to do today

Basic Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum 3 years experience in leading CI projects in a manufacturing environment
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Logistics or related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in a Continuous Improvement role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead managers and employees to drive major change initiatives with diverse groups.
• Solid understanding of ABS and/or Toyota Production System and be able to teach/coach and mentor others.
• Proven results facilitating continuous improvement activity
• Strong computer and relationship skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to speak and present effectively to personnel at all levels of the organization
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Lean manufacturing experience in aerospace, defense, or automotive industry.
• Hoshin framework, TPM/OEE, 5S, Kaizen, visual factory management, work design and A3 thinking and improvement plans improvement atmosphere.

Howmet Aerospace, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. The Company’s primary businesses focus on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems and titanium structural parts necessary for mission-critical performance and efficiency in aerospace and defense applications, as well as forged wheels for commercial transportation. Howmet Aerospace is transforming the next phase of more fuel-efficient, quieter aerospace engines and sustainable ground transportation. For more information, visit