Continuous Improvement Lead (Somerset)

Our employer has a large manufacturing facility.

Position Overview:

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Lead supports enterprise-wide improvements across Operations, Operational Support, and Functional Support departments. The CI Lead will leverage key performance indicators to identify opportunities, lead improvement initiatives, and promote a problem-solving culture. Responsibilities include facilitating Kaizen events, value streams mapping, problem solving support, and developing the organization in continuous improvement methodologies.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Kaizen Facilitation

• Plan, facilitate, and lead Kaizen workshop events from chartering through implementation of countermeasures.
• Monitor and manage KPIs related to yield, throughput, scrap, cost, quality, and on-time delivery.
• Work closely with cross functional teams to identify and advance improvement opportunities

2 . Lead-Time & Productivity Improvement Projects

• Identify, prioritize, and execute initiatives aimed at enhancing process optimization
• Map process current state to improve complexity and reduce Lead-Time delays
• Collaborate with departments to identify problem solving opportunities and inefficiencies
• Apply lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma techniques, and root cause analysis to ensure problems are correctly defined, solved, and improvements sustained.

3. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the liaison among all departments
• Facilitate product and process improvements with consideration of customers’ expectation

4. Operating System

• Drive operational excellence in alignment with the operating system.
• Provide development and coaching on operating system, lean tools, and problem-solving.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience
• Proven experience in high-volume production environments.
• Strong background in performance KPI improvements
• Proficiency in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred:

• Experience in Lean, Six Sigma Green Belt, or higher.
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and advanced manufacturing analytics.
• Experience facilitating Kaizens

Key Competencies:

• Strong ownership mindset and accountability.
• Strategic and tactical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence without direct authority.
• Effective communicator at all levels of the organization.
• Data-driven decision making.
• Ability to develop others