Cost Improvement Specialist

Job Title: Cost Improvement Specialist

Company: AISIN World Corp. of America

Department: Strategic Cost & Profit Management, VA/VE SSA

Location: Northville, MI

Position Summary

This position will function to support cost improvement initiatives across internal teams and supplier partners. The role will be focused on identifying, developing, and executing cost-saving opportunities throughout the product lifecycle.

Position Responsibilities

The incumbent is expected to perform the following functions that the company has determined are essential to this position:

• Manage the VA (Value Analysis) / SSA (Smart Standard Activity) Activity, both internally and externally:
  • Gather data from the Customers/suppliers to disseminate targets.
  • Collect customer scorecards and report real-time status to Executives. Develop and help maintain supplier scorecards working with purchasing team.
  • Work with AISIN Japan to summarize and roll-up concepts applicable to North America (NA) and work with the NA Design, Sales and Purchasing group to submit.
  • Collaborate with NA Design and Manufacturing groups to collect ideas and track submissions by Sales to the customers.
  • Collaborate with Purchasing and Manufacturing groups to collect ideas and track submissions by suppliers.
  • Monitor payments from customers to ensure proper receipt and match the submissions.
  • Monitor payments to suppliers to ensure proper receipt and match the submissions.
  • Work with Purchasing to develop and manage the VA system for the AISIN supply base in NA.
  • Identify weaknesses within the current process and develop Kaizen items to improve.
• Other tasks and duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Ability to manage and oversee projects working cross functionally across various departments.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent collaboration, organizational, and teamwork skills.
• Review and interpret technical specifications and 2D drawings.

Beneficial Skills and Experience

• Bi-lingual in Japanese and English.

Education/Training/Certifications

• Bachelors degree preferred

Travel Requirements

• Approximately 10 - 20 %.
• Must be willing and available to travel to such locations and with such frequency as is necessary and desirable to meet business needs.

Work Environment Requirements

With reasonable accommodation:

• Must be able to operate a personal computer, telephone, and other office equipment.
• Must perform job duties onsite, when necessary, except those duties that are customarily or by their nature performed offsite (for example, offsite customer visits).
• Must be able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to work on multiple assignments at once, and complete assignments within deadline and budget (if applicable) with satisfactory quality.
• Must be able to operate as an effective team member.
• Must be committed to a high standard of safety and be willing and able to comply with all safety laws and all company safety policies.

Attendance/Work Hour Requirements

• Must maintain an acceptable attendance record.
• Must be willing and available to work weekends and holidays as necessary and desirable to meet business needs.