Continuous Improvement Specialist

Overview

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Continuous Improvement Specialist? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!

Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement Specialist

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Meet the Recruiter: ( Amber Smallwood

Job Summary:

Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background? Then we're looking for you. Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same mission. Join the PECNA team today.

Essential Duties:

• Coach and develop line operations leaders from the operators to the general managers through leadership culture and behavior changes, using our PENA HPL, HPC training methods and the deployment of our newly created production system.

• Coach and develop the full-time hourly CI coaches, this will mean supporting them on other shifts from time to time and ensuring consistency across shifts and the multi levels of change leaders to grow their HPC, daily management system/production system knowledge, and coach for change management capabilities.

• Coach all key contributors daily during Gemba walks on developing a highly effective Daily Management process focused on management through visual control, creation of flow, reduction of defects adherence to standard work, and solid implementation of rigorous problem solving.

• Work with the entire value stream organization (salary and hourly) to transform to a culture of significant focus on value for the customer, and rigorous continuous improvement.

• Work with the value stream organization to develop value stream maps that establish future state targets on elimination of non-value-added waste in product, material, and information flow.

• Works with the areas leadership and support team to define and educate the workforce on a lean transformation plan of A3's and JDI's which will lead to achievement of future state targets.

• Works with the site training department/HR to develop and deliver programs to teach the workforce on lean manufacturing tools and concepts such as problem solving, A3management, leader as coach, Kaizen, Value Stream mapping, visual management, lean conversion and pull.

• Works with local team to ensure rigor around the pre-work, post work and conducting of the rapid improvement events.

• Ensure compliance within the area with standard processes and standard tools, helps the team develop and follow their personal leader standard work, and helps develop a culture of process discipline around operators following process standard work.

• Act as a change agent to bring about improvement in the processes through the formation and management of plant Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs).

• Identify and invite key participates who will work together to identify opportunities to eliminate waste and focus on improving processes.

• Facilitate the meetings so that the team has a clear understanding of the problem and the process to identify improvements.

• Provide necessary training specific to Lean Manufacturing tools and methodology.

• Follow up on RIE action plans to ensure that the improvements are being executed.

• Coach employees on use of lean tools.

• Become an expert on key lean tools, including mechanics and when to apply.

• Conduct regular GEMBA walks and coach for daily improvement and problem solving.

• Ensure A3/A4 thinking is utilized and understood by all levels of the organization.

• Serve as a proactive presence when groups stall or when there is an unwillingness to challenge the status quo through match-pace-lead approach.

• Support building and implementation of visual management systems and create strong hand-offs to area owners for ongoing success.

• Effectively communicate Lean progress to ensure understanding and implementation.

• Develop communication plan to inform organization of Lean progress made and upcoming Lean activities.

• Establish best practice sharing from shift to shift that have been successful in the implementation of HPC, Gemba walks, and Kaizens

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:

• To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a requirement for some roles at PENA and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

Qualifications

Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

Education:

• Basic/Required: High School Diploma or GED

• Preferred: Bachelor's Degree and relevant experience

Essential Qualifications:

• Must have 2+ years of continuous improvement manufacturing experience

• Must have strong technical background, including high volume manufacturing environment

• Solid background in Process Development & Process Improvement

• Ability to work effectively at all levels of the organization

• Excellent communicator: Interpersonal and presentation skills

• Able to influence change without direct authority.

• Must have been on PENA high performance culture training (if internal candidate)

• Dynamic and engaging facilitation/training skills.

• Ability to convey and communicate complex concepts simply and clearly.

• Experience in Did we win today and servant leadership style culture

• Strong interpersonal, presentation, and project management skills.

• Experience coaching and mentoring.

• Training and coaching others experience

• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word

• Alignment to Panasonic's seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)

Physical Demands:

Physical Activities: (Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to)

• Sit: 40%

• Walk: 30%

• Stand: 20%

• Lift: 10%

Required Lifting and Carrying: (Required frequency is: Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%, Continuous (67-100%)

• Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional

• Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional

• Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional

• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Not Required

Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:

Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:

• Health Benefits - Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.

• Voluntary Benefits - Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.

• Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) - 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.

• Paid Time-Off Benefits - Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.

• Educational Assistance - Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.

• Health Management and Wellbeing Programs -Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.

• Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition

• Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.

• On-site Food Options : Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events

• Free Shuttle : Rides to and from work!

Where You'll Be:

For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.

Who We Are:

Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.

Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.

As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.

Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.

We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.

In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.

We Take Opportunity Seriously:

At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.

We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!

Supplemental Information:

Pre-employment drug testing is required.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.

Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.

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