What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lean & Quality Manager position at Brown Machine Group?
BMG is a thermoforming packaging/automation solutions leader focused on a customer-centric approach to designing and building capital equipment machinery, tooling systems, and packaging automation solutions. We are a global organization representing the world’s most extensive thermoforming portfolio in the following industries: automotive, medical, electronics, horticulture, food, and process automation.
Position Scope:
We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Lean & Quality Manager at our manufacturing facility in Beaverton, Michigan. As a key member of the operations leadership team, this role will partner with manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and plant leadership to improve productivity, quality systems, safety, delivery performance, and cost competitiveness.
The ideal candidate is a proven change leader with a track record of implementing Lean methodologies within a world-class operating system such as the Danaher Business System (DBS), Toyota Production System (TPS), Fortive Business System, Rexnord Business System, Parker Lean System, or a similar continuous improvement environment.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
- Lead the deployment and sustainment of Lean Manufacturing principles across all plant operations to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.
- Identify, prioritize, and execute improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality, safety, lead time reduction, cost performance, and waste elimination.
- Facilitate Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping activities, and problem-solving workshops that deliver measurable business results.
- Implement and sustain Lean tools and methodologies, including Daily Management Systems, Visual Management, Standard Work, 6S, Kanban, SMED, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), root cause analysis, and structured problem solving.
- Develop operational metrics, dashboards, and performance review processes to monitor progress, validate results, and sustain continuous improvement gains.
- Coach, mentor, and train leaders and frontline employees in Lean principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and problem-solving techniques.
- Lead the Quality organization and oversee all quality assurance, quality control, inspection, testing, and calibration activities.
- Maintain and continuously improve the site's Quality Management System (QMS) while ensuring compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry requirements.
- Manage internal and external audits and lead corrective and preventive action activities to ensure successful audit outcomes and continuous compliance.
- Drive improvements in key quality performance indicators, including customer PPM, scrap reduction, cost of poor quality, first-pass yield, and supplier quality performance.
- Lead customer complaint investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation to improve customer satisfaction and product quality.
- Partner with suppliers and cross-functional teams to improve incoming quality, reduce defects, and strengthen overall supply chain performance.
- Develop, mentor, and strengthen quality and continuous improvement team members while building organizational capability across the facility.
- Collaborate with plant leadership, engineering, and manufacturing teams to align improvement priorities with business objectives and growth initiatives.
- Lead change management efforts that foster a culture of accountability, employee engagement, Lean thinking, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Quality, or a related discipline.
- Five or more years of leadership experience in Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Quality Management, or Operations within a manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated success leading Lean transformations and delivering measurable operational improvements.
- Strong understanding of structured problem-solving methodologies and root cause analysis.
- Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
- Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams.
- A minimum requirement for this position is the ability to work in the United States on a permanent basis. No visa sponsorship/support is available for this position.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with the Danaher Business System (DBS), Toyota Production System (TPS), Fortive Business System, Rexnord Business System, or a comparable Lean operating system.
- Experience facilitating Kaizen events and Value Stream Mapping workshops.
- Experience managing quality systems, quality processes, and quality personnel.
- Experience supporting ISO-certified manufacturing operations.
- Manufacturing experience within industrial products, engineered products, plastics, metal fabrication, automation, packaging, or related industries.
- Lean certification or equivalent continuous improvement training.
- Experience working in Configured-to-Order or Engineered-to-Order manufacturing environment
ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
- Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities.
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BMG is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants for employment will receive consideration for employment without regard for race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, please call 989-435-7741 and ask for Human Resources.