Continuous Improvement Leader - North America

Hitachi Energy is seeking a Continuous Improvement Leader - North America. The Integrated Transformer Management (ITM) System is the global Transformers business unit Lean management system defining how we operate as an organization and how we run the business. This role is responsible for leading and driving sustainable and transformational changes. Primary focus is on leading the ITM deployment across the end-to-end product line, focused on process improvement, ITM System maturity, demonstrated improvement in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and best practice implementation and standardization with multiple factories. Successful candidate will be a business partner to the I&C Product Line Leader, and the associated functional leaders and factory managers.

Your responsibilities

• Partners with the product line cross-functional leadership team in developing and operationalizing the Strategy Deployment process and Operations Center approach. Facilitates development of breakthrough objectives, action plans, KPI's (Bowlers) and leads in development of Kaizen plan to support the overall needs of the product line organization. Lead in operationalizing Strategy Deployment, ensuring effective Leader Standard Work (LSW) and a connected Lean daily management system.
• Change agent and champion of a continuous improvement culture focused on waste elimination across the product line organizations using ITM System lean methods, processes and tools, such as 5S, Daily Management, LSW, Value Stream or Process Mapping, Kaizen, etc. Lead all activities in the product line to implement the ITM System and drive improved maturity scores to advance the factories through the ITM System phases of deployment. Closely monitors ITM System Maturity Development results and facilitates implementation of actions through the maturity phases; drive to the ideal state in which the ITM System is how we operate as an organization.
• Drive optimization of KPIs throughout the product line Factories and functional organizations. Lead and facilitate process improvement for the organization and partner with extended cross-functional teams, at all levels of the organization, on overall use of ITM System tools to drive productivity. Develop Financial acumen across the team to ensure priority actions are focused on driving the right improvements in the business, impacting Cost-Out and the bottom-line financial targets.
• Create, manage and facilitate the development of Cost-out and productivity projects across the business to achieve targets for the product line. Facilitate and train team members in utilization of RELEX reporting of Improvement projects. Ensure effective sustainment of results and support problem solving (RPS and Root Cause Countermeasure) as needed to close gaps to targets, as well as driving Transactional Process Improvements.
• Build continuous improvement capability through training and implementation of ITM System tools and methods. Be the expert on the ITM System, with focus on training and coaching others to build people and organization capabilities. Build a Coaching culture across the organization with focus on Employee Engagement and Accountability. Combine technical knowledge with people and organizational skills to deliver organizational maturity and KPI improvements.
• Conduct training and perform routine coaching to align the product line ITM Leaders and factory managers in a standardized ITM deployment, driving best practice implementation and face-to-face learning across product line factories. Develop an effective management operating system and build a team of product line ITM system professionals working together to drive improved ITM maturity.
• Live Hitachi Energy's core value of safety and integrity, which means taking responsibility for your own actions while caring for your colleagues and the business.

Your background and skills

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or business.
• 15 years in Lean operating/management systems, continuous improvement, manufacturing, engineering, or transactional process improvement.
• Experience implementing major Lean systems (e.g., Toyota, Danaher, Honeywell, etc.).
• Certifications in Lean/Six Sigma (Lean Master, Lean Expert, Black Belt, etc.) are a plus.
• Proven track record of delivering breakthrough results.
• Strong communication, teamwork, leadership and influencing skills.
• Ability to effectively lead remote teams, as well as travel min. 50% to our NAM product line factories and for Kaizens, strategic workshops, etc.
• Ability to influence leadership teams to make transformational change across the product line.
• Must be authorized to work in the US.

More about us

We are on a Mission to deliver our Purpose - Inspire the next era of sustainable energy

We are making unparalleled investments in our global footprint and people, and continuously pioneering technologies to enable the world's energy system to be more sustainable, secure, resilient, and affordable.