What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Continuous Improvement position at Milacron?
Milacron is looking for a Director, Continuous Improvement to join our team in Batavia, OH. In this position, you will be responsible for leading and sustaining continuous improvement initiatives across the organization using Lean methodologies. This role drives process optimization, waste reduction, and operational excellence by engaging teams, coaching leaders, and ensuring alignment with business goals. The Lean Manager partners with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, implement solutions, and build a culture of continuous improvement.
Work You'll Do
Milacron is a global leader in the manufacture, distribution and service of highly engineered and customized systems within the $27 billion plastic technology and processing industry. We are the only global company with a full-line product portfolio that includes hot runner systems, injection molding, extrusion equipment. We maintain strong market positions across these products, as well as leading positions in process control systems, mold bases and components, maintenance, repair and operating (“MRO”) supplies for plastic processing equipment. Our strategy is to deliver highly customized equipment, components and service to our customers throughout the lifecycle of their plastic processing technology systems.
Eeo
The policy of Milacron is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status. We are committed to being an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and offer opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us at recruitingaccommodations@milacron.com. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.
Work You'll Do
- Lead the implementation of Lean principles, tools, and techniques across departments to improve quality, efficiency, and productivity.
- Lead a team that supports value stream mapping, Kaizen events, root cause analyses, and other Lean workshops.
- Collaborate with leadership to define and prioritize continuous improvement initiatives aligned with strategic goals.
- Develop metrics and dashboards to track improvement progress and sustainability.
- Coach and mentor employees at all levels in Lean thinking and problem-solving methods.
- Standardize best practices and support the deployment of Lean systems company-wide.
- Evaluate processes using data-driven analysis to identify waste (defects, overproduction, waiting, etc.).
- Drive cross-functional projects focused on cost reduction, process simplification, and customer satisfaction.
- Partner with training to develop Lean capability programs.
- Ensure continuous improvement activities comply with safety, quality, and compliance standards.
- Ensure sustainability through regular layered audits and feedback loops.
- Bachelor’s degree (B.S./B.A.) or equivalent from a college or university in Engineering, Business, Operations Management or comparable field
- 7 years of related Lean experience as a practitioner and/or utilization of tools and principles to deliver results
- Expert knowledge of Lean Manufacturing Principles, Lean Management System, 5S, CI, SMED, Root Cause Analysis, 5 Why, Standard Work, 3P, Poke Yoke, etc. required
- Proven track record of leading successful Lean transformations or large-scale process improvement initiatives
Milacron is a global leader in the manufacture, distribution and service of highly engineered and customized systems within the $27 billion plastic technology and processing industry. We are the only global company with a full-line product portfolio that includes hot runner systems, injection molding, extrusion equipment. We maintain strong market positions across these products, as well as leading positions in process control systems, mold bases and components, maintenance, repair and operating (“MRO”) supplies for plastic processing equipment. Our strategy is to deliver highly customized equipment, components and service to our customers throughout the lifecycle of their plastic processing technology systems.
Eeo
The policy of Milacron is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or veteran status. We are committed to being an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and offer opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us at recruitingaccommodations@milacron.com. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.