What are the responsibilities and job description for the Continuous Improvement Leader position at MW Components?
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Partner with General Managers and site leadership teams to evaluate operational performance and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
- Lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.
- Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping exercises, process improvement workshops, and problem-solving activities.
- Work alongside the Automation Engineer to identify opportunities where process improvements and automation solutions can improve productivity and reduce labor content.
- Support the development and execution of site-specific operational improvement roadmaps.
- Drive standardization of best practices, work methods, and operational processes across facilities.
- Analyze operational data and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
- Coach and mentor plant leadership teams on Lean principles, problem-solving methodologies, and continuous improvement tools.
- Implement and sustain Lean systems including, 5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, Kaizen, etc.
- Establish measurable improvement targets and track project results.
- Lead cross-functional teams to execute improvement projects and ensure sustainability of gains achieved.
- Promote a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
- Support integration and replication of successful improvements across multiple locations.
- Ensure all improvement initiatives align with safety, quality, and operational objectives.
- Prepare and present progress updates, project results, and performance metrics to senior leadership.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:
- Strong expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
- Excellent facilitation and workshop leadership skills.
- Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making capabilities.
- Proven ability to lead organizational change and influence without direct authority.
- Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to connect operational improvements to financial results.
- Effective project management and prioritization skills.
- Ability to coach leaders and frontline teams through process and cultural transformation.
- Experience developing and implementing sustainable operating systems.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Power BI, and data analysis tools.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field) or equivalent experience.
- 7 years of manufacturing, operations, Lean, or continuous improvement experience.
- Demonstrated success leading Lean transformation or operational excellence initiatives.
- Experience facilitating Kaizen events and process improvement projects.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, labor productivity, quality systems, and operational metrics.
- Experience working directly with plant leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Ability to travel extensively to support multiple manufacturing locations.
Desired
- Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt required; Black Belt preferred).
- Experience in multi-site manufacturing environments.
- Experience supporting automation
- Experience implementing operational management systems and KPI scorecards.
- Prior leadership or management experience.