MANAGER OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Waupaca Foundry, Inc. is North America’s leading supplier of iron castings and has a history of innovation with a legacy of product quality. Waupaca Foundry employs approximately 4,400 people company-wide.
Waupaca Foundry is committed to relentless improvement, forward-thinking sustainability initiatives, and providing a reliable experience to the millions who use our castings every day. Our goal is to employ individuals who take pride in their work within a culture of continual innovation.
Waupaca Foundry is proud to be an employer of choice for those driven and skilled individuals seeking rewarding careers by producing top quality castings.

You will be right at home at Waupaca Foundry.

Cast Your Own Future.
More information is available on our website www.waupacafoundry.com

Manager of Continuous Improvement

Job Summary                                                                                                                        

Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for optimizing organization performance through leadership, management oversight, technical support and training across the organization utilizing methodologies like Lean, 6S, VSP, Kaizen, etc to drive short- and long-term process improvements across all facilities.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and mentor Waupaca staff and associates to develop standard lean improvement practices across business units.
• Proactively identify process improvement opportunities and ensure they are addressed as part of Waupaca management agenda.
• Support operations at all business units through facilitation and implementation of Continual Improvement projects, sustaining, improving and streamlining overall processes within the organization.
• Coordinate events including Kaizen, Kaizen Blitz, Red X, VSP, etc - Receive projects from the plants and assist in team selection as well as setting travel / lodging for team members as necessary. Take lead on training for these events and facilitate those events during that week.  Publish presentations in Lotus Notes database. 
• Facilitate employee training in the proper application of Continuous Improvement concepts including Kaizen, Root Causes Analysis/Problem Solving, SPC, and MSA.
• Develop training materials on relevant subject matter and train key change agents on new methodologies. Acts as a subject matter expert for improvement methodologies.
• Determine Production System score card scoring for 6S and Kaizen events and number of Kaizen Blitz's per requirements of score card.
• Facilitate monthly companywide Millroom improvement meetings analyzing and reporting collected production/trial data from all plants to ensure activities meet and/or exceed performance to budget.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all of the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA.

• Associates or higher Degree in Business Management, Process Management, Operations, or related field.
• 2 years of experience facilitating, coaching and implementing TPM, Lean, Kaizen events and driving lean transformation with proven results and implementations
• Proven proficiency in Lean problem solving, root cause, and waste reducing tools, processes, and concepts.
• ASQ CQE certification preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing certification preferred.

•  Weeklong travel periods throughout the year and other travel as required.

   

  Supervisory Responsibilities
• Ability to work as part of a team with strong leadership, analytical, mentoring, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, strong work ethic, attention to detail and organizational/ multi-tasking skills. 
• Ability to manage several projects / initiatives at one time.
• Ability to influence others without direct line of authority. Maintain a positive working relationship with all levels of the organization.

   

  Qualifications
• Ability to create training materials.
• Teach and facilitate project teams in manufacturing and administrative processes.
• Successful track record as a change agent, adept in working lean, continuous improvement initiatives across multiple departments and organizational cultures.
• Ability to teach and facilitate Root Cause Analysis Problem Solving

 

Analytical, Language & Communication Skills

• Ability to determine and apply the correct Lean Manufacturing analytical tools.
• Ability to speak in front of large and small groups. 
• Ability to put together presentations and tracking information for management review. 
• Ability to work with peers, suppliers and customers on projects and requests.

   

  Planning and Organizational Skills

  • Ability to plan and organize Lean Manufacturing/CI events, including travel arrangements, meals, work orders, and per diems.
  • Arrange for training materials and event support.

     

    Math-Reading-Reasoning Skills & Ability
  • Strong math skills are needed for data analysis.
  • High degree of reading and comprehension skills.
  • Ability to logically work through project details and project selection.

   

  Equipment Used

  • Video equipment and editing software in conjunction with other computer programs when applicable.

   

  Work Environment

  • Ability to work on the shop floor-all departments and administrative areas.

   

  Additional Information

  • Ability to use Lotus Notes, AS400, SAP, Excel, PowerPoint, Minitab.
  • Must be physically able to work on projects in all areas of manufacturing. This includes the ability to work on various shifts based on project demands and/or long shifts.

Waupaca Foundry is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.