Mission:

The Continuous Improvement Manager will create, develop, and implement efficient manufacturing systems, reducing costs while maintaining standards of operations. This position will drive and foster a culture of continuous improvement and ensures the work is being put in place in a collaborative and productive manner. The purpose of this job is to oversee various aspects of workflow, staffing, budget allocation, and scheduling of the assigned projects. The CIM will gather and analyze operations data for the organization, supporting management and leadership in making informed and objective business and policy decisions.  

Essential Functions:

• Alignment with Corporate Values: All World Class employees are expected to perform their work in a manner that exhibits understanding and adherence to the company mission and core values of World Class Industries. Employees in management roles must exhibit continual improvement along World Class’s leadership traits. Further, each employee must read and adhere to corporate policies and safety protocol
• Serves as the owner of WCI’s Continuous Improvement process and data visibility including metrics and the standardization of tools and their application.
• Collaborates with Product Realization and Location resources to design cost-effective manufacturing layouts and building ergonomics for new and existing product lines.
• Maintains knowledge of best practices in continuous improvement methods and trends and developments in technology and equipment; applies this knowledge the organizations competitive edge.
• Teaching, mentoring and developing of others
• Develops and maintains data management information, planning, and control systems.
• Implements methods and modifications to reduce production costs.
• Performs time studies and leads improvement events/initiatives.
• Increases the effectiveness of cross-functional Continuous Improvement.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education (preferred):

• Four-year technical degree (I.E., Data analyst or equivalent) and four years of Continuous Improvement Leadership experience
• Lean/Six Sigma/TPM or equivalent certification

Skills and Abilities Required:

• Advanced Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Takes ownership and responsibility
• Operational Accountability
• Project Management
• Fosters cross-functional teamwork
• Serves as an example to others
• Long term change agent
• Influences others

Other Qualifications:

• Skilled in assisting issues and making decisions and communicating/implementing the decisions quickly
• Knowledge of manufacturing means, methods, and engineering techniques as it relates to the products and services the Company provides
• Ability to understand and implement standard work
• Ability to manage multiple improvement teams, priorities and competing deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively with management staff, company project staff, equipment manufacturers, and improvement project owners on any issues/problems related to the project
• Skill in having the vision to see the improvement project through completion, through the eyes of the owner
• Skill in listening, problem solving and running effective meetings with the ability to be open-minded
• Ability to resolve major issues without laying blame
• Ability to develop win-win scenarios and bring final resolution to issues and problems
• Knowledge of product costs, labor costs, and associated time frames essential to developing cost effective project budgets
• Ability to use written and verbal communication effectively
• Ability to understand and value other’s perspective with regards to their concerns
• Ability to remain calm and professional during peak periods of activities
• Ability to assist in other work-related areas as necessary

Exert up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to a minimal amount frequently.

Constant (67%-100% of workday)

• Using Fingers/Grasping/Feeling: writing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers or palm and perceiving attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touch.
• Sitting: to assume a position in which the weight is largely supported by the buttocks, usually with the body vertical and the thighs horizontal.
• Repetitive Motion: substantial movements (motion) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

 Frequent (34-66% of workday)

• Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken work- those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: perceiving the nature of sounds at normal range; ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when auscultating and percussing.

Occasional (33% or less of workday)

• Reaching: extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction
• Lifting: raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.
• Bending: bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist and/or bending leg; bending legs at knee to come to rest or kneel.
• Pushing/Pulling: using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward/using upper extremities to exert force in order to drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Climbing: stairs, stools, ramps, ladders.
• Standing: maintaining an upright position.
• Walking: moving about on foot to accomplish tasks.

Intellectual/emotional requirements

• Adaptability to perform under stress when confronted with critical, unusual or situations in which working speed and sustained attention are make-or-break aspects of the job.
• Adaptability to performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Ability to maintain both a high standard of courtesy and cooperation in dealing with co-workers.
• Adaptability to accepting responsibility for the direction, control or planning of an activity.
• Adaptability to situations requiring the precise attainment of set limits, tolerances or standards.
• Adaptability to perform repetitive work or to perform continuously the same work, according to set procedures sequence or pace.

 Visual Acuity:

• Ability to read pertinent printed material and distinguish colors.
• Ability to prepare and read written documentation; use of computer.