Continuous Improvement Leader - Thermatech

Howmet Aerospace•Whitehall, MI

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Leader is an expert in continuous improvement processes who teaches and facilitates the implementation of standard operational excellence methods and tools to deliver results in throughput, productivity, cost, inventory, and delivery performance. The position is located in Plant 4 and supports the Thermatech Coatings and Titanium Ingot businesses. The role acts as an internal improvement partner, providing strategic and tactical expertise and guidance while contributing to implementation and solutions. It supports sustainability by aligning work with plant and enterprise strategy and creating follow-up plans, support, and accountability to encourage adoption and independent implementation. The position conducts planned events and responds to operational needs, manages projects and events efficiently, and uses business cases, analysis, data, and performance measures to guide interventions. It also influences stakeholders without direct authority, develops ideas from observation and operator feedback, and prioritizes improvement opportunities based on strategic direction and potential business returns.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Minimum 3 years of experience leading continuous improvement projects in a manufacturing environment.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility verification is required at hire.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Logistics, or a related discipline.
Minimum of three years’ experience in a Continuous Improvement role.
Demonstrated ability to lead managers and employees in major change initiatives with diverse groups.
Solid understanding of ABS and/or the Toyota Production System, with ability to teach, coach, and mentor others.
Proven results facilitating continuous improvement activity.
Strong computer and relationship skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Ability to speak and present effectively to personnel at all levels of the organization.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
Lean manufacturing experience in the aerospace, defense, or automotive industry.
Experience with the Hoshin framework, TPM/OEE, 5S, Kaizen, visual factory management, work design, A3 thinking, improvement plans, and creating an improvement atmosphere.

Responsibilities

Teach and facilitate implementation of standard operational excellence methods and tools to improve throughput, productivity, cost, inventory, and delivery performance.
Provide expertise and guidance while contributing substantively to improvement implementation and solutions, including strategic and tactical assistance.
Listen to stakeholders and help ensure the right interventions occur, acting as an internal partner.
Understand plant- and enterprise-level strategy and prioritize improvement work accordingly.
Create follow-up plans, support, and accountability to promote adoption and independent implementation.
Conduct planned events and respond to operational needs to create efficiencies that support business strategies.
Enable next steps for the business and create local feedback and performance cycles.
Manage projects and events efficiently and maximize resource allocation under time pressure.
Create compelling business cases for events and interventions, communicate the rationale, and measure success based on business performance.
Listen and understand before determining root causes with input from others; translate observations and contributions into action.
Influence others without direct authority using business cases and data-driven justification, while responsibly using other leaders’ resources and people.
Challenge the status quo, network internally, and offer ideas and potential solutions informed by observation and direct feedback from operators and supervisors.
Prioritize in alignment with hoshin and collaboration with other leaders; identify high-return opportunities and contribute at the decision-making level.
Evaluate events and interventions using business performance metrics as well as CI and ABS metrics.
Consider the future needs of the business when deciding what to do today.