Continuous Improvement Manager

Turning Point Brands•Louisville, KY

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Manager focuses on optimizing organizational performance by creating and leading initiatives that improve business processes, workflows, and productivity. Such as key contribution to the planning and creation of the AOP Strategic Goals and Objectives related to Continuous improvement (Safety, Quality, Development, Cost). The responsibility of creating a roadmap to achieve AOP targeted CI improvements. This project includes scope, timing, training, and managing project execution to ensure improvement targets are met. Provide expert level guidance to employees such as coaching and training to the plant on related topics, tools, and company policies. Ownership of building a culture of continuous improvement by driving standard work practices across the production department, delivering adherence to the program while leveraging all available resources to aid building a world class distribution and push manufacturing operations. Actively identify barriers to CI success while developing strategies to overcome the objections to gain alignment with stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelors Degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
Demonstrated background in Continuous Improvement.
7-10 years experience in Manufacturing and/or Warehousing and Production environments, preferred with 5+ years of CI leadership experience.
Proven track record of innovation, ingenuity, creativity, attention to detail, ownership, integrity, accountability, and willingness to seek and take on challenges is required.
Possess knowledge of financial indicators and analysis as they pertain to capital planning, fixed asset management, and budget development.
Have led capital projects, process improvement initiatives and ongoing value engineering opportunities.
Possess strong communication and presentation skills at a level of the organization and the ability to break down highly technical discussion into understandable concepts for non-technical colleagues.
Direct leadership of functional teams.
Demonstrated capability to navigate organizations to achieve results.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the tobacco industry with expertise in smokeless tobacco products, cigars, cigar wraps, cigarette papers, and/or vapor devices is preferred.

Responsibilities

Collaborate closely with plant and department managers to drive deployment of improvement methodologies to achieve lasting improvements in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and people (SQDCP) metrics.
Define, train, and coach teams on appropriate Continuous Improvement (CI) concepts: process improvement, problem solving tools, value stream mapping, kaizen events, Practical Problem Solving, Visual Management, and other tools as required.
Ensure that the plant floor operations team is engaged and empowered to utilize CI Philosophy and Tools to improve the business.
When needed, lead/participate in operations Business Process activitieslead events with various business support entities and lead through influence to ensure adoption and implementation of CI concepts.
Lead major projects within the organization with limited oversight.
Coordinate in capital initiatives and projects for the site, including equipment and automation projects from design through execution to commissioning of the equipment.
Participate in the development and deployment of CI tools and problem-solving standards.
Problem solving leadership, training, and coaching.
Drive the development and implementation of Standard Work and Standard Operation Procedures (SOP).
Identification of waste and aggressive approach to reduce and eliminate it.
Develop and provide lean training to operations and business functions, ensuring alignment with TPS/TQS principles, and the broader Tennant Operating Model.
Improves operational efficiency by analyzing and planning workflow, layout, and Material Flow.
Responsible for storage and space requirements needs with ownership to identify, solve, and sustain storage related issues.
Identify and support changes/upgrades in the business environment that may affect WM/ERP/XPS applications and work with the IT department to plan changes.
Work with the Business Analyst department managers and leaders to create and maintain dashboards and reports and document the impact of process improvements on business results.