Continuous Improvement Manager

Work at Simmons•Southwest City, MO

11d

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Manager directs and guides positive organizational change, including developing and upskilling managers and team members. The role establishes measurements, benchmarks, and targets, and develops plans and actions to achieve or exceed goals for reducing overall production costs. Working with leadership, the manager sets strategies, masterplan activities, employee engagement activities, loss-elimination ideas, and results delivery. As a change agent on the plant leadership team, the manager focuses on how results are achieved and sustained, supports the organization’s cultural vision and business needs, and builds leaders’ capability to apply continuous-improvement tools, methodologies, capabilities, and standards. The position ensures continuous-improvement tools and methodologies are used to address site opportunities and sustain or improve results. It leads the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) process, including maintaining measurement standards, coaching improvement plans and strategies, providing training and coaching, and preparing monthly reports. The role also participates in team development and implementation of concepts, programs, and policies; coordinates work to support best practices; and helps the team maintain cohesiveness and resolve issues. The manager is expected to understand and support Simmons’ operating systems, including quality, security, office environment, company policies, and Lean, and to communicate concerns and improvement ideas. This is a salary-exempt position. Other duties may be assigned in support of business objectives.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, continuous improvement, or an engineering discipline.
At least 1 year of experience in food processing or manufacturing management.
Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Lean Six Sigma training and certifications.
Understanding of Lean principles, systems, and tools.
Bachelor’s degree in a related field or 4 years of prior management-level experience.
Ability to work in various temperatures and move about in a manufacturing environment and surrounding property.
Ability to travel 10%–30% between facilities, depending on assigned location.

Responsibilities

Work with leadership to set strategies, masterplan activities, employee engagement activities, loss-elimination ideas, and results delivery.
Lead the integration of actions that support the cultural vision and delivery of business needs.
Serve as a change agent on the plant leadership team, focusing on how results are delivered and sustained.
Build organizational leaders’ capabilities in continuous-improvement tools, methodologies, capabilities, and standards.
Ensure continuous-improvement tools and methodologies are used to address site result opportunities and sustain or improve results.
Lead the OEE process, including maintaining measurement standards, coaching improvement plans and strategies, providing training and coaching, and monthly reporting.
Participate in the ongoing development, communication, and implementation of team concepts, programs, and policies.
Coordinate work to support best practices among team members and attend appropriate team meetings.
Help foster team cohesiveness, identify areas lacking cohesiveness, and work with the team to resolve issues and achieve organizational synergy.
Maintain familiarity with Simmons’ operating systems and support them, including communicating concerns and improvement ideas.
Perform other duties as necessary in support of business objectives.