Director of Manufacturing Engineering and Continuous Improvement

Humanetics•Farmington Hills, MI

About The Position

The Director of Manufacturing Engineering and Continuous Improvement is responsible of managing the manufacturing engineering team and for the development, planning, scheduling, and budgeting of Cl projects to enhance existing processes for cost saving and increased efficiencies to meet newly established operational cost-saving targets. Essential Functions & Responsibilities: Work with key business stakeholders and the global continuous improvement team to build processes and a manufacturing environment focused on creating value by identifying and delivering service improvement activity across all inputs/outputs into Safety's operational business through employing process improvement methodologies and the application of innovative thinking. Team & Team Performance Provide leadership to managers, experienced professional staff, and associates to develop a strong and effective global continuous improvement team. Provide positive and objective coaching/mentorship of team members. Establish SMART performance and development goals for each direct report based on performance evaluations. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of manufacturing engineering and continuous improvement team and manage the team accordingly. Drive a clear focus on accountability, teamwork, and operational excellence. Ensure efficient communication across functional teams for any trends, drivers, and takeaways in a clear and concise manner. Reporting Develop a site improvement plan for each Safety Division facility by evaluating the efficiency of existing. business processes and implementing manufacturing and continuous improvement. process solutions designed to meet business units' operational cost-saving targets. Provide support to the management team in the application of Cl methodologies and tools, ensuring active participation and training of the shopfloor personnel. Identify trends and process variations as part of establishing a continuous improvement monitoring system.Review and define a clear timeline and execution plan for observations and define a cost-saving plan for the short term---three, six, and 12 months--- and long-term 1-3 years. Implements and streamlines CSI system and reporting to support more efficient queries related to production. Ensure the business impact and project objectives/dependencies are identified, reported on quarterly, and priorities are always managed Elicit requirements and drive process change using staff interviews, document analysis, requirements workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, business analysis, and workflow analysis. Actively monitor project risks to foresee/identify potential problems and proactively identify solutions to address in advance. Culture Promote a culture of continuous improvement through rigorous root cause analysis, improvement initiatives, and the application of Lean tools and techniques. Leading by example and supporting the team to perform all job functions in a safe and healthful manner, abiding by all health, safety, and environmental rules. Creates a positive work environment that promotes positive energy, creativity, and teamwork among associates by demonstrating open communication and sharing functional and technical knowledge. Establish clear team norms and expectations. Business Performance/Process Lead and facilitate LEAN/process improvement-based workshops to drive ideas and solutions. Support the delivery of better value and greater efficiency through the identification and elimination of unnecessary complexity within the sales to operations, design engineering to operations, and operations to customer business processes and the identification of better ways of working. Mentor members of production department management and the hourly workforce as required on principles of TQM and DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) to ensure the success of planned continuous improvement projects in key departments. Assist in the development and implementation of a ---best-in-class continuous improvement strategy. Take ownership of change initiatives from evolution/efficiency identification through to project delivery via internal governance and controls. Work with other team members and business services departments to devise new support material based on the revised processes, including training, reporting, and systems enhancements. Complete post-implementation reviews to ensure successful delivery has been achieved and to ensure that improvements can be made for future projects. Identify significant business risks and escalate them to the appropriate leadership teams. Proactively identifies opportunities for sales process improvement when interfacing with operations. Works closely with sales management to review the sales process for accuracy and for total value stream improvement. ACCOUNTABILITIES AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES Target, Track and Report out on a Cl Plan for Safety Division designed to deliver an annual reduction in operating expenses (to be defined on an yearly basis) Be an active change agent within his site by cultivating a Cl mindset and lean manufacturing concept. Transform an ineffective suggestion program into an effective employee-empowered quick and easy kaizen idea implementation system. KPl's Cost per Unit Contribution Margin per Product OEE

Requirements

Excellent time management and problem-solving skills are required to drive Cl objectives.
Excellent understanding of continuous improvement concepts including Six Sigma, Lean, value stream mapping
Experience in hands-on implementation of continuous improvement programs and Lean solutions
Implement focused improvement teams, machine operator training, and OEE (Overall Equipment Efficiency) requirements for tracking equipment downtime, efficiency, and quality issues.
Strong analytical, project, and product management skills, including a thorough understanding of how to interpret business needs and translate them into operational requirements
Must be able to lead an organization successfully by coordinating policies, people, and resources.
Bachelor’s in mechanical, electrical or industrial engineering (or related field), with a minimum of 10 years of proven continuous improvement analytical experience from a similar role, including project management and business analysis required.
5–10 years of manufacturing experience in automotive or similar industries required.
Required Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Six Sigma Black belt certification preferred.
Ability to set up, facilitate and lead service improvement with a range of business stakeholders (incl. Experience of process/value stream mapping).
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, including Project, Visio, Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Experience in designing or implementing a framework of continuous improvement in a global organization.
Experience in designing remediation plans to address productivity and efficiency issues, and track record of following through to ensure closure.
Experience of the whole project life cycle, able to operate in the initial conceptual design stage, in the depths of system testing, and at each stage in between.

Nice To Haves

Certified Business Process Leader (CBPL) or MS in Industrial Engineering or Business Administrator preferred.

Responsibilities

Work with key business stakeholders and the global continuous improvement team to build processes and a manufacturing environment focused on creating value by identifying and delivering service improvement activity across all inputs/outputs into Safety's operational business through employing process improvement methodologies and the application of innovative thinking.
Provide leadership to managers, experienced professional staff, and associates to develop a strong and effective global continuous improvement team.
Provide positive and objective coaching/mentorship of team members.
Establish SMART performance and development goals for each direct report based on performance evaluations.
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of manufacturing engineering and continuous improvement team and manage the team accordingly.
Drive a clear focus on accountability, teamwork, and operational excellence.
Ensure efficient communication across functional teams for any trends, drivers, and takeaways in a clear and concise manner.
Develop a site improvement plan for each Safety Division facility by evaluating the efficiency of existing business processes and implementing manufacturing and continuous improvement process solutions designed to meet business units' operational cost-saving targets.
Provide support to the management team in the application of Cl methodologies and tools, ensuring active participation and training of the shopfloor personnel.
Identify trends and process variations as part of establishing a continuous improvement monitoring system.
Review and define a clear timeline and execution plan for observations and define a cost-saving plan for the short term---three, six, and 12 months--- and long-term 1-3 years.
Implements and streamlines CSI system and reporting to support more efficient queries related to production.
Ensure the business impact and project objectives/dependencies are identified, reported on quarterly, and priorities are always managed
Elicit requirements and drive process change using staff interviews, document analysis, requirements workshops, surveys, site visits, business process descriptions, business analysis, and workflow analysis.
Actively monitor project risks to foresee/identify potential problems and proactively identify solutions to address in advance.
Promote a culture of continuous improvement through rigorous root cause analysis, improvement initiatives, and the application of Lean tools and techniques.
Leading by example and supporting the team to perform all job functions in a safe and healthful manner, abiding by all health, safety, and environmental rules.
Creates a positive work environment that promotes positive energy, creativity, and teamwork among associates by demonstrating open communication and sharing functional and technical knowledge.
Establish clear team norms and expectations.
Lead and facilitate LEAN/process improvement-based workshops to drive ideas and solutions.
Support the delivery of better value and greater efficiency through the identification and elimination of unnecessary complexity within the sales to operations, design engineering to operations, and operations to customer business processes and the identification of better ways of working.
Mentor members of production department management and the hourly workforce as required on principles of TQM and DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) to ensure the success of planned continuous improvement projects in key departments.
Assist in the development and implementation of a ---best-in-class continuous improvement strategy.
Take ownership of change initiatives from evolution/efficiency identification through to project delivery via internal governance and controls.
Work with other team members and business services departments to devise new support material based on the revised processes, including training, reporting, and systems enhancements.
Complete post-implementation reviews to ensure successful delivery has been achieved and to ensure that improvements can be made for future projects.
Identify significant business risks and escalate them to the appropriate leadership teams.
Proactively identifies opportunities for sales process improvement when interfacing with operations.
Works closely with sales management to review the sales process for accuracy and for total value stream improvement.
Target, Track and Report out on a Cl Plan for Safety Division designed to deliver an annual reduction in operating expenses (to be defined on an yearly basis)
Be an active change agent within his site by cultivating a Cl mindset and lean manufacturing concept.
Transform an ineffective suggestion program into an effective employee-empowered quick and easy kaizen idea implementation system.