Director of Operations Excellence -USA

thyssenkrupp Materials NA•Bolingbrook, IL

4d•$151,466 - $165,183•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Operations Excellence - USA for thyssenkrupp OnlineMetals, LLC, based in Bolingbrook, Illinois, will be responsible for improving current process efficiency, material flow, labor productivity, quality, safety, and space utilization by working with plant managers and operations employees. This role involves measuring and monitoring performance to identify weaknesses, developing solutions using various improvement and analysis methods, recommending expenditures, and managing multiple projects across facilities. The Director will also lead meetings to understand processes, encourage input, develop solutions, provide training, and manage change, while sharing best practices and developing team members. The position allows for 20% domestic travel and one day per week work from home.

Requirements

Master degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering field of study, or foreign equivalent degree +3 years of experience in an Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, or Engineering Leadership role OR Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering field of study, or foreign equivalent degree +5 years of experience in an Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, or Engineering Leadership role.
3 years of work experience with Lead Operational Excellence initiatives by applying Lean methodologies, including Kaizen facilitation, Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), and continuous flow deployment to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
3 years of work experience with design, implement, and sustain Standard Work and Leader Standard Work, supported by 5S, visual management systems, and tiered accountability processes to ensure consistent execution.
3 years of work experience with develop and optimize pull systems using Kanban, takt time analysis, and WIP controls to improve flow, balance workloads, and meet customer demand.
3 years of work experience with drive structured problem-solving through A3 thinking, PDCA cycles, and root cause analysis methods (5 Whys, Ishikawa) to eliminate recurring issues.
3 years of work experience with utilize data-driven decision making, including process capability analysis, bottleneck analysis, SMED, and throughput optimization to enhance operational performance.
3 years of work experience with embed quality at the source by implementing poka-yoke and error-proofing techniques within production and quality management systems.

Responsibilities

Work with plant managers and operations employees to improve current process efficiency, material flow, labor productivity, quality, safety, and space utilization.
Measure and monitor performance to identify performance, customer service, and competitive weaknesses.
Develop solutions using improvement and analysis methods, including strategic planning, operations research, Value Stream Mapping, Lean Thinking, Six Sigma, facility and work cell design, product slotting, IT systems integration, benchmarking, and financial analysis.
Recommend expenditures, specify equipment, source vendors, and support contracting for capital projects.
Document processes and practices and ensure integration systems and equipment.
Manage multiple projects and improvement initiatives across multiple facilities, including tracking status and results.
Lead meetings with plant personnel to understand current processes and challenges, to encourage input, jointly develop solution options, provide training, and manage change.
Share best practice documentation, tools and key learning, and develop team members.
Lead Operational Excellence initiatives by applying Lean methodologies, including Kaizen facilitation, Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), and continuous flow deployment to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Design, implement, and sustain Standard Work and Leader Standard Work, supported by 5S, visual management systems, and tiered accountability processes to ensure consistent execution.
Develop and optimize pull systems using Kanban, takt time analysis, and WIP controls to improve flow, balance workloads, and meet customer demand.
Drive structured problem-solving through A3 thinking, PDCA cycles, and root cause analysis methods (5 Whys, Ishikawa) to eliminate recurring issues.
Utilize data-driven decision making, including process capability analysis, bottleneck analysis, SMED, and throughput optimization to enhance operational performance.
Embed quality at the source by implementing poka-yoke and error-proofing techniques within production and quality management systems.