Kaizen Facilitator

Alliance Laundry System•Ripon, WI

24d•Onsite

About The Position

As a member of the NA Manufacturing team, the Kaizen Facilitator plans, leads, and facilitates Kaizen events and continuous improvement activities on the shop floor to drive measurable gains in Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost. The role coaches team members and front-line leaders in Lean tools and problem-solving methods, helping establish continuous improvement as part of everyday work. The position is based in Ripon, Wisconsin, and reports to the Director of Continuous Improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent manufacturing experience.
At least 4 years of hands-on experience facilitating Kaizen events, Lean projects, or continuous improvement activities in a manufacturing environment.
Hands-on experience implementing Lean tools and concepts, such as 5S, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, SMED, line balancing, and root cause problem solving using A3, 5-Why, or Fishbone.
Strong facilitation skills and ability to lead diverse teams through structured problem-solving in a fast-paced production environment.
Effective communication skills and ability to teach and coach team members at all organizational levels.
Ability to gather and interpret basic process data to identify improvement opportunities.
Attention to detail and strong follow-through on action items and sustaining improvements after events close.
Ability to build trust and engagement on the shop floor and approach challenges with curiosity rather than blame.
Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple Kaizen events or projects concurrently.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Energetic, hands-on approach and willingness to spend time on the plant floor.
Ability to stand for extended periods, walk throughout the facility, use manual dexterity, stoop, bend, and lift minimally (less than 40 pounds).

Nice To Haves

Lean/Six Sigma certification, such as Green Belt.
Experience training or coaching others in Lean methods.
Familiarity with visual management or CI tracking software.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize, and facilitate Kaizen events and Team Improvement projects, guiding cross-functional teams through Lean problem-solving from chartering through results.
Train and coach team members and front-line leaders in Lean tools and concepts, including 5S, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, Visual Management, SMED, and Kanban.
Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering leaders to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Support deployment of goals into actionable Kaizen and improvement events.
Gather and analyze process data, such as cycle times, defect rates, and downtime, to identify root causes and validate improvement results.
Develop and maintain standard work documentation, visual controls, and metric boards to sustain gains after events.
Track, measure, and report progress on Kaizen activities and improvement projects against established KPIs, escalating barriers as needed.
Promote a problem-solving, idea-driven culture on the shop floor by role-modeling behaviors and engaging team members at all levels.
Assist in planning and delivering Lean training workshops for team members, supervisors, and plant leadership.
Pilot and improve Continuous Improvement methodology in the assigned area by testing Lean tools and event formats and contributing to CI standard work, event templates, and training materials with the Continuous Improvement team.