Lean Specialist II

Parker Hannifin•Kalamazoo, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

At Parker Aerospace, we develop technologies and innovative solutions that enable reliable, efficient and increasingly sustainable flight for the lifecycle of the aircraft, including aftermarket support. Our passionate people with deep engineering expertise, together with our breadth of differentiated technologies, ensure that we make the extraordinary happen and continue to shape the future of aviation in partnership with our customers. As a member of our team, you are instrumental in fulfilling our mission: 'Enabling Engineering Breakthroughs that Lead to a Better Tomorrow.' Pursuing a career at Parker presents unlimited opportunities for both professional and personal development. Working with some of the most brilliant minds in the industry, your contributions will be pivotal in developing innovative technologies and products, significantly contributing to Parker’s goal of addressing the world’s most pressing engineering challenges. At Parker, our team members belong, matter and make a difference. Position Summary The Lean Practitioner II is an experienced continuous improvement professional responsible for independently leading site-level and multi-value-stream improvement initiatives that support Parker Lean System deployment and Lean transformation. This role applies advanced Lean knowledge, structured problem solving, data analysis, and change leadership to reduce waste, improve flow, increase productivity, and enhance safety, quality, delivery, cost, and inventory performance. The Lean Practitioner II leads kaizen events, manages continuous improvement projects, coaches teams, mentors less-experienced Lean practitioners, and partners with site leadership to support strategy deployment and daily improvement systems. The role exercises independent judgment in evaluating business needs, selecting improvement methods, prioritizing project work, influencing stakeholders, and validating improvement results. This position requires regular onsite attendance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related field required.
Minimum of 2+ years of progressive experience in operations, manufacturing, continuous improvement, Lean, quality, supply chain, engineering, or a related environment.
Experience leading or supporting kaizen events, improvement projects, Lean deployment activities, or cross-functional process improvement initiatives required.
Demonstrated knowledge of PLS and Lean enterprise methods across multiple value streams or functional areas.
Proven ability to lead kaizen events and teach Lean tools to others.
Strong problem-solving capability with diversified scope, including A3, root cause analysis, PDCA, and practical implementation of countermeasures.
Experience with daily management, leader standard work, value stream mapping, standard work, SMED, TPM concepts, 5S/6S, kanban/pull systems, visual management, and error proofing.
Ability to manage CI project portfolios linked to strategy deployment and SQDCI performance.
Proficiency in establishing, analyzing, and tracking KPIs.
Effective communicator and influencer across shop-floor, supervisory, managerial, and leadership levels.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and basic data analysis tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience mentoring others, coaching teams, or providing functional project leadership preferred.
Familiarity with ERP, MES, business intelligence tools, or production reporting systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and support adherence to Parker Lean System methodologies, standards, and principles within assigned value streams, departments, or sites.
Drive development, documentation, and deployment of PLS fundamentals, including standard work, 5S/6S, visual management, tiered daily management, leader standard work, and daily accountability processes.
Partner with site leadership to support strategy deployment activities, including data analysis, prioritization input, goal alignment, project portfolio tracking, kaizen chartering, and preparation.
Standardize and scale best practices across value streams, departments, or assigned sites.
Lead sustainment checks, countermeasure follow-up, and escalation of barriers to ensure continuous improvement gains are maintained.
Lead kaizen events and structured improvement workshops from planning through execution, report-out, and sustainment.
Determine appropriate baseline data, analysis methods, Lean tools, and project approaches based on business needs and process conditions.
Apply advanced Lean tools and methods, including value stream mapping, standard work, SMED, 5S/6S, flow/pull, visual management, kanban, TPM concepts, error proofing, and daily management.
Lead value stream, site-level, or selected multisite continuous improvement projects of moderate to high complexity.
Manage project timelines, stakeholders, risks, action plans, resource needs, and benefits validation.
Ensure improvement projects are aligned with site strategy, business priorities, and SQDCI performance objectives.
Coach team members in the use of structured problem-solving tools, including 5-Why, 10-step problem solving, PDCA, A3, root cause analysis, and DMAIC concepts.
Analyze continuous improvement data, including cycle time, changeover time, WIP, first-pass yield, downtime, throughput, quality defects, productivity, and financial impact.
Evaluate data accuracy and determine appropriate conclusions, root causes, and countermeasures.
Establish and maintain continuous improvement dashboards, project trackers, and performance metrics.
Validate project benefits in partnership with Operations, Finance, and other stakeholders.
Ensure control plans, sustainment plans, standard work updates, and visual controls are deployed and followed.
Participate in, support, and coach High Performance Teams within assigned areas.
Build effective working relationships with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and other functional teams to implement process improvements.
Provide direct Lean guidance and leadership to project teams to ensure appropriate use of PLS tools and practices.
Influence frontline employees, supervisors, managers, and site leaders to support continuous improvement priorities.
Mentor less-experienced Lean practitioners and functional team members.
Interact with suppliers or customers on CI-related activities when assigned and under appropriate business guidance.
Provide clear and timely updates on project status, risks, results, barriers, and support needs.
Lead report-outs, project reviews, kaizen readouts, and performance improvement discussions.
Facilitate training and coaching on PLS fundamentals for operators, team leaders, supervisors, and functional team members.
Support change management by helping teams understand, adopt, and sustain improved processes.
Promote a culture of daily improvement, employee engagement, and disciplined execution.

Benefits

Comprehensive coverage for medical, prescription drugs, dental, vision, voluntary optional life, accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance and critical illness insurance with competitive premium cost.
401(k) Plan with company matching contributions at 100% of the first 5% of pay
Company provided defined-contribution retirement plan with annual contribution equal to 3% of pay
Career development and tuition reimbursement
Paid parental leave
Short and long-term disability programs
Adoption assistance
A Care.com membership
Financial planning assistance
Supplemental benefit programs including identity protection, legal protection, and pet wellness are available at competitive rates.
Paid Time Off
Up to 15 Company-Paid Holidays.
Business Resource Groups promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Engagement activities celebrated throughout the year.
Donation matching, disaster relief, charitable organization funding, and paid volunteer hours.
Employee discounts on various services (car purchases, computer purchases, life adventures, etc.).
Employee Referral program - Refer a family member or friend and receive a generous award for referrals that are hired (up to $4,000).
Dress for Your Day policy, offering flexible work attire options.
A free, on-site, 24-hour Fitness Center available to all active Team Members.
On-site cafeteria that provides a wide array of breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
Vending machines available during scheduled breaks and lunch periods.