Manufacturing Excellence Leader

IPEX Group•Lynchburg, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Harco Fittings LLC, part of the IPEX group of companies, is hiring a Manufacturing Excellence Leader for its Lynchburg, Virginia facility. The role reports to the Plant Manager and supports operational excellence initiatives across the plant, including divisional and plant KPIs, improvement projects, and the performance of staff, systems, equipment, machines, and site operations. The role provides leadership in implementing and sustaining corporate lean initiatives and 5S goals. The leader develops and maintains plant management systems, facilitates improvement and review processes, supports new product introductions, and helps resolve day-to-day operational issues. The position also advances employee development and a culture of continuous improvement while supporting health, safety, environmental, and quality objectives. Responsibilities include executing manufacturing excellence goals across North America to achieve performance, financial, and staff-development objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or another related technical field.
At least 3 years of experience leading operational transformation projects, with a focus on continuous improvement and demonstrated process-improvement success.
Computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Project Management Certificate.
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma Certification.
Knowledge of and experience with manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

Lead implementation of 5S to IPEX standards by designing systems, planning implementation, and working with departments to achieve the plan.
Develop KPIs and systems for communicating manufacturing performance throughout the plant.
Work with department managers to develop information sharing and reporting for shift handovers.
Develop and lead daily management reviews, and develop and facilitate weekly and monthly management reviews.
Develop and implement a Layered Process Audit system.
Facilitate focused improvement programs, improve plant performance, and lead cost-savings reporting.
Lead a Kaizen system for gathering and implementing employee improvement ideas.
Act as the plant’s lean champion and lead training in lean and continuous improvement techniques.
Ensure global branding standards are met inside the plant.
Lead the plant’s new product introduction process, coordinate with internal and external functions, and track actions to support smooth product launches.
Share and implement divisional best practices in collaboration with manufacturing centres of excellence.
Support daily plant operations through problem solving, root cause analysis, and solutions to operational issues.
Support division-wide projects and initiatives by liaising with key stakeholders.
Help improve the plant’s appearance and workplace environment for colleagues.
Ensure project delivery adheres to group standards for health and safety, quality, ISO 14001, corporate policy, customer excellence, and business values.
Execute manufacturing excellence goals across North America to achieve performance, financial, and staff-development objectives.
Facilitate and develop shop-floor excellence operations and remove barriers to employees meeting measurable objectives.
Deploy and participate in Gemba walks and coach employees on 5S, standard work, visual management, M.D.I., continuous improvement, flow, problem solving, and other lean methods.
Help foster a culture of change leadership by attending to individual mindsets.
Lead training and development of plant employees in lean tools.
Track and report program progress and communicate with plant leadership.
Support a Safety-First culture and deployment of Aliaxis divisional and global safety standards.
Support the divisional HS&E strategy, ensure site accountability, and report progress, events, and initiatives to plant management and divisional leadership.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives with a quality-assurance mindset.