Regional Operational Excellence Manager

Adler Pelzer USA Careers•Troy, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Regional Operational Excellence Manager will lead regional Operational Excellence initiatives across North America manufacturing facilities. This role is responsible for driving improvements in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, labor efficiency, scrap reduction, and downtime. The manager will develop and execute continuous improvement strategies, including Lean Manufacturing, HPPS deployment, kaizen events, daily management systems, and standardized best practices. Key activities include conducting operational assessments, analyzing KPIs, identifying performance gaps, and implementing sustainable corrective actions and process improvements. The role requires cross-functional partnership with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Maintenance teams to support plant performance, launches, audits, automation, and capital improvement initiatives. Driving cost savings, validating improvements with Finance, and tracking project progress across multiple sites are crucial. The manager will also coach and train plant leadership teams on Lean tools, problem-solving, standard work, and continuous improvement methodologies. Support for IATF 16949, ISO 14001, safety, environmental, and customer-specific requirements, while promoting a culture of continuous improvement and teamwork, is expected. Regular travel throughout North America is required to support manufacturing operations, share best practices, and ensure consistent execution of operational standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent manufacturing experience considered.
7+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, engineering, operational excellence, or continuous improvement, including leadership of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, HPPS, kaizen, and productivity improvement initiatives.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, plant performance, cost reduction strategies, and continuous improvement methodologies in automotive or high-volume manufacturing environments.
Experience with Lean and Six Sigma tools including DMAIC, 5S, TPM, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, Visual Management, and root cause analysis.
Proven project management and cross-functional leadership experience with the ability to drive initiatives across multiple manufacturing locations.
Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret operational KPIs and implement measurable performance improvements.
Excellent communication, coaching, presentation, and organizational skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office, advanced Excel, and data analysis tools.
Ability to work effectively with plant leadership, production teams, technical teams, and executive leadership in a multi-site manufacturing environment.
Hands-on, self-directed leader with strong attention to detail and willingness to travel regularly throughout North America.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience as a Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Value Stream Manager, or senior manufacturing leader.
Multi-site manufacturing and automotive industry experience.
Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, Lean certification, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
Experience supporting IATF 16949, ISO 14001, ERP systems, production reporting systems, or business intelligence tools.
Experience with automotive acoustic, soft trim, carpet, foam, fibrous products, plastics, or related manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

Lead regional Operational Excellence initiatives across North America manufacturing facilities, driving improvements in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, labor efficiency, scrap reduction, and downtime.
Develop and execute continuous improvement strategies, including Lean Manufacturing, HPPS deployment, kaizen events, daily management systems, and standardized best practices.
Conduct operational assessments, analyze KPIs, identify performance gaps, and implement sustainable corrective actions and process improvements.
Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Maintenance teams to support plant performance, launches, audits, automation, and capital improvement initiatives.
Drive cost savings initiatives, validate operational improvements with Finance, and track project progress, savings, and implementation results across multiple sites.
Coach and train plant leadership teams on Lean tools, problem-solving, standard work, and continuous improvement methodologies to strengthen operational discipline and accountability.
Support compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 14001, safety, environmental, and customer-specific requirements while promoting a culture of continuous improvement and teamwork.
Travel regularly throughout North America to support manufacturing operations, share best practices, and ensure consistent execution of operational standards.