Senior Manager, Lean

GE Appliances, a Haier company • Louisville, KY

18h • Onsite

About The Position

At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make “good things, for life.” As the fastest-growing appliance company in the U.S., we’re powered by creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there’s always a better way. We believe in the power of our people and in giving them the freedom to explore, discover and build good things, together. The GE Appliances philosophy, backed by three simple commitments defines the way we work, invent, create, do business, and serve our communities: we come together, we always look for a better way, and we create possibilities. Interested in joining us on our journey? Provide leadership and coaching with the development and implementation of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives within a GE Appliances’ manufacturing facility. Drive positive change by developing a culture of teams that proactively eliminate waste and continuously improve Safety, Quality, and Cost metrics.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• 5 years minimum experience within in a manufacturing environment utilizing Lean manufacturing tools and processes.
• 3 years minimum experience in driving improvement/Kaizen work within a manufacturing operation.
• Strong understanding of Lean principles (Hoshin, 5S Workplace Organization, A3 Thinking, Standardized Work, Just-in-Time, Production Flow, Jidoka / Build in Quality, Visual Management, Heijunka / Level Load, Pull / Replenishment, Kaizen, Metrics/KPI’s).

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (ME, EE, IE) and/or Advanced Business or Engineering degree.
• 8+ experience within a manufacturing environment utilizing lean manufacturing tools and processes.
• Experience leading, empowering and developing teams within manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated credible leader with proven ability to drive change.
• Experience implementing improvement within a union environment.
• Humble learner and teacher; results oriented and high energy with ability to inspire others.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Black or Green Belt Six Sigma Certification.

Responsibilities

• Sets a strategic direction for the plant manufacturing operation that addresses key operational gaps and drives a culture focused on continual improvement.
• Instills APS guiding principles as foundational philosophy for the plant operation.
• Sets a directional map for Appliance Performance System (APS) structure, implementation and improvement within a plant/operation.
• Key enabler of strategy deployment and hoshin planning for the manufacturing operation, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the goals, objectives and strategies of the organization.
• Collaborates in the development of measurement systems and comprehensive reporting to support effective application of continuous improvement processes.
• Develops and manages the Lean Plan and projects for the plant.
• Develops and communicates the plant Lean Hoshin Plan.
• Prioritizes and allocates resources to execute plan.
• Leads plant teams in defining problems, assessing current state root causes, designing and testing solutions, and implementing solutions leading to desired outcomes.
• Improves process quality and capacity by guiding functional teams to develop and execute lean plans for reduced cycle time, inventory, and waste.
• Applies lean-based APS methods and tools to promote continuous improvement, increase operating model consistency, and to engage & empower employees in problem-solving to remove waste and improve product quality.
• Provides status reports regarding the execution of plant Lean Plan.
• Partners with Business Leaders to maintain meeting rhythm, ensure Cost Out progress, and track project status and closure.
• Identifies issues and provides recommendations to address roadblocks and areas of opportunity.
• Documents and shares best practices and lessons learned.
• Develop and maintain the factory master plan aligned with business growth strategy and production forecasts.
• Lead facility planning initiatives, including plant expansion, new production lines, warehouse optimization, and utility infrastructure improvements.
• Analyze production capacity, material flow, logistics, and space utilization to maximize operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, EHS, Quality, Maintenance, Finance, and Commercial teams to define future manufacturing requirements.
• Develop factory layout concepts using Lean Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and ergonomic design principles.
• Manage capital expenditure (CAPEX) planning, budgeting, and investment proposals for factory development projects.
• Coordinate with architects, engineering consultants, contractors, and equipment suppliers during project planning and execution.
• Monitor project schedules, budgets, risks, and performance to ensure successful implementation.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, building, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify opportunities for automation, digital manufacturing, and process optimization.
• Conduct feasibility studies, cost-benefit analyses, and scenario planning for manufacturing investments.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, or new site development by evaluating manufacturing capabilities and infrastructure requirements.
• Prepare executive presentations and strategic reports on factory development initiatives.
• Builds capability within the plant leadership team, front line leaders and plant Lean organization to understand and implement the target APS conditions for the plant.
• Serves as Lean process expert for the plant operation.
• Creates opportunities for employees to learn through their jobs and within the classroom.
• Makes recommendations regarding the enhancement or development of training programs.
• Provides coaching, mentoring and training on the application of APS methodology and tools via classroom or hands-on, learning-by-doing activities to reinforce knowledge and skills attained during APS training.
• Other related duties as assigned
• Provide direct team leadership to plant Lean team, including work direction, goal setting, mentoring/coaching, performance management and performance/compensation reviews.

Benefits

• GE Appliances is a trust-based organization. It is important we offer our employees the flexibility they need to do their best work while balancing the needs of the business and individuals. When you join GE Appliances, you will have the opportunity to work with your leader to create a flexible work arrangement that balances the needs of the individual, team, and organization.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior