Operational Excellence Manager - Jerome Avenue - Astec Industries

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Astec is a global, environmentally focused infrastructure and manufacturing company of asphalt road building and aggregate processing. Our mission is to design and build the most innovative products for the industries we serve. Leveraging innovative solutions and technologies, we serve customers all over the world.

ABOUT THE POSITION
This position works closely with multiple aspects and functions of the business, identifying process improvement opportunities (removal of the 8-wastes, standardize, stabilize, creating flow) and helping create a sustainable competitive advantage using Lean principles and methods. Supports the Business Management System (BMS) by enhancing and ensuring customer focused market success, through process performance and repeatability throughout the company.

Key Deliverables

• An outspoken advocate for leading and fostering a Lean culture, facilitating Kaizen by coaching and mentoring team members across a multi-functional business organization.
• Using the Hoshin methodologies, is the primary coordinator of Strategy Deployment at the site. In support of the General Manager and functional leaders, guides strategic planning and tactical improvement activities aligned with the IPS group. Helps to identify priority opportunities for achieving business objectives.
• Guides the site’s Lean Deployment (LD) initiatives. Plans, trains, and mentors team members via Kaizen events using visual management tools, 5S, TPM, Daily Ops Cadences, layered auditing, and improvement projects throughout Operations.
• Lead continuous improvement and Lean manufacturing efforts, which directly impact Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) including safety, quality, delivery, and cost (SQDC).
• Is a champion and primary change agent to identify with data, the elimination of non-value-added activities, while increasing visual management & controls, improving productivity (efficiency & utilization), and advancing the education and effectiveness of team members throughout operations.
• Coordinate and execute SIPOC, Value Stream, and Process Mapping on key processes and products, to identify current state, future state, and improvement opportunities à Assist project leaders to define and lead the implementation of action plans, standard operating procedures (SOP), training, etc.
• Facilitates project chartering and supports problem-solving, by leveraging continuous improvement methodologies to eliminate root causes and reduce variation à using Lean and Six Sigma tools throughout operations.

Key Activities & Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and facilitation for strategic business, products, and process improvements; technical support, instruction, and/or project facilitation, utilizing Operational Excellence methodologies.
• Complete assignments related to the development, implementation, and sustainment of business improvement methods.
• Support or lead internal, lean certification programs à training other functions to help drive improvement activities across the IPS Group.
• Guide multiple functions to identify and implement productivity improvements and cost reduction opportunities through Astec’s WIN program, to achieve annual OpEx savings objectives.
• Deploy formalized improvements within AND across the Group for standardization and economies of scale à create required procedures (SOPs) and instructions to ensure consistency.
• Lead or support strategic business planning (SBP) activities for the site General Managers and functional leaders.
• Assist in the development of Lean Deployment strategies and the required, next generation data collection and business management systems (Industry 4.0).
• Utilize Astec’s Business Management System (BMS) to provide support through process audits, training, development, etc.
• Provide basic-to-advanced technical support, capability development and instruction for Operational Excellence and related management strategies. Execute other assignments and/or projects related to Lean Deployment initiatives and functions.

To be successful in this role, your experience and competencies are:

• BS in Engineering or technical degree, with direct assembly / fabrication manufacturing, quality systems and project management experiences are preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 yrs. of demonstrated experience, supporting or leading OpEx, Lean and/or Six Sigma Activities.
• OpEx Managers and Engineers are expected to achieve proficiency in Lean Six Sigma, have Lean Kaizen Expertise and/or Project Management certifications.
• Build trusting relationships, with a keen ability to collaborate with and influence others, across dissimilar functions.
• Takes initiative with limited guidance and demonstrates an orientation to internal/external customer service.
• Highly effective verbal/written communication & presentation skills, to all organization levels.
• Medium-to-high level expertise in the Microsoft Office suite of applications.
• Developing data capture, workflow, and analysis programs for SharePoint, PowerApps, Excel, etc.
• Strong project management skills.

Supervisor and Leadership Expectations

• No supervisory or direct reports related.
• This role does have leadership expectations, with respect to cross-functional facilitation and project management. This role will have responsibility for OpEx and CapEx budget oversight.