The Sr. Manager, Operational Excellence will report to the Director of Operations and will be responsible for leading the strategic deployment of the company Production System (LPS) principles across all manufacturing operations. This role will drive enterprise-level continuous improvement initiatives, oversee critical programs such as MRB governance, and lead cross-functional teams to achieve world-class performance in safety, quality, delivery, and cost. The Sr. Manager will act as a change agent, fostering a culture of Lean thinking and operational excellence throughout the organization.
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Key Responsibilities
- Define and execute the Operational Excellence roadmap aligned with business objectives and factory performance targets.
- Champion LPS principles across all operational areas, ensuring standardization, waste elimination, and continuous improvement at scale.
- Own the Material Review Board process, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and deployment of waste reduction strategies with cross-functional teams.
- Mentor and coach leaders and team members in Lean principles, problem-solving methodologies, and data-driven decision-making.
- Establish and monitor layered audit systems, process reviews, and compliance checks to sustain improvements.
- Utilize advanced data analysis to identify cost reduction and productivity improvement opportunities; implement KPI dashboards for real-time visibility.
Kaizen & Gemba Leadership
- Facilitate enterprise-level Kaizen events and lead Gemba walks to uncover systemic issues and drive impactful solutions.
- Develop, implement, and maintain Lean tools and systems, including 6S, standard work, and visual management.
- Partner with Quality, Engineering, and Operations to deliver projects that enhance safety, minimize production issues, and improve vehicle quality.
Skills
- Proven track record in Lean transformation and Operational Excellence leadership.
- Experience managing MRB processes and ERP systems (SAP preferred).
- Deep knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies (Black Belt preferred).
- Expertise in problem-solving tools (8D, A3, PDCA) and industrial engineering techniques (time studies, capacity analysis).
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence at all organizational levels.
- Skilled in change management and leading without authority.
- Proficiency in data analytics and visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau).
- Demonstrated success in Kaizen facilitation and large-scale continuous improvement projects.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering; Master’s degree preferred.
- 12+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 5 years in leadership roles.
