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Role: Operational Excellence (OPEX) Leader
The Operational Excellence Lead is responsible for promoting and facilitating a culture of Continuous Improvement, executing projects and facilitating training in support of Business Objectives. This leader will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in developing and deploying a world-class Operational Excellence system with a Texas-based, global, Specialty Chemical Company.
Top notch interpersonal skills are a must! This demanding position will require a candidate with the ability to constructively engage Associates with new and challenging concepts. Being able to facilitate change and challenge conventional thinking, while respecting norms and historic ways of doing things, is critical. Facilitating training events and providing training in Lean and Continuous Improvement tools will challenge the candidate to share their knowledge effectively and concisely.
Internal drive to excel, the ability to probe and persist in fact-finding and problem identification, coupled with the ability to reduce complex problems to their simplest elements, is critical. The incumbent must be an expert in presenting data driven problem analysis and solutions, and be able to mentor others in the techniques and tools supporting this approach.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Actively lead and/or support process improvement projects and initiatives, focused on reducing cost, expanding operational capability and/or driving speed-to-market with exciting new product launches
Drive targeted, sustainable improvement in Quality, Delivery, Cost and Innovation that is tied to Policy Deployment (PD) and Daily Management (DM)
Monthly tracking and countermeasure development for operational challenges and KPI's
Ensure successful kaizen events by installing and ensuring compliance to the kaizen process (includes (1) planning of kaizens (2) kaizen execution, and (3) sustainment of kaizens)
Promote and facilitate diagnosis of workflow impediments and other wastes, while recommending the appropriate tools to solve the problem
Improve OPEX training and facilitation; help to develop content, execute training, and mentor leaders at varying levels
Work with Manufacturing & Supply Chain resources to schedule & execute events aligned with the Global Operational Excellence Roadmap
Perform business analysis and data modelling as needed
Support and guide application of rigorous Root Cause Analysis to resolve Safety, Quality, Service and Manufacturing challenges
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
A burning desire to drive improvement, facilitate a "Bias to Action" and support ambitious change management.
Deep understanding of Continuous Improvement Tools, Philosophies and Methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints, TPS, DBS, etc.), gained through academic study, hands-on experience in an established Operational Excellence system, and formal certification
Strong expertise in A3 / PSP, Kaizen facilitation, Value Stream Mapping, Capacity Analysis, Daily Management and Policy Deployment
Advanced knowledge of the End-to-End Supply Chain, including Manufacturing acumen and experience within multiple manufacturing segments
The ability to lead a group of peers in targeted problem solving and project execution, including leading through influence within a matrixed environment
Effective public speaking and workshop facilitation skills
Strong Data Analysis skills using conventional software (Excel), and supplementary experience using alternative data modelling and visualization software (example - Tableau)
Hands-on ERP experience, and a strong working knowledge of ERP configuration and constraints.
Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Education:
Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain or similar
Formal certification / training with Continuous Improvement tools - Six Sigma, Lean, TPS, TOC, etc.
Formal Certification in Supply Chain via APICS (CSCP or CPIM) highly desired
Experience:
5-7 years in a manufacturing environment, ideally in an Operations Leadership, Quality or Engineering role, including 3+ years of focused experience driving Continuous Improvement
