Senior Operational Excellence Specialist

Work with Operations, Product Engineering & Development, Supply Chain, Sales and all other business functions to align, select, prioritize and plan Lean & Six Sigma project and kaizen targets, timing and training needs identified in Annual Hoshin Planning process. Identify teams, project opportunities, actions, required training, and deployment methodologies resulting from Annual Hoshin Planning, Value Stream Mapping and Value Chain Mapping events.

Title: Senior Operational Excellence Specialist
Location: Fort Mill, SC/ Burlington, WA (On- Site)
Duration: Fulltime Role

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Participate in company’s Long-Term and Mid-Term Strategy Deployment process.
• Facilitate and support Annual Hoshin Planning processes at site and functional level.
• Facilitate annual Value Stream Mapping and Value Chain Mapping events to support Annual Hoshin and Budgeting processes.
• Identify teams, project opportunities, actions, required training, and deployment methodologies resulting from Annual Hoshin Planning, Value Stream Mapping and Value Chain Mapping events.
• Work with Operations, Product Engineering & Development, Supply Chain, Sales and all other business functions to align, select, prioritize and plan Lean & Six Sigma project and kaizen targets, timing and training needs identified in Annual Hoshin Planning process.
• Develop, coordinate and manage Lean & Six Sigma training plan to support annual project and kaizen targets.
• Assist sites and functional teams in integrating resulting initiatives and project decks to build the Annual Budget Plan.
• Lead Lean & Six Sigma Black Belt high-impact projects (~ $500K+/project) identified during the Annual Hoshin Planning process.
• Facilitate deployment of Silfab’s Production System (SPS).
• Drive SPS KPIs and goals across the enterprise.
• Lead other Lean & Six Sigma Black Belt projects assigned by the Corporate Director of Continuous Improvement and Quality.
• Travel to location and support other Corporate Lean & Six Sigma Black Belts and their projects as required.
• Attend Silfab’s Lean & Six Sigma Black Belt training course; attain company’s Lean & Six Sigma Black Belt certification within established timelines.
• Develop and/or assist in the development and improvement of Silfab’s White Belt, Yellow Belt, Orange Belt and Green Belt training material.
• Conduct Silfab Lean & Six Sigma training courses for White Belts, Yellow Belts, Orange Belts and Green Belts.
• Assist in the development and improvement of Silfab’s Blue Belt, Brown Belt and Black Belt training material.
• Establish and deploy Silfab’s Lean & Six Sigma Program maturity growth Road Map.
• Drive and deploy the Lean & Six Sigma program through x-functional and x-site collaboration effort.
• Benchmark Best-In-Class metrics and performance on Lean & Six Sigma within our industry and outside our industry.
• Define Silfab’s Lean & Six Sigma Program KPIs, goals and metrics.
• Implement and manage the Silfab Belt Program.
• Coach and support implementation of the SPS.
• Drive Belt Certification goals and performance across the enterprise.
• Coach other belts in applying correct methodologies, closing projects on time and successfully achieving certification.
• Manage Lean & Six Sigma project decks and funnels to ensure company’s Lean & Six Sigma operational and financial goals are met.
• Assist site management and personnel with analysis and improvement of asset utilization, line flow constraint analysis and improvement.
• Assist site management and personnel with RCA (Root-Cause Analysis) and implementation of CA (Corrective Action) of PK, A3 and Apollo processes.
• Conduct benchmarking and analysis on Lean & Six Sigma practices; identify and implement process improvement opportunities.
• Support Supplier Quality and Customer Quality Program Managers with RCA (Root-Cause Analysis) and implementation of CA (Corrective Action) of PK, A3 and Apollo processes.
• Support site management and personnel in improving utilization of MES and other automated data collection and analysis systems.
• Support Safety, Product Engineering, Operations and Sales teams to ensure the highest level of safety in our products and processes.
• Support Product Design and Manufacturing Engineers in driving innovation, improving existing designs and reducing defects.
• Work with IT to develop information systems and automated, intelligent dashboards for the Lean & Six Sigma Program:
  • Project & Program Financial Benefits review, approval and tracking
  • Project Status tracking
  • Project Methodology workflow and tracking
  • Employee Certification workflow and tracking
  • Minitab License management
• Establish operating mechanisms for reviewing, reporting and communicating Lean & Six Sigma program performance and maturity progress at multiple levels in the organization.
• Manage budget targets and financial reporting on Lean & Six Sigma projects and Kaizen.
• Participate in Continuous Improvement and Quality Summits, Share and Learn, and Benchmarking events.

• Other functions as deemed relevant and/or assigned 

Qualifications

 

Core Competencies:

• Customer-centric visionary.
• Servant Leadership mindset.
• Builds team value through diversity, thrives in diverse environment.
• Accomplished listener.
• Demonstrated, effective change agent.
• Strong Project Management skills.
• Innovation driver.
• System-Thinker.
• Lean-Thinker.
• Lean Manufacturing.
• Hoshin or other Strategy Deployment methodology.
• Strong Analytical and Problem-Solving skills.
• PDCA, A3, Six Sigma DMAIC methodologies.
• Ability to see and understand the Big Picture and manage at tactical level.
• Experienced influencer.  Demonstrated ability to get work done through others.
• Outstanding facilitation and presentation skills.
• Proficient with a variety of computer software applications including Minitab, Business Central, Microsoft Office products and PowerBI.
• Outstanding organizational and planning skills.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Strong ability to work and deliver under time constraints.
• Quickly adapt and correct course under changing priorities.
• Strong ability to work well in a team atmosphere, resolve conflict, and comply with high quality and ethics standards.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent work experience (Engineering preferred).
• Minimum 7 years working in a Process Improvement, Quality or Operational Excellence organization, and…
• Minimum 5 years in a company with a strong, recognized Lean & Six Sigma program and culture.
• Minimum 3 years Project Management experience managing large-scale, x-functional projects.
• Proven record of results managing in a matrix environment.
• Demonstrated Minitab proficiency and teaching Minitab to others.
• Ability to travel as required.

Preferred:

• Lean Certification preferred.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred.

• PMP or Prince 2.0 certification desirable.

Additional information

 

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive wages ($85,000-120,000/year)
• Paid Time Off (vacation, sick, and holiday) 
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Plans
• Health Savings Account option
• Supplemental/Voluntary Insurance Plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program 
• Employee Recognition Programs
• Employee PV Panel Purchase Program

Notes from Client-

• Candidates currently working in active manufacturing or production environments, with regular shop-floor engagement
• Individuals who are directly involved in executing and sustaining operational improvements, not primarily in advisory, audit, or transformation program leadership roles
• 4-8 years of experience in manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence roles
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or related field required
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt required (Black Belt preferred but not essential)
• Strong background in Lean Manufacturing and CI methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, RCA, 5S, VSM)
• Proven experience improving plant KPIs such as OEE, throughput, cycle time, scrap, and productivity
• Demonstrated ability to lead shop-floor based improvement initiatives (not purely project office or consulting delivery)
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting (Excel required; Power BI or similar tools strongly preferred)
• Ability to coach and support frontline teams in continuous improvement practices
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills

Need candidates that are currently embedded in manufacturing operations and can demonstrate recent, tangible impact in plant performance improvement.