Overall Purpose/Objectives of Role

To facilitate the development of Operational Excellence within the Business and the development of employees in data collection and analysis tasks, aligned to achieving the KPI improvements sought in the business. Help teach and sustain “the approach” for business improvement.

Key duties:

1.Aid the planning / roll out / expediting of Operational Excellence initiatives, using “learning by doing” techniques as a key aspect of the roles delivery, helping to coach involved staff whilst facilitating all disciplines in achieving the agreed objectives.

2.Lead and support workshops as well as assist in the more complex analysis of data.

3.Aid improving Management understanding of change and the management role in leading & sustaining the change process.

4.Promote, support and facilitate the creation and use of internal KPI’s and metrics to drive Continuous Improvement.

5.Undertake statistical and data analysis when required to support / drive improvement initiatives & business objectives.

6.Assist in reviewing and aiding the improvement of internal / external processes both in manufacturing and support / service functions.

7.Ensure manufacturing personnel have systematic “on the job” training to support Manufacturing Excellence.

8.Facilitate and coach others in problem solving / route cause analysis using established techniques such as 5 why, brainstorming, Pareto Analysis, DMAIC, 8D, Process Mapping etc.

9.Actively assist in the creation of a continuous improvement environment ensuring employee involvement in decision making and a “learn by doing” culture at all levels of the business.

10.Maintain a centralised filing system for all Operational Excellence related activities, ensuring all live data is regularly updated and historical information is easily and fully accessible.

Essential skills:

Planning and introducing improvements
-Experience of a pivotal role in planning and co-ordinating the introduction of Operational Excellence / lean / Continuous improvement initiatives
-Strong / in depth planning skills
-Experience of validating and verifying root cause analysis processes
-Disciplined in change management techniques
-Significant exposure to organising workshops and small interactive groups and in leading such activities to achieve end objectives
-Capable of implementing data collection / KPI generation and of monitoring / analysing results of same
-Strong analytical skills
Best practice reviews
-Experience of reviewing existing manufacturing and business processes and benchmarking them against best practice in lean manufacturing
-Has had exposure to a wide range of manufacturing processes and control systems
-Able to establish credibility fast
-Experience of using a disciplined PDCA process in reviewing tasks and activities
-Ability to increase awareness of the latest techniques / methods / tools to be used in delivering timely responses to objectives set.
-Seen as an expert, with a record of research into best practice on Operational Excellence / lean / Continuous Improvement
Contact understanding
-Focused on the need to satisfy both internal and external ‘customer’ contacts.
-Able to demonstrate effective returns from the investments made.
-Experience of leading meetings with colleagues / managers / consultants at all levels
-Experienced in maintaining appropriate communications with all interfaces
-Ability to progress and resolve issues on a wide variety of activities at the same time whilst keeping all parties informed of progress

Qualifications:

Degree or above and a background which could be from a number of different disciplines:
Production Management with hands on involvement in Manufacturing Excellence /lean / Continuous improvement initiatives
Production Engineering / Quality Assurance Engineering with specialist training in six sigma and/or lean
Supply Chain Management or any of its related disciplines with specialist training in six sigma and/or lean
At least four years experience in one or more of these related roles, ideally from within the aerospace or automotive industries or a high technology / small batch product design / manufacturing environment.
Or
HNC or above and at least six years experience from a background as detailed above, ideally from within the aerospace or automotive industries or a high technology / small batch product design / manufacturing environment.