Engineer, Continuous Improvement

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement Engineer will drive operational excellence through continuous improvement program initiatives and deployments. You will utilize lean implementation strategies and experiences in leading the organization through the lean transformation journey. The CI Engineer will plan, organize, and implement established Continuous Improvement methods, practices, and tools for more efficient and effective processes within EMEA Healthcare. The incumbent will take a hands-on, collaborative, action-oriented approach to build support for change and transformation while leading, training, developing, motivating, and coaching the team in the development of a lean culture.

The role will require travel between the sites in Birmingham and other allocated sites.

Duties

• Leads and drives lean transformation and change initiatives to create and sustain world-class, visually managed processes for instantaneous recognition of wastes in all areas. 
• Implements CI/Lean methods to drive improvement in alignment with strategic goals and objectives.
• Facilitates and/or conducts lean training programs, Kaizen events, and other lean initiatives. Assesses, coaches, and provides constructive feedback to teams to strengthen lean competencies at the site.
• Serves as a change facilitator, develops and collaborates with site/area lean champions and/or business leaders and influences site leadership in the transformation to and in support of a continuous improvement culture.
• Develops and manages multiple processes, long and short-term, sustainable, lean-related visual action plans as well as assigned key projects.
• Monitors existing and new processes for improvement opportunities in safety, quality, delivery, and cost through lean problem solving methodology and takes appropriate follow-up action.
• Tracks, measures, and reports progress on improvements using standard, established KPI’s.
• Establishes and monitors core CI/lean systems such as: SQDC, 5S, Standard Work, and Leader Standard Work for compliance to standards and effective utilization.
• Assists in the preparation of budgets, schedules, and other financial reports regarding the impact of sustaining CI/lean improvements, waste reduction, and ROI, as indicated by lean accounting principles.
• Support organization and facilitation of site Lean Steering Committee meetings.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through benchmarking world-class lean organizations and personal CI/Lean-related training.

Required Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Continuous Improvement / Health related Science or 8+ years of demonstrated, qualified lean experience in a leadership role. 
• Knowledge and demonstrated understanding of a variety of lean tools: Toyota Production System and methodologies such as: A3 Development and Management, Process Flow Mapping, Value Stream Mapping, 5S/Visual Factory, TPM, QCO-SMED, Standard Work, Process Problem Solving, Built In Quality, Just In Time, Kaizen/Continuous Improvement, Hoshin Kanri – SDP X Matrix, and Lean ROI.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to integrate safety, ergonomics and 5S requirements within CI/ lean practices.
• Ability to manage priorities for limited multi-site responsibility.
• Experience in working within a matrix environment reporting to Lean organization and taking local direction from Site Director.

Skills

• Travel between both Birmingham sites on a weekly basis.  Up to 20% travel to other IP sites as needed by stakeholders.  Must be flexible