Operational Improvement Manager

Job Highlights

Company Profile

Northwest Pipe Company is a leading manufacturer of water infrastructure products. Our solution-based products serve a wide range of markets including water transmission, plant piping, tunnels, and river crossings.

Job Profile

The company is hiring an Operational Improvement Manager to join the Geneva Pipe and Precast team.

Education Level

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or a technical discipline (desired)

Work Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in the implementation of lean manufacturing tool applications in a fast-paced manufacturing environment is required.
• Minimum 10 years of demonstrated ability to train people and manage cultural changes to obtain buy-in.
• Lean Six Sigma certification required AME (Association of Manufacturing Excellence) is preferred.
• Comprehensive understanding of welding concepts, industrial coating applications, concrete manufacturing science, and processes.
• Extensive operational leadership experience in a Manufacturing organization (highly regarded and valued)

Duties/Responsibilities

• Collect plant metrics, analyze data, and recommend appropriate changes and courses of action.
• Constantly seeks to identify, share, and facilitate the adoption of best practices to eliminate waste and improve performance.
• Define, propose, and implement objectives and best operational practices.
• Delivers practical, hands-on training to site lean coordinators in standardized lean processes and tools to eliminate waste in all administrative, manufacturing, and support functions.
• Develop a strategy and execute a plan to deliver process performance improvements to optimize Safety, Cost, Quality, and Delivery.
• Develops and implements strategies for fostering basic problem-solving (ACT/PDCA) knowledge and behavior at all levels; this includes coaching, training, and driving the disciplined application of fact-based, root-cause thinking.
• Evaluate all continuous improvement activities and develop plans to optimize performance and processes.
• Facilitates change and supports the deployment, adoption, and sustainment of Lean thinking and Lean-based Management Systems.
• Leads and collaborates with cross-functional teams to develop an S&OP (Sales and Operations Process) to improve customer demand forecasting, scheduling, and on-time delivery.
• Leads the implementation of Lean Manufacturing initiatives and strategies of each facility to improve operation processes within the organization. Ensures sharing and implementation of best practices across plants.
• Measures and reports progress on an ongoing basis.
• Partners with Senior Leadership to identify key opportunities for process improvements linked to strategic imperatives. Collaborates with the leadership team to conduct an assessment of current processes with suggestions for improvement.
• Support, track progress, and lead key business improvement projects, including new capital projects.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory, and factor analysis.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to effectively present information to top management and public groups.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instruction in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Advanced knowledge of Lean principles and applications.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and facilitation skills.
• Strong computer skills are necessary. Advanced MS Office skills and statistical software packages (Minitab etc.).
• Thorough understanding of multiple business areas including Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Safety, and Quality Control.

Certificates/Licenses

• Certification in Lean Manufacturing processes (strongly preferred)

Benefits/Perks

• 401k Retirement Savings Plan with Employer Match
• Bonus Potential
• Employee Assistance Program
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D Insurance
• On-site Refreshments
• Opportunities for Career Advancement
• Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Time-off
• Safety Footwear AND Eyewear Voucher
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Weekly Paycheck

Employer’s Statement

Northwest Pipe Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.