Continuous Improvement Analyst

Overview: This position leads continuous improvement initiatives across Lehi Valley Trading facilities. Key responsibilities include implementing lean practices throughout operations and fostering a cost-conscious culture of continuous improvement at every level of business.

Reports to: Operations Leadership (TBD)

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Lead and facilitate continuous improvement using Kaizen, 5S, Kanban, Theory of Constraints, Gemba Walks, policy development, and related methods.
2. Champion the integration of an MES software platform across Lehi Valley operations.
3. Provide lean manufacturing orientation and on-the-job training so all production employees understand the continuous improvement/lean philosophy.
4. Partner with finance team to establish metrics and systems to track costing, return on investment and financial savings against defined goals.
5. Ensure daily performance huddles remain effective and add value.
6. Support the development, refinement, and documentation of departmental continuous improvement processes, and promote organization-wide adoption of best practices.
7. Improve workflow speed and efficiency across production while developing leaders who champion and recommend processes that increase productivity without compromising quality.
8. Teach others to lead continuous improvement efforts.
9. Manage and supervise training coordinators, ensuring their processes educate employees and reinforce a continuous improvement culture from the first day of employment.
10. Identify ongoing lean improvement training needs and help develop and deliver the required training.
11. Ensure all current and new continuous improvement projects use appropriate food and employee safety processes and methods.
12. Identify opportunities to improve food and employee safety and help develop and implement solutions.
13. Complete special studies and projects assigned by company leadership to drive continuous improvement, cost reduction, and change.
14. Develop and maintain the annual continuous improvement plan, including value-stream mapping, improvement projects, and their financial impact.

Competencies:

1. Certification in Lean Manufacturing/Continuous Improvement
2. Cost Accounting
3. Project Management
4. Strategic Thinking
5. Collaboration Skills
6. Decision Making
7. Leadership
8. Communication Proficiency
9. Problem Solving/Analysis
10. Learning Orientation
11. Performance Management
12. Technical Capacity
13. Business Acumen
14. Personal Effectiveness/Credibility
15. Diversity and Inclusion
16. Presentation Skills

Requirements:

• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve processes.
• Productivity: Use company time effectively and proactively and seek work that keeps you productive.
• Problem-Solving: Think independently, anticipate problems, and recommend practical solutions.
• Independence: Perform routine responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Policy Compliance: Promptly advise management of policy violations.
• Implementation: Support the development and adoption of process improvements.
• Flexibility: Adjust the work schedule as needed to support business requirements.
• Process Knowledge: Understand operating processes and the broader effects of process deviations.
• Employee Training: Train employees effectively.
• Organization: Demonstrate strong organizational and prioritization skills.
• Composure: Work effectively under pressure.
• Professional Communication: Communicate clearly, effectively, and professionally in all formats.
• Training Evaluation: Assess training effectiveness and report the results.
• Work Coordination: Assist with assigning and coordinating work.
• Supervisory Support: Serve as a primary resource for the operations leadership team.
• Leadership Alignment: Positively and effectively support company and management decisions.
• Conflict Resolution: De-escalate challenging situations effectively and appropriately.

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position supervises training programs and continuous improvement initiatives, including leading project teams.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• The employee is can be exposed the production environment and exposed to hot/cold weather, moving equipment. The noise level in the work environment can be loud and does require hearing protection.
• The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 40 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days will vary, based upon the needs of the business. Expectation is to be in the office during normal business hours with an expectation of a minimum of 45 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand or the production week changes.

Travel

Travel as necessary to support business functions in Mesa, AZ and North Ridgeville, OH.

Exempt Full-time position