Support the business in achieving and sustaining operational excellence using Lean/Six Sigma techniques. Serve as a facilitator of continuous improvement implementation and functional colleague to create and sustain culture change to achieve long-term business strategies and systems thinking approach.
The Lead will be working in a cross-functional environment to ensure production operates in the most efficient way possible. The purpose of this position will be to optimize output while reducing non-value-added wastes and reduce process variation in business-critical areas. The Lead will be responsible for collecting data, performing analysis, developing countermeasures, implementing improvement projects, and ensuring the desired outcome is sustained through machine health, operator work planning and material flow standard work. The Lead will assist with additional duties such as training and coaching Yellow/Green Belt, RCA A3 training sessions and driving the business value stream to align with PENA’s Production System and employee development.
Essential Duties:
- Work effectively with operations and support functions to translate process findings to Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Productivity, and People (SQCDP) improvements and standard work implementation
- Foster the growth of operational excellence behaviours within the business through coaching, mentoring, and training teams
- Leads projects with an average savings of $250,000 per project and concurrently lead 2-4 projects of this magnitude.
- Lead a team of 3-7 improvement specialists
- Executes established method for benefit quantification. Conducts data analysis on program results to establish and mitigate risks, ensures that process improvement initiatives are aligned to business requirements
- Provides team leadership in the application of Lean & Six Sigma tools and Production system methodology focused on operator balance, machine availability & material flow
- Communicate effectively with various levels within the business to educate in lean methodologies and how recommended changes can cut waste from operating procedures, influencing, and motivating both proactively and reactively
- Deploy appropriate methodologies to problem solving and support teams to solve problems. Ensure the escalation process for problem solving is effective (CIG)
- Perform workplace audits and monitor the completion of tasks and ensure good performance and record on appropriate systems
- Effectively communicate with all levels of the organization
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:
- To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.
The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.
Qualifications: Requirements - Required and/or Preferred
Education:
- Basic/Required: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or Accredited Black Belt
- Preferred: Master’s Degree in Engineering or a related field
Essential Requirements:
- Minimum of 6+ years of continuous improvement experience with 2+ years as a full time Black Belt/Lean practitioner or Industrial Engineering.
- Ability to lead and drive organizational and systematic change
- Lean Manufacturing knowledge required and ability to implement lean manufacturing tools and methodologies I.E. FMEA (Failure Mode Effects Analysis), Kaizen/A3 (continuous improvement and problem solving) Process mapping, value stream mapping, and Poka Yoke (error proofing) techniques
- Strong technical background, including high volume manufacturing environment and project management skills
- Competent in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Minitab (or other similar software)
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
- Ability to learn and understand complex equipment capabilities, operation/material flow, and data flow
- Ability to successfully manage multiple projects
Preferred:
- Minimum of 5+ years in industrial or process engineering strongly desired
- Proven track record in operational roles in a Production/Manufacturing environment
- Understanding of Business core principles, I.E. Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)
Preferred License(s):
- None
Preferred Certification(s):
- None
Physical Demands:
Physical Activities: (Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to)
- Sit: 20%
- Walk: 40%
- Stand: 20%
- Lift: 20%
Tools and/or Equipment: (Required frequency is: Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%, Continuous (67-100%)
- Keyboard/Computer: Continuous
- Office Equipment: Continuous
- Phone Continuous
Required Lifting and Carrying: (Required frequency is: Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%, Continuous (67-100%)
- Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent
- Up to 20 lbs.: Frequent
- Up to 35 lbs.: Frequent
- Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Frequent
About Us:
Panasonic Energy of North America (PENA) is collaborating with Tesla at a massive battery factory near Reno, Nevada which is known for its quality of life and expansive outdoor adventures. Panasonic's role at the Gigafactory is to manufacture and supply cylindrical lithium-ion cells to Tesla for their electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Over the past few years, the Gigafactory has grown to the largest lithium-ion battery factory in the world. Together with our partner Tesla, we continue to revolutionize the lithium-ion battery space and accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy and transportation.
Our mission at PENA is to make the vision of affordable Electric Vehicles a reality by producing the world’s safest, high quality, and lowest cost batteries. Through this effort we will create a clean energy society and our products will change society’s use of and perceptions of electric power.
In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.
Supplemental Information:
Pre-employment drug testing is required. Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.
Panasonic is an Equal Opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy of North America.
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