Continuous Improvement Manager Job

JOB SUMMARY

This position reports to the Plant Manager and is a member of the Plant Leadership Team.

The Continuous Improvement Manager will work with the plant departments to identify improvements in fixed/variable cost, environmental emissions, Green Belt participation, and SMART. The position has no direct reports therefore influencing others through leadership is critical. The position will also back up the Plant Manager in their absence. The position is located in a Chemical plant.

• Support the Clear Lake Plant by leading the operational excellence initiatives, continuously improve in variable costs and fixed costs, including but not limited to reduction of cost of poor quality, energy, water, wastes reduction, yield and process optimization, process variability reduction and productivity and capacity increase.
• Function as the SMART Coordinator, reporting to the Plant Manager for both Lean Manufacturing and SMART initiatives.
• In alignment with the site’s yearly objectives and targets, contribute to the opportunity assessment and manage and update the continuous improvement projects portfolio in Quimeo, review the progression with the projects leaders and monitor the impact on the site performance.

• With strong collaboration with Process Technology, Operations, and Engineering, in charge of the site performance cycle process implementation, coordinate a team of 12 continuous improvement projects leaders (engineers).

• Manage 4% green belt active with continuous improvement projects of the total plant Head counts.
• Plant headcounts: 130
• Variable costs: 500M $/year

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES

Continuous Improvement Leader on site-60%:

• Carry on the opportunity assessment in the plant:
  • Organize the pre-meeting to align with Arkema, the Acrylic Monomer BU, and the Plant Manager on the objectives and targets to define the scope, the schedule, the team, and the goals for the Clear Lake plant.
  • Lead the brainstorming based on a first analysis of the gaps between the plant results and the targets.
• Give the information to stakeholders on identified projects impact and cost estimation to help them select the projects to fill the pipeline. Make sure of the alignment of stakes with the strategy of the BU/site.
• Manage the portfolio of continuous improvement projects in Quimeo, with regular update and review with projects leaders and sponsors. Deliver a 0.8% variable cost savings and $600K RPE savings annually.
• For DMAIC projects, act as a coach on the methodology; manage the GB population in the plant to ensure 4% active operational people.
• Contribute to the assessment of the performance cycle process.
• Drive the CSR effort to ensure successful execution of the 2030 climate goals.
• Participate and be a part of the site leadership team to drive initiatives.
• Responsible as a site Emergency Director

As the SMART Coordinator-40%:

• SMART is the employee engagement program to empower employees at all levels.
• Collaborative approach to simplify decision making process.
• Align all hierarchy levels on objectives and resources to meet them.
• Engage everyone at all levels to diagnose, analyze, suggest, and implement solutions in his/her scope of responsibility.
• Communication Peace of mind and efficiency
• Include SMART within site operational excellence initiatives deployment.
• Chairman at the Smart Copilot
• Develop the plant’s skills on problem solving.
• Report to the Plant Manager and PLT on the performance, success and brakes related to the project’s execution and SMART significant initiatives during site performance review.

Deliver the expected results on variable costs, additional margin and quality aligned with the plant roadmap and improve the enablers such as running an opportunity assessment per year, increase GB in activity, set rituals to review projects and performance quarterly.