Director of Continuous Improvement
Ready to change the future, your way?
This is an excellent opportunity for a driven Director of Continuous Improvement to unlock your ambition and work the future at Aalberts.
As a full-time Director of Continuous Improvement in the Operations Department at Aalberts, located in Pageland, SC. Reporting directly to the Chief Operations Officer, The Director of Continuous Improvement acts as role model and serves as a champion for successful and sustained Lean implementation, APS and CI processes in the region or division. This position requires a leader, who is in charge to manage the regional or business group CI network to improve the manufacturing efficiency of the sites (Safety, Scrap, Delivery, Direct labor productivity, OEE, and other cost), deploy the Group CI and business group operation strategies and initiatives and to support site team in continuous improvement activities. In additional to ensure follow up of all the productivity projects at business group in the areas and support the business strategies like footprint, P-30 (improve 30% productivity plan), etc.
the Aalberts way
Aalberts is built on entrepreneurship. We believe the more space people are given, the greater their chance of finding brilliant solutions for our customers. That is why we encourage everyone to take ownership, think independently yet work as one team. You are in charge today of what happens tomorrow. For yourself, for the company, and for our planet.
your challenge
- Work closely with regional COO or business group COO to build the CI network according to the operation strategy.
- Support the Plant / Site Managers, APU Managers and Plant / Site CI Managers to understand the CI strategies and apply the Lean tools.
- Support the production supervisors to understand the importance of the respect of the standards and their improvement role.
- Ensure that Plant / Site CI Managers network is permanently fulfilled at right level for success.
- Manage the Plant / Site CI Managers network of the region or division: annual professional competences appraisal, contribution & validation to recruitment, definition of training plan, validation of lean skill development and manage detection/growing of local production system potentials. Organize network meeting and On Job Training.
- Organize the cross fertilization of good practices within the region or division.
- Ensure that lean rules are taken into account in new projects at right time.
- Validate the Sites lean deployment plan vs Group directives & instructions, and Sites Priorities, including Smart factory/Industrial 4.0, and support their deployment.
- Help the Plant / Site Managers identify opportunities for SQDICP progress.
- Deploy and follow Group initiatives within his/her region or division.
- Check through a regular presence on every Site of his region or division that Sites are working on appropriate priorities.
- Coach Plant / Site Managers: Plant, Production, APU, CI, Production & Supply Chain support functions on lean processes implementation.
- Check regularly Gemba in depth the proper deployment of lean roadmaps and ensure a close follow up of progress plans.
- Challenge the plants’ budget & related financial indicators of sites in budget preparation phase.
- Validate, challenge & follow Direct Labor and equipment operational performance improvement actions.
- Ensure a lean reporting.
- Contribute to the improvement of Group Lean standards & tools.
- Support industrial 4.0 / smart factory implementation.
- As Aalberts Production System roadmap developer.
- Participate to Group Kaizen workshops, Committees & townhall.
- Contribute in selected Group initiatives upon request.
- Troubleshooting and help building progress roadmaps for sites when in crisis.
- Review key productivities at business group and level support teams to define the best implementation strategy
- Review key productivities at business group level to assess applicability of ideas transversally at other sites in order to coordinate validation and globalize project efforts.
- Ensure sites are managing payback of any productivity project being managed
- Support workshops in the sites and at suppliers to improve savings portfolio
- Continuously monitor TOP 10 productivities in the sites
- Prepare & organize monthly productivity review meeting
- Support teams to remove roadblocks on key projects to meet productivity project milestones
- Encourage the search for new ideas, collect and pass them on to groups responsible for processing them
- Benchmark permanently the products and best internal / external industrial practices and deploy to all sites
- Encourage the search for new ideas, collect and pass them on to groups responsible for processing them
- Assess applicability of key projects in all sites within the business group
- Coach and guide the project managers to organize cost improvement workshops. Cost reduction ideas need to include all areas; material, direct labor, packaging, transportation, etc. Focus on the top worst projects of each sites.
requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or industrial engineering.
- Lean Manufacture in car automotive for > 8 years.
- Strong background experience in purchasing, program management, manufacturing and /or supply chain management.
- American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) preferred.
targeted attributes
- 10+ years in Lean methodologies, such as Lean Six Sigma, Kaizen, Muda hunting, Standard Work, Cycle time balance with automation design, SMED, TPM, Value Stream Mapping, and Lean product line design, plant layout and logistic warehouse layout optimization, Design for 6 sigma.
- Experience in developing smart factory/industrial 4.0 (MES, E-KANBAN, AGV/ARM …)
- Experience developing and improving lean training, tools and methods.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
- Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and influence operation teams at all levels.
- Change management expertise, with the ability to manage resistance and drive cultural transformation.
- Proficiency in using Lean software tools and technologies for process mapping, data analysis, and reporting (PPT, Excel, AutoCAD).
- Strong international mindset and a good ability to interact with all levels of the organization. Be able to lead and continuously motivate teams to push and achieve savings.
why work at Aalberts?
- Globally renowned company, dedicated to technological innovation and excellence
- Diverse teams of passionate individuals, committed to making a difference
- Professional growth and development opportunities
- Think independently yet work as one team
- Be in charge today of what happens tomorrow
about Aalberts
We are a company of over 13,000 passionate people spread across 50 countries, working as one to engineer mission-critical technologies, making impact in everyday life. Aalberts IPSA proudly supports eco-friendly buildings to high-tech manufacturing, minuscule microchips to the largest seagoing vessels, and next gen vehicles to lightweight airplanes. Since 1975, we have been at the forefront of where technological innovation truly matters and progress is really made for a clean, smart and responsible future.
work environment
- Regular presence on the production floor in a climate-controlled machine shop environment.
- Operate high-volume machining in a manufacturing setting requiring proper use of PPE (personal protective equipment).
- Including but not limited to: CNC machining centers, transfer machines, EMCO equipment, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and an active tool room
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
- Occasional lifting of materials or components up to 55 pounds
- Exposure to moving mechanical parts, machine noise, oils, and industrial equipment
- Maintain a stable, safety-focused manufacturing environment with a strong emphasis on operational excellence, reliability, and continuous improvement.
travel requirements
Travel regularly to Aalberts sites up to 50% of the time.
compensation and benefits
The salaried rate for this role is fair and decided upon based on experience and proven skills alignment through our interview process. This role will observe our company’s 12 paid holidays, generous paid time off and competitive full suite benefits package.
go ahead, work the future at Aalberts
Our procedure involves application submission, screening, assessments, selection, and offer/onboarding. The process follows a tentative time frame and is subject to the availability of both parties and the completion of each stage.
our commitment to all
Aalberts IPSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.
Uninvited agency solicitation will not be considered. Profiles sent by third-party recruiters will be treated as direct applications from the candidate.
