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Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager

Hitachi Astemo · Findlay, OH

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Level
Manager
Team
Lean / CI
Degree
Required
Certification
Black Belt preferred
Industry
Automotive
Posted
30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A management continuous improvement role at Hitachi Astemo (automotive) in Findlay, OH. Identify, prioritize, and implement opportunities that improve productivity, capacity, quality, efficiency, and cost performance.

They ask for
degree required · Black Belt preferred
Tools it names
Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Green Belt, Kaizen, 5S

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

At a glance

Training program

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at Hitachi Astemo

    We found 5 people at this company and state: 4 on the team, 1 leaders, plus 1 likely hiring manager. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

    Write to Eric → (free)
  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • Is CI run from the plant floor or from a corporate OpEx group?
    • Which metrics does leadership actually watch: OEE, scrap, cost per unit?
    • The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

About the role

Qualifications

  • ✓Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or a related field.
  • ✓Progressive experience in Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • ✓Experience in an automotive or high-volume manufacturing environment preferred.
  • ✓Demonstrated success leading Kaizen events, productivity workshops, operational excellence initiatives, and cross-functional improvement projects.
  • ✓Proven experience achieving measurable improvements in productivity, quality, cost, safety, inventory, lead time, or other key operational metrics.
  • ✓Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing systems and Operational Excellence frameworks preferred.
  • ✓Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred.
  • ✓Demonstrated success generating measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, cost, inventory, or lead time.

Requirements

At Astemo, we’re challenging the status quo with the power of diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. Our goal is to buil

Show full description ↓

Company Name

ASTEMO AMERICAS, INC.

Job Family

Manufacturing & Operations

Job Description

  • •Champion Astemo's Operational Excellence System (OES) by training, coaching, and implementing key fundamentals across all functions.
  • •Own the site's OES roadmap, maturity progression, audit readiness, and improvement action plans.
  • •Develop and sustain a culture of continuous improvement through coaching, employee engagement, and leadership development.
  • •Drive measurable improvements in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP) performance through structured improvement initiatives.
  • •Establish and maintain governance processes to ensure continuous improvement activities are aligned with site and organizational objectives.
  • •Lead the planning, facilitation, and execution of Kaizen events, productivity workshops, value stream mapping activities, and other improvement initiatives.
  • •Identify, prioritize, and implement opportunities that improve productivity, capacity, quality, efficiency, and cost performance.
  • •Quantify, track, and report savings and business impact generated through continuous improvement initiatives.
  • •Lead the site's continuous improvement project pipeline and ensure timely execution of action plans.
  • •Oversee and manage the employee improvement suggestion system while promoting workforce engagement and participation.
  • •Support annual productivity planning and cost reduction objectives.
  • •Analyze operational processes, performance data, labor utilization, and production metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
  • •Lead structured problem-solving activities utilizing 8D, A3, DMAIC, 5 Why, Fishbone, and other root-cause analysis methodologies.
  • •Facilitate cross-functional teams in identifying solutions, implementing corrective actions, and verifying effectiveness.
  • •Establish and audit standard work systems while supporting Operations and Engineering in maintaining accurate workstation documentation.
  • •Review and update standard cycle times and labor standards to reflect current operating conditions and customer requirements.
  • •Develop and sustain visual management systems, daily management routines, layered accountability processes, and performance review systems.
  • •Ensure continuous monitoring and improvement of manufacturing processes through data-driven decision making.
  • •Drive waste elimination initiatives focused on reducing non-value-added activities, cycle time, inventory, scrap, rework, and downtime.
  • •Partner with Engineering and Operations in new product launches, equipment installations, process design, and productivity improvement projects.
  • •Lead, coach, and develop Continuous Improvement personnel and cross-functional teams to build organizational capability.
  • •Provide direction, coaching, and support to leaders and associates regarding continuous improvement principles and methodologies.
  • •Influence stakeholders across all functional areas to support continuous improvement objectives and cultural transformation.
  • •Facilitate training programs, workshops, and coaching sessions related to Lean Manufacturing, OES, problem-solving, and operational excellence.
  • •Support compliance with all company, customer, safety, quality, and environmental requirements.
  • •Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

  • •Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring abilities.
  • •Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • •Strong facilitation skills with the ability to lead large groups and drive consensus.
  • •Demonstrated ability to influence associates and leaders at all levels of the organization.
  • •Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a data-driven mindset.
  • •Experience with Lean Manufacturing tools including Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, 5S, Visual Management. Kanban, SMED, Root Cause Analysis, and Kaizen Methodology.
  • •Knowledge of industrial engineering principles including Time Studies, Line Balancing, Labor Optimization, Capacity Analysis, and Productivity Measurement.
  • •Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • •Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
  • •Experience utilizing data visualization and reporting tools such as Power BI preferred.
  • •Self-directed and results-oriented with the ability to work independently and drive initiatives to completion.

Communication Skills

Must possess strong verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills and be able to effectively communicate in Business English with associates, customers, suppliers, and leadership teams.

Physical

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