Lean Specialist - Ditch Witch

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Who Are We?

At Ditch Witch in Perry, Oklahoma we pride ourselves on being the leading manufacturer in the underground pipe and cable market. Our plant in Perry stands out because it's a place for people to learn and thrive. We enjoy coming to work because our plant is our community, we see our teammates not only as co-workers but as neighbors and family members. All of our locations build the intricate network of machinery that contributes to The Toro Company. We contribute to building communities, cities, and the world.  We invite you to apply and join a team of highly skilled, and highly passionate people.

The lean specialist will execute the implementation of consistent Lean business practices to drive increased growth, operational excellence and empowered employees. Participate in the development, execution, and maintenance of transformation plans, delivering coaching and training on Lean principles, concepts and tools, leading kaizen events, knowledge sharing, and helping to identify future Lean minded personnel.  The candidate will lead continuous improvement projects working collaboratively with cross functional teams. This position will be expected to enable delivery of Ditch Witch’s annual safety, quality, delivery, cost, cash, people, and growth targets, while supporting large productivity improvement and inventory reduction projects associated with the lean transformation plan.

What Will You Do?

In order to grow and build a successful career with The Toro Company, you will be responsible for:

• Promote, guide and lead transformation teams in the implementation of the Toro Lean Enterprise system, which includes the use of various process improvement tools including, but not limited to: Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, Cell Design, Continuous Flow, Material Flow, Visual Management, Change over, TPM, Root Cause Analysis

• Collaborate with Operations leadership team to develop annual plans in support of continuous improvement to drive improvements in key metrics such as safety, quality, delivery, cost, cash, employee engagement, and growth, identifying indicators for future improvement opportunities

• Drive Lean operating principles and establish location specific principles, communication, knowledge sharing and reporting strategies to provide visibility into continuous improvement efforts

• Support Lean Enterprise system maturity self-assessment process and coordinate gap closure planning with corporate Lean enterprise team.

• Provide training, coaching and mentoring of Lean principles, concepts, behaviors and tools that enhance the existing culture to one of continuous improvement at all levels of the organization

• Facilitate kaizen teams/events, track progress, and follow up to ensure gains are sustained

• Train and coach others at the location to become Lean practitioners and team facilitators

• Communicate to site leadership team on overall Lean Enterprise initiatives, continuous improvement projects, kaizen status and assessment of customer needs on a regular basis

• Participate as a member of the Corporate Lean Enterprise Team to evolve the Lean Enterprise system, share best practices, report progress and provide support to other Lean Managers as necessary

• Stay current with technologies and Lean concepts through continuing education and benchmarking

• Create and maintain an environment that promotes safety for people and processes

• Interface with location team members daily

• Assess efficiencies of labor, set up, processes, etc., in a continued effort to identify and communicate cost reduction opportunities

• Support quality improvement efforts associated with work processes and procedures

• Utilize SAP, analytics tools, and supporting system skills for efficient operations

• All other special projects and tasks as assigned

What Do You Need?

To be considered for this role, an individual should meet the following minimal requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS) in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Business or similar field

• Specialist I- minimum of 0-2 years of experience in Lean Manufacturing and Project Management in operations

• Specialist II-minimum of 3-5 years experience in Lean

• Proven history of experience grounded in Lean principles, tools, and systems such as Value Stream Mapping, Cell Design, Material Flow, Visual Management, Standard Work, 5S, TPM, Change Over, Mistake Proofing, Root Cause Analysis

• Demonstrated experience with transforming business processes, with the ability to promote and sustain continuous improvement efforts/projects and culture through engaging, influencing, inspiring, and motivating others

• Practical experience in project/ program management and lean implementation.  Strong management, communication, and leadership skills.  Should be motivated with a positive attitude, with ability to work in a group/team setting

• Progressive work history in manufacturing environment demonstrating growth in position and/or responsibility

• Strong analytical skills with the demonstrated ability to analyze multifaceted, complex situations, problems, and concepts

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in both Spanish and English, and the ability to effectively interact with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds

• Highly self-motivated and directed, able to work well under pressure, manage and prioritize multiple initiatives concurrently, attend to details, and meet deadlines

• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to be flexible, adaptable, and change priorities and direction as needed, allowing for optimum effectiveness

• Aptitude and desire to gain understanding of situations, processes, and procedures in an effort to improve them

• Ability to anticipate problems and take necessary action to minimize likelihood and impact of problems

• Proven ability to solve problems and consistently meet project deadlines and department objectives

• Ability to travel up to 10%

Preferred experience:

• Proficient in Microsoft Suite. SAP and QlikView preferred

• Lean practitioner and/or Six Sigma certification preferred

• Previous experience working within defined Lean system preferred

• Previous experience deploying Lean concepts at multiple sites, functions and/or businesses preferred

JOB DIMENSIONS:

• Position will report to the Perry Lean Manager and will partner with the broader Toro Lean Enterprise Team to evolve the Toro Lean Enterprise system

• Ability to walk and stand throughout working hours, up to 10 hours per day

• Manufacturing setting with moving equipment and varying lighting, temperature and noise levels

• Typical office environment as it pertains to lighting, temperature, and noise level when in administrative/operations offices

• Ability to work up to 75% of time in manufacturing environment to collaborate with teams and identify/implement improvements

• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and mouse, and to handle other computer components

What Can We Give You?   

At Ditch Witch, we are always working to make sure our employees know just how valued they are. In addition to a competitive salary, an affordable and top tier medical/dental/vision plan, 401k, and many other great benefits – Ditch Witch offers employees at our Perry, OK location a variety of perks, including: 

Dress for your day - We know you're more productive when you're comfortable, which is why employees are encouraged to take advantage of our casual, office-plant blended environment.

Wellness - In addition to physical wellbeing, TTC offers a variety of mental health, financial health, and other types of resources to every full-time employee.

Growth Opportunities – TTC prides itself on giving our employees the chance to grow their careers. Tuition reimbursement, opportunities to move into new areas of interest, and promotion opportunities are a few examples. 

Competitive Salary – The pay range takes into account skills, experience, education, and location. It is not common to be hired at or near the top of the range; compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the annual pay range is between ​$66900​ - ​$85000​. Cash compensation is one piece of our competitive total rewards package. You may be eligible to participate in an incentive program, which rewards employees based on individual and organizational performance. Eligibility and award amounts are determined by company policy and performance metrics. If you need to, you can access your pay early with the One@Work app, formerly the Even app.

The Toro Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military service, or other non-merit factors. We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for all employees

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