Operational Excellence Specialist

Description:

Operational Excellence Specialist

Position Summary

The Operational Excellence Specialist is a salaried (support) leader responsible for developing and sustaining a highly skilled, self-directed hourly workforce in an automotive seat manufacturing environment. This position bridges union hourly (Core) employees and plant leadership by providing hands-on training, coaching, and continuous improvement support.

Drawing on prior experience as a union hourly team member, this role ensures employees are trained to build high-quality seats efficiently, fosters strong team ownership through self-directed work teams, and drives engagement and visual management on the plant floor.

Key Responsibilities

1. Hourly Workforce Training & Development

• Train new and existing hourly employees on:
  • Standardized work instructions
  • Quality requirements and defect prevention
  • Safe and efficient seat assembly processes
• Certify employees on job tasks and maintain training records
• Identify skill gaps and coordinate targeted retraining

2. Onboarding Support

• Lead structured onboarding for new hires including:
  • Safety protocols
  • Plant processes and expectations
  • Hands-on production training
• Partner with HR and production leadership to accelerate time-to-productivity

3. Team Leader Development

• Train and coach hourly team leaders on:
  • Leadership fundamentals (communication, accountability, conflict resolution)
  • Production tracking and escalation processes
  • Continuous improvement principles
• Serve as a mentor and resource for emerging leaders

4. Self-Directed Work Team (SDWT) Leadership

• Facilitate development of self-directed teams by:
  • Teaching problem-solving tools (root cause analysis, 5 Whys)
  • Promoting ownership of quality, safety, and productivity
  • Supporting team-led decision making and accountability

5. Visual Management & Shop Floor Excellence

• Lead implementation and sustainment of:
  • Visual work instructions
  • Production boards (SQDC: Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost)
  • Andon systems and escalation processes
• Audit adherence to visual standards and drive improvements

6. Employee Engagement & Culture

• Strengthen engagement through:
  • Daily interaction and coaching on the floor
  • Recognition of employee contributions
  • Support of team-based initiatives and feedback loops
• Act as a trusted liaison between hourly employees and leadership

7. Continuous Improvement Support

• Participate in Kaizen events and process improvement initiatives
• Assist in reducing waste, rework, and inefficiencies
• Reinforce lean manufacturing principles

Qualifications

Required

• Previous experience as a union hourly employee in automotive or similar manufacturing
• Direct experience building automotive seats or similar assemblies
• Strong understanding of plant operations and production processes
• Demonstrated ability to train and mentor others
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Preferred

• Experience with lean manufacturing principles
• Experience leading or participating in self-directed work teams
• Knowledge of quality systems (e.g., error-proofing, standardized work)

Key Competencies

• Leadership without authority
• Coaching and facilitation
• Process discipline
• Problem-solving
• Employee engagement
• Change management

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Training certification completion rate
• Time-to-productivity for new hires
• First-Time Quality (FTQ)
• Scrap and rework rates
• Labor efficiency / throughput
• Employee engagement scores
• Internal promotion rate for team leaders

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

Work performed in an office and manufacturing plant environments. Normal mobility to move around an office environment, able to conduct normal amount of work at a computer. Continuously walks and stands. Frequently performs fine finger movements, grips/grasps, push/pulls, bends/stops, and lifts and carries parts up to thirty (30) lbs. Must be available to work any shift as well as weekends and holidays as needed.

Training Requirements:

Orientation Sign-off

LM Compliance Policies

Safety Training

Department Training Requirements:

Training Checklist

This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential duties and responsibilities; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Requirements: