Continuous Improvement Manager

**Job Title: Continuous Improvement Manager**

**Reports To**: Plant Manager **Location: Collingwood, ON**

**Department**: Materials

**Remote Work**:No

**_______________________________________**

The CI Manager plays a critical leadership role in aligning improvement initiatives with plant goals, fostering a culture of accountability, data-driven decision-making, and employee engagement in a 24/7 automotive manufacturing environment. The CI Manager leads and manages the preparation, accuracy, and timely submission of all standard manufacturing reports for the plant. Serve as the owner of plant data management systems to ensure data integrity, accessibility, and alignment with continuous improvement objectives and plant performance tracking.

**Safety**
- **Ensure that all personnel** reporting to this position carry on with their responsibilities in a **safe and professional manner**.
- **Ensure personnel** in this area are kept at the proper competency level through **development**, apprenticeship, coaching, etc.
- **Ensure employees are provided appropriate guidance**, counseling, or recognition on matters related to job performance and absenteeism. Maintain constructive and candid relationships by addressing issues in a timely manner.
- Lead the implementation of **5S** **concepts/program**within the plant to ensure continuous and sustainable 5S improvements.
- Ensure full adherence to NSG/Pilkington **Values and Principles** and the **Standards of Business Conduct**.

**Cross-functional Leadership & Collaboration**:

- **Lead and coordinate cross-functional improvement initiatives** by mobilizing and aligning resources from all areas (Process Engineering, Maintenance, Production, Safety and Quality teams). Ensure that improvement priorities are driven through collaboration and accountability across departments, fully synchronized with plant goals and constraints.
- **Lead structured, recurring reviews of improvement initiatives with cross-functional teams to ensure** robust problem solving, alignment of actions with defined plans, and **achievement of targeted results.**:

- Actively contribute to plant leadership meetings, synchronizing improvement actions with resource planning and execution.

**Structured Problem Solving & Process Optimization**:

- **Lead the development and execution of structured problem-solving** methodologies with cross-functional teams (e.g., 5 Whys, A3, DMAIC) **to address chronic issues and improve plant performance**.
- **Drive the reduction of waste** (defects, downtime, scrap, rework, etc.) by identifying root causes, developing sustainable countermeasures, and monitoring long-term effectiveness.
- **Analyze process data, layouts, and flows** **to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies**, and lead targeted improvement projects with measurable outcomes.

**Lean Systems, Tools & TPM Leadership**:

- **Lead** the deployment and sustainability of Lean Manufacturing tools/**programs such as 5S, Kaizen**, Value Stream Mapping, Visual Management, and Standard Work.
- **Support the implementation of TPM** pillars and systems, ensuring proper handoff to area owners and integration with operational routines.
- Serve as a key **interface with Manufacturing Excellence and Central teams** to deploy best practices, MSTs, and corporate-wide initiatives.

**SOP Integration & Process Discipline**:

- Ensure that all continuous improvement actions resulting in process changes are fully documented and integrated into Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Partner with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, and Quality to audit and **reinforce process adherence, ensuring changes are sustained and behaviorally adopted.**:

- **Lead the development and** **control of process setup sheets**and control plans in alignment with updated standards.

**MES & Reporting Systems**:

- **Ensure the** **Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and related reporting platforms function as designed**, leading corrective and improvement actions when deviations occur.
- **Lead implementation and maintenance of SOPs**and best practices for SAP transactions/ production orders management.
- **Drive excellence in the use of SAP** for all production teams including MRP, inventory transactions, material master data, production orders tracking and **KPI’s reporting.**:

- **Ensure all daily SAP transactions** related to production orders **are executed in full compliance with established procedures**; conduct regular audits to verify data integrity and system discipline, and **lead prompt cross-functional communication and corrective actions** when inaccurate or incomplete SAP inputs are identified.
- **Own the accuracy and consistency of performance data** (scrap, downtime, OEE), ensuring visibility of KPIs to drive accountability and response.
- **Lead and manage** the preparation and submission of **all standard manufacturing reports for the group**, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with plant reportin