Continuous Improvement Champion

**Continuous Improvement Champion

**

**Wayne Wire

** is currently seeking a Continuous Improvement Champion for our Northwest Michigan headquarters!

As a vital asset to our operational leadership, this individual contributor will be the driving force behind hands-on manufacturing continuous improvement and capital project execution across our multi-facility operation.

If you are someone who loves to facilitate change, roll up your sleeves, and personally carry a project over the finish line this is the role for you.

**

**

**Why Wayne Wire?

**

Looking for stability? We have been growing our business for over 80 years! We manufacture custom filtration products for global customers in almost every industry, including aerospace, automotive, commercial, medical, refrigeration, marine, and more.

The world runs on Wayne Wire filters!

**

**

**Excellent Benefits Include:

**

• **Health & Wellness:

  ** Medical Insurance PPO (all plans with BCBS), Dental (Delta), and Vision (VSP).

• **Financial Security:

  ** 401(k) with company match, plus a discretionary Profit-Sharing program.

• **Peace of Mind:

  ** Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Company-Paid Life Insurance, and more.

• **Flexibility:

  ** Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

• **Balance:

  ** Paid holidays, paid vacation, and tuition reimbursement.

**

**

**Position Summary

**

The Continuous Improvement Champion serves as the ultimate cross-functional facilitator and execution expert. Instead of managing a direct team, you will partner directly with various departments to introduce CI models, optimize workflows, and personally drive capital projects from concept to final completion.

**

**

**Key Responsibilities

**

• **Hands-On Project Execution:

  ** Facilitate and actively drive cross-functional improvement projects, utilizing a hands-on approach to identify and eliminate waste, reduce process variability, and own the outcome from start to finish.

• **Capital Project Delivery:

  ** Take ownership of capital and work transfer projects, ensuring they are successfully executed, implemented, and pushed across the finish line.

• **Process Optimization:

  ** Analyze, validate, and implement current global manufacturing processes within our production facilities to enhance efficiency, Takt time, floor space utilization, and overhead.

• **Collaborative Problem Solving:

  ** Identify root causes of quality and productivity issues (cost, timing, environment) and collaborate with manufacturing team members to implement real-world solutions.

• **Influence:

  ** Effectively coordinate with and utilize resources across multiple departments to achieve shared organizational goals.

• **Ergonomics & Safety:

  ** Evaluate existing machinery and processes to find opportunities for improving and implementing minor design changes that enhance operator performance and safety.

• **Strategic Sourcing Input:

  ** Partner with the purchasing department to provide data-driven recommendations for sourcing strategy decisions.

• **Documentation:

  ** Maintain accurate documentation of manufacturing efficiencies, control plans, and best practices to ensure long-term sustainability.

**Education and Experience

**

• **Industry Background:

  ** Solid experience working within a multi-site manufacturing environment with a strong grasp of manufacturing methods, procedures, and Lean principles.

• **Technical Skills:

  ** Ability to write manufacturing control plans. Experience with metals, wire mesh manufacturing processes, AS9100, and NADCAP is a distinct plus.

• **Analytical Mindset:

  ** Proven experience analyzing complex functions, procedures, and operational problems to find creative, logical, and highly effective solutions.

• **Execution Focus:

  ** A meticulous, thorough approach to work with a demonstrated ability to systematically evaluate problems, prioritize tasks, and multi-task effectively.

• **Communication Skills:

  ** Exceptional active communication and diplomatic skills, with the ability to collaborate with diverse teams and gather input smoothly.

**

**

**Living in Northern Michigan

**

The Northern Michigan area provides individuals and families with an outstanding quality of life and limitless outdoor recreational opportunities. Enjoy a rewarding career where you can make a visible impact every day, right in the heart of a beautiful region.

**Compensation:

** Based on Education and Experience.

You should be proficient in:

• Bachelor's Degree
• Data Analysis and Manipulation
• Continuous Improvement
• Troubleshooting Skills
• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• Process Engineering
• Kaizen
• Quality Control Experience
• Lean Manufacturing Principles
• Six Sigma Experience
• ISO 9001 Certification Experience
• National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP)
• AS9100 Experience
• Root Cause Analysis

Machines & technologies you'll use:

• ERP Software