THE COMPANY

Our client is a manufacturer of automotive supplies and safety systems.

THE POSITION

The Global Vice President, Operations will be responsible for production, quality and the supply chain. The key performance indicators for this role are safety, quality, delivery and cost. This individual will help support the continued growth of customers while cost-effectively scaling new business and technologies. The position will report to the COO and be a member of the leadership team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide overall leadership of safety, quality, production and manufacturing engineering, consistently meeting or exceeding performance expectations.
• Lead the company’s Lean journey, including rapid deployment of 5S, visual management systems, Six Sigma, standardized work practices, production leveling, Kaizen improvements, ergonomic analysis and more.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement through education and employee involvement.
• Provide hands-on development of the Operations team – providing coaching, encouragement and sharing of best practices. Help the team continuously build their skills to meet or exceed performance expectations now and, in the future, as the company grows and transforms.
• Provide overall safety, quality, compliance and environmental leadership for operations.
• Reduce conversion costs through production efficiency, scrap reduction, kaizen events and continuous improvement.
• Maintain and improve culture of metrics-based accountability – safety (recordables and near misses), quality (OEM PPM, scrap, yield), productivity (labor cost per unit), on-time delivery and improved contribution margins.
• Continuously develop and implement innovative manufacturing process improvements, including the layout and flow of product and materials through the plant.

• Twenty-five years of progressive manufacturing experience that includes quality and supply chain roles, with 10 years at the VP level.
• A background that includes work in an automotive OEM environment.
• Twenty years of practical experience implementing Lean (TPS) manufacturing, with 15 years of leading Lean transformations; formal training through a reputable source.
• Experience managing a global, multi-site manufacturing operation for a large business.
• Balanced strategic view and functional approach to problem solving, planning and execution.
• Strong leadership skills and proven ability to facilitate cross-functional teams while building consensus. Leads by personal example and acts like an owner and not an employee.