Manager of Automation and Continuous Improvement

As a key member of the Crescent Engineered Solutions Group, the Manager of Automation and Continuous Improvement will utilize engineering and problem-solving methodologies to implement automation and process improvements.  The Manager of Automation and Continuous Improvement will provide a range of engineering services, drive transformation across sites through automation, continuous improvement, and Value Stream Mapping initiatives. 

The Engineered Solutions Group will operate as outlined in the Crescent Way- 3 P’s:

• Purpose
• Process
• People

While building on our culture of:

• Doing it Right
• Doing it Safe
• Doing it Well

Safety

• Drive the Crescent Safety culture to ensure a Work Environment which is safe and maintained where our people can safely grow and develop.
• Observe and improve all plant layouts and equipment upgrades to ensure production can operate safely.
• Evaluate and recommend standard work to ensure work can be performed safely.
• Always consider Safety as the first design priority on new solutions.
• Continually seek out and remove all forms of risk.

People

• Provide / support training to others in the Lean/CI/VSM, especially to process managers, supervisors, leads, and shop floor personnel.
  • Train – Establish training as a core value within Crescent
  • Work collaboratively to guide, train, and create a culture of continuous improvement
  • Recognize to ensure each person feels appreciated for the value they provide.
• Lead people to encourage maximum performance and dedication.

Productivity

• Continually explore the competitive use of technology and automation, providing Crescent and customers with flexibility and improved productivity
• Evaluate new technology and automation for implementation at Crescent Sites
• Coordinate automation projects across Crescent
• Carry out follow-up programs to maintain the achieved savings, to complete additional training, to detect further savings opportunities, as well as ensure the overall continuity of the project.
• Ensure the transfer of all best practices across all site operations.
• Be a "leader of change". This person must be comfortable working with all levels within the organization. They must be able to question the status quo and be a strong communicator.
• Lead key Lean projects, providing leadership in developing practical solutions to complex analytical problems.
• Provide knowledgeable assistance as a resource to our plants and administrative departments, helping to identify, plan, and implement continuous improvement projects.
• Be the expert on Lean manufacturing and overall continuous improvement concepts (Value Stream Mapping, kaizen, and process management) as well as providing learning opportunities to members
• Improve the CI infrastructure, ensuring ongoing improvements.
• Align strategically with corporate offices and other facilities to standardize processes across the entire company.
• Facilitate Kaizens, brainstorming sessions, workshops, problem solving sessions and process mapping exercises to bring alignment, extract knowledge and improve performance
• Travel to other plants within region to support, lead and follow-up on activities (5-10% travel).

Quality

• Ensure Quality is built into the procurement of all new equipment, production floor and facility designs.
• Drive Continuous Improvement making it foundational to our Culture.

Customer Value

• Drive Solutions which ensure Crescent is branded as an innovative service provider and provide value to our customers.
• When designated, provide project management leadership with customers
• Communicate with customers the status of projects, improvement ideas and issue resolution

Financial

• Responsible to specify, source and select cost effective capital equipment capable of improving our ability to deliver the highest quality and a competitive price.
• Provide detailed benefit analysis of automation and capital projects
• Optimize resources to meet or exceed annual, and individual project budget targets

Do It Right

Doing what is right for our Customers, doing what is right for our Company and doing what is right for our People.  Continually improving the quality of our product and services.  Monitoring and measuring every key ingredient which could negatively impact our quality.  Doing it Right ensures we will always be a Premier Service Provider.

• Identifier and champion of change opportunities, adept at countering resistance to change and an advocate for continuous improvement
• Provide direction and rally the team impetus, forge teams
• Able to take the team places it doesn’t know it needs to go
• Develops readiness for delegation to others and then does delegate to others
• Willing to take calculated risks
• Has a “Do it Right” approach vs a “being right” mindset

Do It Safe

Providing a safe environment and supporting our people to reach their highest potential.  A safe environment where all forms of risk are assessed and controlled.  A safe environment open to new ideas, where our people’s opinions and overall well-being count.  A diverse environment where everyone fits and can be successful.

• Self-assured
• Able communicator—good clarity, balanced talker and listener
• Patient
• Effectively assertive and able to handle conflict and confrontation situations
• Solution vs. blame oriented
• Mixture of firmness and flexibility
• Has energy and enthusiasm
• Holds self and others accountable

Do It Well

Optimizing workload to efficiently and effectively perform all tasks well.  Our overall productivity as a company is a reflection of the thousands of activities performed well each and every day by everyone.  At Crescent, our ability to Do it Well is a real source of pride valued by our customers.

• Systematic trainer, willing and able to develop people
• Good work ethic, task focused and willing to extend extra effort
• Able to follow structure where it exists and create structure where it does not
• Resilient—able to deal with the unexpected, not easily flustered
• Has sense of urgency
• Humble: respectful, receptive, agile, eager to learn
• Follows up to ensure quality task completion

• Fast paced environment, requiring one to adapt to continuous changes in schedules, volumes, staffing and shift requirements.

• High average to above average general intelligence, good common sense and an ability to learn and apply lessons from direct experience
• Technical knowledge of automation and packaging equipment
• Ability to lead multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize accordingly
• Results-oriented with good project management, organizational, and prioritization skills while being able to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• Experience in successfully managing kaizen events in production and/or non-production environments.
• Technical knowledge of the lean manufacturing systems and tools (i.e. 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Work Balancing, Standard Work, TPM, SMED, etc.)
• High level of interpersonal and leadership skills with capability to influence, coach, and partner across multiple levels of an organization and regions of the world.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to collaborate with all levels of organization
• Humble: respectful, receptive, agile, eager to learn
• Transparent: shares critical information, speaks with candor, contributes constructively

• CAD
• Pack Manager
• Microsoft Project
• Kronos
• Microsoft Office Suite – strong Excel
• Other Equipment software applications

• Safety
• People
• Productivity
• Quality
• Customer Value
• Financial

Education & Experience: 

• Engineering Degree
• 5 years minimum working in a Lean Environment working on Engineering Projects
  • Capital Projects / Automation
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • Problem Solving – A3, 5 Why
• Multiyear experienced in the design and implementation of engineering-based projects
• Knowledge of packing and packing equipment
• Project Management

We will absolutely know the Engineering Solutions Manager is successful if they can:

• Improve productivity through the implementation of automation and process flow.
• Drive and maintain CI Pipeline, VSM and improvement projects
• Value Stream Mapping and Daily improvement are a source of projects and actions
• Cutting edge use of Engineered Solutions throughout the operating business units –
  • Automation
  • Kaizen events / layout changes

By completing this application, you are acknowledging the following: 

• I am at least 18 years of age of older 
• I can perform the essential functions of this position, with or without accommodation
• I am a US Citizen or otherwise authorized to work in the US on an unrestricted basis