Continuous Improvement Specialist

The Continuous Improvement Specialist plays a key role in building a sustainable culture of employee engagement in continuous improvement. This position will act as a change agent to elevate levels of plant performance and deliver high impact results. The CI Specialist functions as a member of the site leadership team and is responsible for all operational excellence activities. This role serves as a site resource to drive local CI improvement. The role may also liaison with divisional resources to execute productivity strategies and ensure CI activities are aligned with business goals related to Safety, Quality, Cost, Service, and People.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
May include, but are not limited to, the following:

Health, Safety and Environment

• Creates an environment of openness, trust, and mutual respect which allows employees to excel in HSE performance.
• Leads by example by following all safety rules and procedures and by using accepted safe work practices.
• Supports and adheres to Westlake HSE initiatives such as Westlake Life Critical Rules, Safe Start, and STAR

Continuous Improvement

•  Implement and manage continuous improvement activities to support and drive the site team to achieve zero harm, improve quality, reduce waste, and maximize process and equipment performance while reducing cost
• Identify areas of process improvement opportunities and work with Front Line Leaders to execute specific continuous improvement projects
• Lead site 5S efforts to improve workplace efficiency; maximize floor space and optimize product flow
• Monitor, and report implementation plans and progress in pursuit of projects and KPI’s
• Teach, lead and coach cross-functional teams on Lean and continuous improvement principles such as 5S, one-piece flow, TPM, Kanban systems, setup reduction
• Create standard operating procedures and standard work for plant site based on best practices and lean methods
• Oversee quality initiatives and metrics by working with the team to drive best practices that keep us on the forefront for quality in the industry.
• Assist with investigations into process and quality issues to identify root causes, develop corrective actions, and implement solutions
• Work with leadership team to drive cultural improvements that drive employee retention and engagement initiatives
• Collaborate with other Westlake locations and external sources to share and establish best practices

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education / Knowledge

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; engineering degree preferred, but not required.

Experience / Skills

• 3+ years of experience in process, operations and/or quality improvement
• Experience working in a continuous improvement/lean environment
• Practical experience leading continuous improvement activities/kaizen events (teaching, coaching and implementing operational excellence tools)
• Strong understanding of Lean Tools: Six Sigma, 5S, TPM, Kanban, Ishikawa, A3, 5-Why, MTTR, MTBF, Poka-yoke, JIT, Value-stream mapping
• High degree of technical aptitude with a demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing processes and logistics flows
• Ability to influence and create buy-in from teams through collaboration and development
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced work environment
• Demonstrated ability to teach, coach and persuade
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
•  Working on-site will be required
• Occasional travel to domestic and international sites
• An uncompromising safety-first approach in the workplace

Communication

• Effectively communicate with all levels of employment both verbally and in writing.  Interpersonal skills are also required. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk or hear and is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision (must be able to see and distinguish colors), and peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those and employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.