Head of Continuous Improvement

Polypipe Building Products are focused on delivering solutions to the residential sector. Polypipe Building Products works with national and local developers, plumbing and heating engineers, general builders and groundworkers to deliver above and below ground drainage systems, rainwater solutions as well as hot and cold plastic plumbing products.

Overview: The role is key to our operational strategy, focusing on change management, continuous improvement, operational readiness, process control and team development to aid and improve operational performance. Project managing a portfolio of continuous improvement projects through to successful completion on time and within budget, as well as designing and delivering continuous improvement training that underpins the strategic direction of the business and builds capability at all levels.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Champion and cultivate a strong culture which prioritises health and safety, encourages continuous improvement and delivers product to strict quality criteria.
2. Coach, mentor and develop the CI team to achieve their full potential and foster the development of an embedded CI culture.
3. To prioritise, plan and facilitate Kaizen events on site.
4. Contribute to the creation and implementation of best practice manufacturing vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures to aid and improve operational performance.
5. Highlight deficiencies and recommend changes in training, working practices and processes.
6. Effectively and efficiently manage the CI projects, meeting expectations, ensuring that costs are minimised, and targets are achieved using modern manufacturing principles.
7. Manage, coach and develop a high performing CI team that meets agreed objectives, and which delivers best practice results, added value and continuous improvements.
8. Target setting and ensuring agreed targets and deadlines are communicated, implemented and measured to drive manufacturing improvements.
9. Ensure CI projects are tracking on time and within budget and track and report on progress of those.
10. Ensure CI projects consider requirements for safe working conditions and compliance with health, safety and environmental legislation.
11. Coach and mentor yellow and green Belts and low-level project leads.
12. Engage closely with all business functions to give consistent strategic oversight and bring together common objectives.
13. Define and shape business cases for high value projects to support our strategic vision and agenda.
14. Turn complex analysis into meaningful strategy, which can be understood at all levels in an organisation.
15. Ensure a strong process control focus across Extrusion, Moulding and Assembly.
16. Aim to eliminate wastes within processes across all production areas.

Skills & Requirements:

1. Highly experienced/skilled in VSM, pull systems and Kanban.
2. Proven experience, knowledge and results in a lean operational environment.
3. Significant experience of using and/or implementing continuous improvement and Lean techniques such as 5S, problem solving, Standardised Work, Visual Management, Obeya Room, DMAIC.
4. A demonstrable history of leading major transformation projects.
5. A lean Six Sigma qualification (black belt is desirable).
6. Experienced in defining and shaping business cases for high value projects to support a strategic vision and agenda.
7. End-to-end supply chain experience including planning, sourcing, manufacturing and warehousing.
8. Strong financial management, problem solving and strategic-thinking skills.
9. Knowledge and understanding of S&OP process.
10. In-depth knowledge of world class planning and inventory processes.
11. The ability to write compelling business cases coupled with a thorough understanding of quantitative and qualitative methods.
12. Excellent communication skills and an ability to turn complex analysis into meaningful strategy, which can be understood at all levels in the organisation.
13. Significant experience in demanding manufacturing environment carrying out a similar role.

Working hours & Benefits:

1. Monday - Friday, 40 hours - site based position
2. Competitive Salary within current market
3. 25 days holiday entitlement
4. Save as you earn Sharesave Scheme
5. Contributory pension scheme - matched up to 8%
6. Life assurance (linked to pension scheme membership)
7. Cycle to work scheme
8. Free flu vouchers
9. Various health & wellbeing initiatives including complimentary occupational health on-site physiotherapy and counselling services
10. Staff discount on all Genuit Group products
11. Free on-site parking