Continuous Improvement Manager

Howmet Engines is a world-class producer of aero engine and industrial gas turbine components, including airfoils, rings, disks and forgings. We excel in vacuum melted superalloys, machining, performance coatings and hot isostatic pressing for high performance parts that enable the next generation of quieter, more fuel-efficient aero engines and cleaner power generation. Howmet Dover Casting is a world-class supplier of complex, investment-cast turbine airfoils and other components for the aircraft engine and industrial gas turbine industries. Howmet Dover Alloy is a world-class supplier of vacuum and air-melted nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys to aerospace, gas turbine, medical and other high-technology industrial markets.

Along with your pay, our company provides you with a comprehensive package of benefits that is competitive with other leading companies. Some of our benefits include: Paid vacation each year, based on length of service; 13 paid holidays per year; 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, company may match a percentage of your pre-tax contributions; Employer contribution to your Retirement Savings Plan account each pay period; Medical/Prescription Drug/Dental/Vision benefits offered upon hire; Employee Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Tuition Assistance Program; Free fitness center membership.

JOB SUMMARY

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager is responsible for driving the plant's transformation by implementing and sustaining Lean principles, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This role will serve as a teacher, coach, and mentor, working closely with employees at all levels to build capabilities, overcome resistance to change, and ensure long-term adoption of CI practices. The CI Manager will align improvement initiatives with business objectives, ensuring measurable impact on productivity, capacity, and overall plant performance.

Job Roles

• Improvement agent--provides expertise and guidance while contributing substantively to implementation and solutions; serves with both strategic and tactical implementation assistance; listens well to ensure the right interventions occur; maintains focus as an internal partner versus outside observer
• Sustainability support--understands plant and enterprise level strategy and prioritizes accordingly; creates follow up plans, support and accountability to ensure adoption and independent implementation
• Educational implementer--conducts planned events and responds to operational needs to create efficiencies that support strategies; enables next steps for the business and creates virtuous cycles of feedback and performance at a local level; manages projects and events efficiently and maximizes allocation of resources under time pressure
• Business acumen--creates compelling business case for events and interventions; understands and communicates the "why" behind efforts; measures success based on business performance
• Analysis and synthesis--seeks first to listen and understand; determines root cause with contributions from others; translates based on observation and input; technical expert in ABS
• Influence--compels others without direct authority; provides business case and data-driven justification for events; appreciates the use of other leaders' resources and people, holds those things in trust; creates a favorable brand for ABS and CI
• Coach--helps others grow their capability; motivated by teaching and improvement; embraces the need to receive invitation; contributes to Talent Factory strategy by increasing awareness and functionality of individuals and groups
• Creativity and innovation--challenges the status quo; networks internally to gather information; offers ideas and potential solutions based on observation and direct feedback from operators and supervisors
• Strategic perspective--driven to improve the plant to improve the business; prioritizes based on hoshin and collaboration with other leaders; identifies areas of greatest potential return and adds value at the decision making level; evaluates effectiveness of events and interventions based on performance metrics in addition to CI and ABS metrics; thinks about the business as it will be in the future when deciding what to do today

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Expected to assist in the implementation of Howmet's value and policy statement and its accompanying principles.
• Comply with all department, facility, Corporate and Regulatory EH&S regulations.
• Wear all required personal protective equipment.
• Report all job-related illness and injuries. (Per employee handbook).
• Report all Safety, Health & Environmental concerns to your supervisor in a timely manner.
• Attend all EH&S training.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Job Functions

• Change leadership and culture building
• Develop and execute change management strategies to embed CI principles into the plant's culture.
• Build trust and credibility with frontline employees, supervisors, and leadership teams to drive engagement in improvement initiatives.
• Act as a thought leader in Lean and CI, ensuring alignment with enterprise-wide strategies.
• Process improvement and performance optimization
• Identify, prioritize, and lead high-impact CI initiatives that improve productivity, capacity, quality, and yield.
• Utilize data analytics, KPIs, and root cause analysis to assess operational performance and determine key focus areas.
• Facilitate kaizen events, value stream mapping, and other Lean methodologies to drive efficiency.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to eliminate waste, improve workflows, and enhance standardization across the plant.
• Coaching, training, and sustainability
• Develop and deliver training programs to equip employees and leaders with problem-solving and CI skills.
• Provide hands-on coaching to plant leadership, supervisors, and frontline employees to build a self-sustaining CI culture.
• Guide the certification of Plant HBS (Howmet Business Systems) Leaders, Plant Manager, Operations Manager, and Manufacturing Managers to ensure ownership of CI initiatives.
• Establish follow-up mechanisms to ensure accountability, progress tracking, and continuous improvement momentum.
• Strategic alignment and business impact
• Ensure all CI efforts align with Hoshin Kanri (strategic deployment) and business priorities.
• Create a compelling business case for CI initiatives, clearly communicating the "why" behind improvements.
• Partner with senior leaders to integrate CI principles into daily management systems and long-term strategic planning.
• Provide monthly reporting on the status and results of key CI projects, including stoplight reporting and top project tracking.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

• Reports to: Plant Manager
• Location: On-site manufacturing plant (800 employees, 1,000+ pieces of equipment)
• Environment: Fast-paced, complex, and in early stages of Lean transformation
• Collaboration: Works closely with plant leadership, operations, engineering, quality, and frontline employees
• Travel: Minimal, primarily focused on site-based initiatives
• Development, build & implementation of new fixture designs and support tool builds

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations management, business, or a related field.
• 7 years of experience in continuous improvement, Lean manufacturing, or operational excellence within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record of leading Lean transformations and overcoming resistance to change.
• Strong facilitation skills, with experience leading kaizen events and training employees at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to use data analytics, root cause analysis, and KPIs to drive improvement initiatives.
• Experience coaching and mentoring leaders, supervisors, and frontline employees in CI methodologies.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to align CI initiatives with financial and operational goals.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in business administration (MBA), engineering, or related field.
• Certifications in Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt, Black Belt), or Shingo principles.
• Experience in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with Hoshin Kanri, daily management systems, and advanced business systems (ABS or equivalent models).
• Background in leading CI initiatives in plants that are early in their Lean journey.