Continuous Improvement Manager

Ashland Specialty Ingredients, GP

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious? Are you always solving? Then we'd like to meet you and bet you'd like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for a Continuous Improvement Manager to join our Specialty Ingredients G.P.

business at our Hopewell, VA location.

This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the Manufacturing function.

This position will report to the plant manager.

The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:


* Serve as subject matter expert for CI Methodology, CI Tools and implementing APS to drive operational improvements.


* Become a business partner with operations and functional management to identify opportunities.

Utilize systematic problem-solving (including Root Cause Analysis, Kaizens, Loss Analysis, and DMAIC methodology) to eradicate losses while focusing on People, Processes, and Data to obtain measurable and sustainable results.


* Work with plant teams on problem-solving to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.


* Facilitate training and development to build continuous improvement toolkits (i.e., process mapping, root cause analysis, etc.) and drive consistent methodologies across the network.


* Implement, support and coach site production system (APS), including Tier meetings, KPI development and tracking and standard work.


* Utilize the appropriate process improvement methodologies or statistical methods to solve operational problems, improve process capability and efficiency, and enhance product quality.


* Manage Site Improvement Projects through project plan development, results tracking, and leading and coaching site leaders through the project execution process.


* Actively participate in the CI network to identify, translate, and promote best practices that can be applied in the plant.


* Promote the transformation from a reactive organizational culture to one that is more preventative and predictable, utilizing data-driven decision-making, sustainable actions, and Continuous Improvement tools.


* Align to Ashland's key initiatives, competitive priorities, and accountabilities and ensure the linkage of continuous improvement efforts with these goals.

In order to be qualified for this role, you must possess the following:


* A bachelor's degree in: Engineering, Science, Business, Statistics, Computers, or related fields and/or related experience plus education.


* Lean Six Sigma Green Belt is required: Six Sigma Black Belt is highly preferred.


* 5+ years of Continuous Improvement experience within manufacturing.


* Working knowledge of m...