Lean Deployment Leader - Aviation Repair

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Job Summary

The Lean Deployment Leader is a Lean Thinker with a high level of expertise to drive continuous improvement. They will be responsible for facilitating Lean transformation projects, guiding teams in the use of Lean tools, and promoting a culture of operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have experience with Lean transformation, Hoshin Kanri, daily management, value stream mapping, and will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements and eliminate waste.

Job Responsibilities

Lean Transformation Facilitation
•    Facilitate Lean transformation initiatives across various departments to improve efficiency, eliminate waste, and enhance process flow.
•    Support the design and execution of Lean transformation strategies in alignment with the organization’s goals and priorities.
•    Guide teams through the application of Lean tools and methodologies, ensuring successful implementation and sustainable results.
Daily Management System Implementation
•    Establish and support the implementation of daily management systems, enabling teams to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and identify opportunities for improvement.
•    Coach teams on conducting effective daily stand-ups, problem-solving using Lean tools, and maintaining visual management systems to drive continuous improvement.
•    Help implement standardized work practices and other Lean tools to ensure process stability and consistency.
Value Stream Mapping & Analysis
•    Lead value stream mapping (VSM) workshops to assess current processes, identify inefficiencies, and create future state maps that reduce lead time, improve flow and reduce waste.
•    Work with cross-functional teams to prioritize improvement opportunities identified through value stream analysis.
•    Facilitate the development and execution of action plans to optimize value streams and drive process improvement initiatives.
Kaizen Event Facilitation
•    Plan, organize, and facilitate Kaizen events to identify and eliminate waste, improve process flow, and engage teams in continuous improvement activities.
•    Collaborate with teams to implement and sustain improvements made during Kaizen events.
•    Track the progress and outcomes of Kaizen activities, ensuring that improvements are measurable and sustained over time.
Training & Coaching
•    Provide Lean training and coaching to employees at all levels to build a deep understanding of Lean principles and tools.
•    Mentor teams on the use of Lean tools such as 5S, root cause analysis, A3 problem-solving, and standard work.
•    Foster a continuous improvement mindset by encouraging team members to take ownership of identifying and implementing improvements.
Performance Monitoring & Reporting
•    Support the development of KPIs that align with Lean transformation goals, ensuring that performance improvements are measurable and tracked.
 

Job Qualifications

Required Qualifications
•    Bachelor’s degree plus 3+ years’ of lean deployment/leadership experience in a manufacturing/ industrial setting - OR - Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline required.
•    3+ years of MS Excel experience, including pivot tables and formulas, required.
•    Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations and/or program requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
•    Aerospace industry experience preferred. 
•    An understanding of Lean Thinking and servant Leadership.
•    Certification in Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher preferred).
•    Strong working knowledge of Lean tools such as value stream mapping, 5S, Kaizen, and root cause analysis.
•    Hands-on experience facilitating value stream mapping workshops and executing process improvement projects 
•    Project management skills and the ability to lead cross-functional teams through change 
•    The demonstrated ability to influence all levels of the organization.
•    Ability to lead, coach and mentor highly