Manufacturing Strategy and Lean Director

Location: Based in the United States

Reports To: Vice President of Global Operations Refinish

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Manufacturing Strategy and Lean Director to:

• Drive the development and execution of a comprehensive manufacturing strategy for our Refinish operations.
• Align global production capabilities with the company’s business objectives, fostering innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.
• Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for growth.
• Utilize LEAN manufacturing practices and continuous improvement methodology and tools to optimize global manufacturing processes.
• Create a culture focused on innovation, efficiency and sustainability that creates a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
• Lead the strategic deployment of LEAN principles to drive operational excellence across all Refinish manufacturing sites worldwide.
• Develop, implement and hold sites accountable for utilizing processes that are aligned to Axalta’s global objectives for SPQDC Safety, People, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.
• Be a change agent who excels at collaborating with diverse teams to deliver transformational results in efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
• Utilize data to analyze the operations network and identify optimization opportunities.
• 50-75% Travel required to support Global Manufacturing Operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Planning and Execution

• Develop and implement a global manufacturing strategy aligned with corporate goals, market trends, and customer demands.
• Assess current manufacturing capabilities and identify opportunities for operational optimization, capacity expansion, and technological innovation.
• Lead strategic initiatives such as global footprint rationalization, site selection, and production capacity planning.

2. Global Operations Alignment

• Collaborate with regional and site leaders across all Business Units to ensure manufacturing strategies address local market needs while adhering to global standards.
• Develop and maintain a framework for benchmarking operational performance across facilities to drive consistency and excellence.
• Align with R&D, quality, procurement, and supply chain teams to ensure seamless integration of new products and technologies into manufacturing operations.

3. Sustainability and Innovation

• Develop strategies to incorporate sustainability into manufacturing processes, focusing on energy efficiency, waste reduction, and eco-friendly materials.
• Explore and implement advanced manufacturing technologies, such as Industry 4.0, automation, and data analytics, to enhance productivity and agility.

4. Financial and Investment Oversight

• Partner with Finance and Operations to identify and prioritize capital expenditure (CapEx) projects, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Evaluate and propose investment opportunities for new manufacturing technologies, capacity expansions, and modernization initiatives.
• Monitor cost structures globally and implement strategies to optimize cost competitiveness without compromising quality or safety.

5. Risk Management and Compliance

• Assess risks associated with global manufacturing operations and develop mitigation strategies to ensure business continuity.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards across global manufacturing sites.

6. Team Leadership and Development

• Build and lead a cross-functional team focused on executing the global manufacturing strategy.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability within the organization.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to team members to drive engagement and performance.

7. Lean Strategy Development and Deployment

• Develop and implement a global Lean strategy aligned with the company's operational and business goals.
• Partner with site leaders and regional operations teams to deploy Lean tools and methodologies such as Value Stream Mapping, 5S, SMED, Kaizen, and Standard Work.
• Create a roadmap for continuous improvement projects to achieve operational excellence across all facilities.

8. Operational Excellence Leadership

• Lead the identification, prioritization, and execution of process improvement initiatives that enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost (SQDC).
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress, ensure accountability, and drive continuous improvement.
• Act as a champion for wa