CI Specialist

Charlotte, NC, United States

Continuous Improvement (CI) at Electrolux is one of our top strategic drivers to deliver outstanding and continuously improved customer & consumer experiences with a competitive cost structure. This role will drive projects to deliver Cost to Serve (CTS) optimization and process improvements for the Business Area North America (BA NA) major appliances commercial organization.

The CI Specialist will collect and analyze data, and manage projects to reduce waste and optimize investments in our cost to deliver products to our retail and builder customers; as well as projects to improve commercial processes to drive efficiencies, transparency and increases in customer satisfaction.

BA NA utilizes the Electrolux Manufacturing System (EMS) program in pursuit of operational and commercial excellence. All improvement projects will utilize EMS principles and problem-solving methods, and all processes identified will be documented and taken through the EMS process map to ensure sustainable actions.

The role will work closely with BA NA Sales, Sales Operations, Commercialization, Marketing, and external Customers; and cross-functionally with IT, Manufacturing Operations, Transportation & Logistics, Warehousing, Demand Planning, Supply Planning, Product Line and Finance; to standardize, define, measure, implement and continuously improve the BA commercial processes.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Collect, structure, and analyze data to baseline performance and identify and prioritize improvement opportunities.

Drive the execution and track all assigned cost to serve and continuous improvement projects utilizing EMS principles, including but not limited to: Reduction of product returns, damages, obsolete and scrapping costs,

Reduction of reschedules of product deliveries to customers and consumers,

Reduction of non-compliance to customer’s vendor policies related to order fulfillment, and

Optimization of delivery mode and frequency.

Manage and maintain comprehensive project documentation.

Promote, facilitate, and educate CI / EMS principles, tools and practices within the commercial areas so that it becomes a "part of the culture” at Electrolux.

Measure and report project performance using appropriate project management tools.

Present findings and recommendations with confidence and communicate these to sponsors and key stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

4 years of relevant experience with a at least 2 years of experience leading continuous improvement projects.

Bachelor’s degree required.

Master’s degree preferred.

Strong project management skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Exceptional time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to support actionable objectives and provide data driven results.

Ability to present complex data, analyses, and recommendations.

Well versed in modern tools and methodologies of process improvement based on Lean principles.

Understanding of accounting statements and cost accounting methods

Knowledge of Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, and S&OP processes

Six Sigma Green Belt preferred

Ability to travel domestically ( Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required.

Diagnostic Skills:

Strategic prioritization: able to identify and prioritize key process improvement opportunities in line with needs using financial and non-financial metrics.

Ability to set improvement goals to impact area needs.

Analytical problem solving able to identify problems; apply structured and disciplined methodology to identify root cause using data and generate new solutions to complex problems.

Analysis of ‘as-is’ state, ‘to-be’ state, gap analysis, prioritized waste, and development appropriate CI countermeasures to deliver improved performance. Clear understanding of principles that guide tool selection.

Activity Management :

Proven ability to take responsibility for leading, directing, and managing change. Can determine a vision of the future state and provides direction, focus and drive during the change process.

Strong advocate and catalyst for change, providing resources, removing barriers, and leading or supporting others leading change.

Able to influence cross functionally without direct authority.

Can work independently, with guidance in only the most complex situations.

Planning ability over all time horizons; can shift (as required) between the need for detailed day-to-day planning up to and including the ability to develop strategic improvement plans for own area of responsibility.

Developing performance measurements that ensure key performance indicator systems are consistently tracking the right measures and provoking the right responsive behavior.

Ensures improved performance of CI initiatives are sustained post intervention.

Delivers results through others by energizing teams and encouraging creativity and ownership.

Audit & Observation:

Ability to evaluate processes from a purpose, process , and people perspective to identify problems, waste, or improvements.

Knows what ‘best in class’ looks like and can articulate / communicate vision.

Can challenge the process and thinking in a non-confrontational manner.

Coaching :

Can determine ‘as-is’ organizational capability (knowledge/skills/expertise) and has the capability to teach, coach, mentor a targeted future state at multiple organizational levels.

Coaching at multiple levels with the ability to contextualize use of EMS / CI principles in application.

Achieve results through others by making better people.

A role model for the following CI behaviors: Goal Alignment, Process & Results, Commitment to Standards, Question & Challenge, PDCA Learning and Support & Recognition.

IT / Digital Skills

IT literacy to support above.

Systems knowledge

Strong Excel skills

SAP/IBP knowledge preferred.

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