Global Lean Director (Continous Improvement)

A Career at HARMAN

We are ONE HARMAN. We are greater than the sum of our divisions or brands. We proudly talk about our many iconic brands and describe how our technologies are transforming the car, the workplace and everywhere in between. We work hard. We create useful, playful, beautiful things. We strive for excellence and we aim to win as a team. No matter the position, every employee at HARMAN is expected to demonstrate our core competencies: leadership, change-orientation, collaboration, judgment and a results-driven mindset. At HARMAN, we expect brilliance. You can expect a career full of brilliant possibilities.

The position of Global Ops Excellence – Harman Production System is responsible for the Continuous Improvement Process Design, tracking compliance and performance, planning, updating, and coaching Core CI Elements, and following-up CI deployment to ensure timely, cost effective countermeasures, for driving strategy, standardization (One Goal), and best practices across all HARMAN operations. The role is responsible to define and ensure alignment to Global Standards.

The role needs to understand processes outside of manufacturing such as Material Systems, Design, Procurement, Logistics, Program Management, Configuration Management, and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. The role will lead to the development, implementation and administering of the HPS-Model in order to improve manufacturing operations as well as transactional processes across all regions.  The role is responsible to participate and drive Cost reduction projects (PACE25) using Innovation in all the projects and improvements.

Managerial Responsibilities:

• Direct reports include global site HPS leaders and their supporting teams.
• Work in a cross-functional, matrixed organization to drive change and consensus.

Job Responsibilities:

 This position requires strong leadership skills regarding coordination and implementation of best practices within cost and productivity improvement measurements and processes across the global operations organization. Evaluates current business performance and identifies gaps in critical areas which limit efficient operation.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead the HPS Leaders and Organization and interact directly with high-level executives both internally and externally.
• Set the strategic direction and roadmap for the HPS teams worldwide and execute on critical projects.
• Provide strategic direction and mentoring to Site HPS Managers/Leaders
• Develop, establish and apply a common HPS-Model across all regions and sites
• Keep the HPS-Model up to date to meet business needs and improve competiveness and profitability today and in future
• Set-up and enforce standardization of HPS related methods, processes, procedures and tools across all regions (i.e. Standardized Work including the development of Work Balance, STW Chart, Work Combination Table etc.)
• Plan, initiate and execute HPS Leadership workshops across all regions to set a common mindset and approach globally
• Plan and execute HPS maturity assessments/audits in all regions
• Link Process Design, Problem Solving, Knowledge Sharing, and Servant/Teaching Leadership in a coherent strategy to determine the need for improvement
• Plan and apply “HPS “Shift Left” workshops at newly awarded customer projects globally
• Identify, moderate, and assist cost/productivity improvement workshops in close cooperation with the production site leaders in all regions
• Establish and Apply Cost Improvement System Audits in FE, NA, and EU
• Plan, collect and track manufacturing cost improvement savings globally
• Establish and utilize a proper “common SharePoint” to share CI development, best practices, materials, and follow-up globally
• Collaborating with manufacturing organization to drive continuous improvements in all aspects of manufacturing through advanced methodologies and processes.
• Attracting, leading, coaching, developing and retaining high-performance/competence HPS management team with an emphasis on developing capacity in working across boundary and get things done to accomplish company goals and objectives.
• Providing effective and inspiring leadership in development on inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff during organizational changes.
• Work in a matrixed organization to drive standardization and best practices globally in HARMAN operations
• Develop and design a best-in-class lean continuous improvement culture based on HPS understanding, industry experience and insights into future direction

Basic Qualifications:

• Integrity.
• Innovation.
• Inclusion.
• Teamwork & Respect.
• Excellence.
• Engineering Career. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or other relevant course of study.
• Minimum 10 years of Continuous Improvement experience with deep knowledge of lean manufacturing concepts (TPS)
• Problem Solving skills.

HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.