ABBOTT LABORATORIES Operational Excellence Manager - Sturgis MI Plant Salary in the United States

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 103,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Main Purpose of the Role

The Operational Excellence Leader has overall responsibility for the relevant Enterprise Excellence work streams within the site. They are responsible for leading and driving the principle-based behaviors within the plant which include: Creating value for our business and customers, accountability and ownership at all levels, integration and inclusiveness (within plant and outside of plant), focusing on the process, embracing data & facts, right first time culture, leading by example and respect for all. It is through these pillars; the Operational Excellence Leader will be responsible for the identification, management and execution of projects within the plant which will deliver year-over-year improvements. The Operational Excellence Leader will be the catalyst within the plant to appropriately, and respectfully, challenge status quo which will continually drive improvements via best practice replication (learning from within the network and externally), creative and innovative solutions, alignment of goals and objectives and resource planning to deliver results.

This position may be graded a 19 or 20 and based on the incumbent’s experience.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the development of new business approaches and concepts to maximize efficiencies and drive business performance.
• Lead and implement key strategic projects that will significantly improve margin and drive business outcomes for the site.
  • Develops an implementation plan, conducts risk assessments, estimates and verifies financial benefits and develops contingency plans to accommodate unforeseen events.
  • Recognizes and removes barriers to project completion. Recognizes the broader implications of actions and proposals on the overall business.
• Have a practical knowledge of the manufacturing processes and equipment capabilities at the site of support.
• Establishes standard approaches for productivity, and quality metrics/measurements (KPIs) to ensure optimum efficiency and effectiveness and develop data visualization tools/dashboards to drive operational performance – then drive this understanding throughout the site. Owns, communicates, educates and facilitates the site Continuous Improvement (CI) Projects/Objectives:
  • Mentor/train key stakeholders in the use and practice of continuous improvement methodologies and tools. (Lean, value stream mapping, six-sigma, Kaizen, Focused Problem Solving).
  • Assist in selecting, scoping and prioritizing CI projects
  • Estimate and verify financial benefits of CI projects
  • Acts as the change agent by helping employees learn, understand, adjust and grow within the continuous improvement culture
• Assesses current processes and standard work flow and identifies process improvement opportunities utilizing organizational, analytical, Lean and six sigma problem solving methodologies.
• Participates as a key business partner to the leadership team. Contributes to business strategy development and operational execution of business plans.
• Thinks strategically to anticipate future issues and challenges and create appropriate plans now, using proactive approaches.
• Demonstrates analytical capability to find systemic issues to root cause, and create actions plans to mitigate, close and/or eliminate.
• Drives the change management necessary to implement effective programs.
• Lead both direct employees and indirect teams of employees:
  • Solicit the cooperation of a diverse group of disciplines and functions in a tactful and persuasive manner.
  • Organize and lead cross functional teams and align team members to management's vision
  • 3 direct reports (Industrial Engineer & 2 Op Ex Specialists)

Education

Bachelor’s Degree BA/BS: Engineering, Business, Operations, Science, or equivalent work experience. Certification or equivalent working knowledge of improvement tools and methodologies – Lean/Six Sigma; Black belt preferred.

Background

Experience in the following:

• Minimum 2-4 years of demonstrated success in applying Continuous Improvement / OpEx tools
• Minimum 2 - 5 years’ experience in manufacturing operations, business improvement, quality systems and/or other areas related to project with an understanding of Abbott internal systems and procedures management.

  In addition, the following are required:

• Operations management and knowledge of cost accounting/financial reporting systems.
• Good functional computer skills (Microsoft Office programs, Excel, Visio, Minitab etc.) is required

• Knowledge of applicable regulatory standards and requirements for FDA regulated environment

• Willingness to travel (to facilitate personal development and support of other sites)
• Excellent interpersonal skills, adaptable to change, able to manage competing priorities, excellent analytical and problem solving skills, excellent written and verbal communication skills, project management and sense of business savvy.
• The ability to make critical decisions in a fast-paced production environment