Kaizen Facilitator

Overview

As a valued member of the NA Manufacturing team, the Kaizen Facilitator will plan, lead, and facilitate Kaizen events and continuous improvement activities on the shop floor, driving measurable gains in Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost. This role coaches team members and front-line leaders in the use of Lean tools and problem-solving methods, helping build a culture where continuous improvement is part of everyday work. This position is in Ripon, WI and reports to the Director of Continuous Improvement.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and facilitate Kaizen events and Team Improvement projects, guiding cross-functional teams through Lean problem-solving from chartering to results.
• Train and coach members and front-line leaders in core Lean tools and concepts, including 5S, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, Visual Management, SMED, and Kanban.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering leaders to identify improvement opportunities in safety, quality, delivery, and cost, and prioritize Kaizen activity accordingly.
• Support goal deployment into actionable Kaizen and improvement events.
• Gather and analyze process data (cycle times, defect rates, downtime, etc.) to identify root causes and validate improvement results.
• Develop and maintain standard work documentation, visual controls, and metric boards to sustain gains after each event.
• Track, measure, and report progress on Kaizen activity and improvement projects against established KPIs; escalate barriers as needed.
• Champion a problem-solving, idea-driven culture on the shop floor by role-modeling behaviors and engaging team members at all levels.
• Assist in the planning and delivery of Lean training workshops for team members, supervisors, and plant leadership.
• Pilot and help improve Continuous Improvement methodology within the assigned area — testing new Lean tools and event formats, and contributing to CI standard work, event templates, and training materials in partnership with the Continuous Improvement team.

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, or a related field, OR equivalent manufacturing experience.
• 4+ years of hands-on experience facilitating Kaizen events, Lean projects, or continuous improvement activities in a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience implementing Lean tools and concepts such as 5S, Standard Work, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, SMED, line balancing, and root cause problem solving (A3, 5-Why, Fishbone).
• Lean/Six Sigma certification (e.g., Green Belt) a plus.
• Experience training or coaching others in Lean methods preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong facilitation skills; able to lead diverse teams through structured problem-solving in a fast-paced production environment.
• Effective communicator who can teach and coach team members at all levels of the organization.
• Comfortable gathering and interpreting basic process data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Detail-oriented with strong follow-through on action items and sustaining improvements after events close.
• Builds trust and engagement on the shop floor; approaches challenges with curiosity rather than blame.
• Organized and able to manage multiple Kaizen events or projects concurrently.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); familiarity with visual management or CI tracking software a plus.
• Energetic, hands-on, and willing to spend time on the plant floor.

Physical Requirements:

• Position involves standing for extended periods on the plant floor, walking throughout the facility, manual dexterity, stooping, bending, and minimal lifting (<40 pounds).

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