Lean Manufacturing Specialist, Sr. jobs in Rhode Island

Aspen Aerogels^® is a rapidly growing aerogel technology company founded in 2001 to capitalize on patented advances in aerogel manufacturing. Aspen’s extensive portfolio of proprietary aerogel products are manufactured at scale and sold worldwide in the Electric Vehicle, Energy Infrastructure, and Power Generation industries. Aspen is a Tier 1/2 Automotive supplier of PyroThin^® thermal barriers, and our Pyrogel^® and Cryogel^® insulation products are used by virtually all leading petrochemical and refining company across more than 50 countries.  We’re on a mission to build a world-class organization as we continue to grow our energy infrastructure business, and expand to meet demand for PyroThin thermal barriers in the rapidly growing Electric Vehicle sector over the next decade.  We’re looking for great passionate, dynamic talent to join our team. 

This role will work closely with the Director of Operational Excellence and function as a Center of Excellence role focused on building and supporting site teams with the deployment and standardization of the Aspen Business System, as well as executing high impact improvement projects across different functions and departments.

The ideal candidate has prior experience in developing Lean corporate standards, documentation, and training programs; executing high impact improvement projects or Kaizen events at a corporate or cross functional level and has served as the Lean Subject Matter Expert (SME) for an organization. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

• Supports in the Strategic Deployment yearly process across the sites.
• Facilitates and leads Business Process Improvement projects with tangible results in safety, quality, delivery, inventory, and productivity (cost) or SQDIP, across administrative departments.
• Facilitates and leads high-impact improvement Kaizen events and projects with tangible results in safety, quality, delivery, inventory, and productivity (cost) or SQDIP, across different manufacturing sites when needed.
• Manages the Lean development calendar for the organization.
• Creates, develops, and deploys Lean training materials and Lean development programs based on the Aspen Business System standards to promote a Lean culture.
• Serves as a centralized Lean Coach for the organization company-wide, supporting and working together with functional areas and site teams when needed.
• Runs analysis and creates reports and charts whenever needed to identify benchmark opportunities across the organization and define projects or initiatives to materialize into tangible improvements.
• Works together with IT and other functional departments to define, design, and deploy tools to improve our day-to-day operations, such as a streamlined KPI management system across the organization.
• Works to automate / streamline business processes and reporting (e.g. converting an Excel report to an automated report out of PowerBI, for example). 
• Supports with Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) standards and governance for the organization.
• Creates, reviews, and updates tools, formats, templates, and training material related to the Aspen Business System.
• Manages, oversees, and reports out on the Aspen Business System maturity progression status across the different manufacturing and non-manufacturing sites.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5 years of previous Lean Manufacturing experience (or equivalent) in a manufacturing environment defining, designing, and deploying Lean standards and coaching for an organization.
• Knowledge and expertise with building dashboards in PowerBI a plus
• Knowledge and expertise with a CI tracker (LeanDNA or similar) a plus
• Has led 10 Kaizen events which have successfully delivered savings.
• Has led 5 Lean training or development events.
• Demonstrated knowledge of VSM, standardized work, and daily management tools.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent preferred (Green Belt preferred).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Visio).
• Strong statistical, analytical, decision making & sense of urgency skills.
• Project management experience.
• Ability to work effectively in a variety of environments and assignments.
• Time management and planning skills.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and prioritize accordingly.
• Self-driven and motivated.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Frequently required to stand.
• Occasionally required to walk.
• Frequently required to sit.
• Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity.
• Occasionally required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl.
• Continually required to talk or hear.
• Frequently works near moving mechanical parts.
• Frequently works around fumes, airborne particles, or toxic chemicals.
• Occasionally exposed to extreme heat or cold (non-weather).
• While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include: Close vision; Distance vision; Color vision; Peripheral vision; Depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

PERKS OF JOINING OUR TEAM!

Aspen is committed to offering a comprehensive benefits package, a positive and productive work environment, encouraged work/life and family balance, and opportunities for growth and development, in a culture that is focused on inclusion, sustainability, and working together to solve the world’s toughest challenges.  

Aspen is proud to offer a competitive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Tuition Reimbursement, Paid Holidays, Sick Time, and PTO.  In addition, we also offer Fitness Reimbursement, a 401k Employer Match, Life and Disability Insurance, and other benefits. 

Aspen Aerogels, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO is the Law poster is available here: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf.

Aspen Aerogels, Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to abuttitta@aerogel.com or call (508) 466-3111 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. 

For Our Rhode Island Applicants:
 Aspen Aerogels, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. The East Providence, RI facility of Aspen Aerogels is subject to Title 28, Chapter 29-6.2 of Rhode Island General Laws, which governs Worker’s Compensation.