Continuous Improvement Manager

Job Title: Continuous Improvement Manager 

Reports To: Plant Manager Location: Collingwood, ON

Department: Materials 

Remote Work: No

The CI Manager plays a critical leadership role in aligning improvement initiatives with plant goals, fostering a culture of accountability, data-driven decision-making, and employee engagement in a 24/7 automotive manufacturing environment. The CI Manager leads and manages the preparation, accuracy, and timely submission of all standard manufacturing reports for the plant. Serve as the owner of plant data management systems to ensure data integrity, accessibility, and alignment with continuous improvement objectives and plant performance tracking.

Safety

 

• Ensure that all personnel reporting to this position carry on with their responsibilities in a safe and professional manner.
• Ensure personnel in this area are kept at the proper competency level through development, apprenticeship, coaching, etc.
• Ensure employees are provided appropriate guidance, counseling, or recognition on matters related to job performance and absenteeism. Maintain constructive and candid relationships by addressing issues in a timely manner.
• Lead the implementation of 5S concepts/program within the plant to ensure continuous and sustainable 5S improvements.
• Ensure full adherence to NSG/Pilkington Values and Principles and the Standards of Business Conduct.

Cross-functional Leadership & Collaboration

 

• Lead and coordinate cross-functional improvement initiatives by mobilizing and aligning resources from all areas (Process Engineering, Maintenance, Production, Safety and Quality teams). Ensure that improvement priorities are driven through collaboration and accountability across departments, fully synchronized with plant goals and constraints.
• Lead structured, recurring reviews of improvement initiatives with cross-functional teams to ensure robust problem solving, alignment of actions with defined plans, and achievement of targeted results.
• Actively contribute to plant leadership meetings, synchronizing improvement actions with resource planning and execution.
• Support NMI process and new equipment/process introduction by applying lessons learned and structured ramp-up planning and problem-solving.

Structured Problem Solving & Process Optimization

 

• Lead the development and execution of structured problem-solving methodologies with cross-functional teams (e.g., 5 Whys, A3, DMAIC) to address chronic issues and improve plant performance.
• Drive the reduction of waste (defects, downtime, scrap, rework, etc.) by identifying root causes, developing sustainable countermeasures, and monitoring long-term effectiveness.
• Analyze process data, layouts, and flows to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and lead targeted improvement projects with measurable outcomes.

Lean Systems, Tools & TPM Leadership

 

• Lead the deployment and sustainability of Lean Manufacturing tools/programs such as 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Visual Management, and Standard Work.
• Support the implementation of TPM pillars and systems, ensuring proper handoff to area owners and integration with operational routines.
• Serve as a key interface with Manufacturing Excellence and Central teams to deploy best practices, MSTs, and corporate-wide initiatives.

SOP Integration & Process Discipline

 

• Ensure that all continuous improvement actions resulting in process changes are fully documented and integrated into Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Partner with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, and Quality to audit and reinforce process adherence, ensuring changes are sustained and behaviorally adopted.
• Lead the development and control of process setup sheets and control plans in alignment with updated standards.

MES & Reporting Systems

 

• Ensure the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and related reporting platforms function as designed, leading corrective and improvement actions when deviations occur.
• Lead implementation and maintenance of SOPs and best practices for SAP transactions/ production orders management.
• Drive excellence in the use of SAP for all production teams including MRP, inventory transactions, material master data, production orders tracking and KPI's reporting.
• Ensure all daily SAP transactions related to production orders are executed in full compliance with established procedures; conduct regular audits to verify data integrity and system discipline, and lead prompt cross-functional communication and corrective actions when inaccurate or incomplete SAP inputs are identified.
• Own the accuracy and consistency of performance data (scrap, downtime, OEE), ensuring visibility of KPIs to drive accountability and response.
• Lead and manage the preparation and submission of all standard manufacturing reports for the group, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with plant reporting standards (MST's).

Training, Development & Best Practice Sharing

 

• Coach and mentor all levels of the organization in CI tools, techniques, and mindset, developing a culture of problem-solving and continuous learning.
• Support the development and execution of training plans to close knowledge and behavioral gaps identified through audits and CI initiatives.
• Promote knowledge sharing and benchmarking with internal sites and external best practices to elevate plant maturity.

Performance Monitoring & Cost Reduction (OCS)

 

• Lead the identification and execution of Operational Cost Savings (OCS) projects in collaboration with functional leaders to ensure the achievement of the OCS targets.
• Monitor and report progress of OCS, CI, Kaizen initiatives, ensuring alignment with area KPIs and budget targets.

Qualifications Required:

 

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operation Management or related field.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in operations management, preferably in the automotive industry.
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams and driving systemic improvements.
• Strong knowledge of MES/MRP/ERP systems, with demonstrated SAP expertise.

• Proven ability to lead in a 24/7 operational environment with rapid decision-making needs. Willingness to work flexible hours and provide on-call support to sustain 24/7 operations.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Qualifications Desired:

 

• Six Sigma Blackbelt or greenbelt certification
• Working knowledge of IATF 16949 or other automotive quality standards.