The Continuous Improvement & Quality Manager provides leadership, coaching, and project management to support the company鈥檚 Lean transformation and quality excellence within cabinet manufacturing operations. This role identifies improvement opportunities across production, quality, and material flow and works closely with company leaders to realize improvement potential using Lean tools such as Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 6S, Daily Management, Standard Work, Pull Systems, Visual Management, and structured problem-solving. The position is responsible for embedding a sustainable culture of continuous improvement while ensuring cabinetry products consistently meet quality, customer, and regulatory standards.
Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities
Continuous Improvement & Lean Transformation
- Lead the deployment of sustainable Lean leadership practices and tools across the organization, including:
- Daily Management
- Standard Work and Leadership Standard Work
- Value Stream Mapping
- Pull Systems
- Visual Management
- A3 and structured problem-solving
- Identify opportunities to eliminate the 8 wastes through Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen events, and data-driven analysis to achieve measurable performance gains.
- Facilitate Kaizen events and coach team members on preparation, execution, and post-Kaizen action follow-up.
- Build and manage a Kaizen funnel in partnership with organizational leaders to prioritize improvement opportunities.
- Continually challenge existing processes, procedures, and assumptions in the spirit of continuous improvement.
- Serve as a visible change agent, modeling Lean behaviors and mindset throughout the organization.
- Develop and deploy meaningful KPIs in collaboration with business unit and operations leaders.
- Provide ongoing education and training in Continuous Improvement and Lean principles at all organizational levels.
Quality Management
- Develop, implement, and maintain quality management systems and procedures aligned with cabinet manufacturing standards.
- Establish and enforce quality standards for cabinet components, finishes, assembly, hardware installation, and final product inspection.
- Monitor and analyze quality performance data, including defects, scrap, rework, customer complaints, and warranty claims.
- Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective and preventive action (CAPA) activities.
- Conduct internal audits and support compliance with customer, regulatory, and company quality requirements.
- Partner with engineering, production, and purchasing to ensure quality is built into processes and product designs.
Supplier & Material Quality
- Collaborate with suppliers to improve material quality (panels, doors, finishes, hardware).
- Support incoming inspection processes and supplier corrective action efforts.
- Participate in supplier evaluations and continuous improvement initiatives.
Coaching, Culture & Leadership
- Act as a coach and mentor to leaders and team members to establish a culture of Continuous Improvement and quality ownership.
- Train employees on Lean tools, quality standards, inspection methods, and problem-solving techniques.
- Support leaders in developing problem-solving capability and accountability within their teams.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Reduction in defect, scrap, and rework rates
- First-pass yield improvement
- On-time delivery performance
- Cost savings from CI initiatives
- Kaizen implementation effectiveness
- Customer complaint and warranty reduction
- Audit and compliance results
Key Competencies
- Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills (verbal and written)
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and project management skills
- Demonstrated facilitation, coaching, and training capability
- Consultative approach with strong change-management skills
- Ability to challenge conventional thinking and drive organizational change
- Experience working across diverse manufacturing processes
- Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
- Conflict management, negotiation, and influencing skills
- Strong documentation, tracking, and results-reporting skills
- Proficiency with information technology tools (ERP systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Ability and willingness to travel overnight up to 50%