LEAN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LEADER

Job Overview

TE Connectivity's Continuous Improvement Teams design and implement programs and projects to improve products, services, or processes aligned with business strategies. They coach teams; establish program performance metrics; and establish process excellence supports.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Leader is responsible for identifying, leading, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives within the engineering group. This role is pivotal in driving our product development initiatives.

•    Lean Product Development: Partner with engineering teams to implement lean principles in product development processes to reduce cycle times, improve product quality, and enhance customer value. 
•    Lead Continuous Improvement Initiatives: Identify areas for improvement within engineering processes, product development cycles, and operational workflows. Utilize Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, VAVE and other CI methodologies to drive systematic improvements that enhance product quality, cost efficiency, and productivity.
•    Develop CI Strategies: Develop and implement continuous improvement strategies that align with the engineering group’s objectives. Ensure that CI activities are integrated into daily operations, driving toward higher levels of reliability and process optimization.
•    Kaizen Leadership: Lead Kaizen events and workshops to promote continuous improvement at the individual, team, and organizational levels. Foster a culture of continuous improvement by engaging team members in incremental changes that improve productivity, reduce waste, and enhance overall performance.
•    Facilitate Problem Solving: Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, manufacturing, quality, etc.) to identify technical problems, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions. Ensure that solutions are sustainable and align with both product and process improvement goals.
•    3P (Production Preparation Process): Lead 3P initiatives to streamline product development processes, reduce lead times, and enhance product design efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement development systems that optimize workflow and minimize waste.
•    Design for Reliability (DfR) and Robustness Validation (RV): promote the integration of DfR and RV principles into product design and development processes. Collaborate with engineering teams to implement reliability analysis techniques, including failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA).
•    Metrics & KPIs: Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the effectiveness of improvement initiatives. Provide regular reporting on progress, performance improvements, and impact on business objectives.
•    Training & Mentorship: Provide training to engineers and staff on continuous improvement techniques and methodologies. Foster a culture of CI by mentoring team members and supporting their involvement in improvement initiatives.
•    Collaboration: Work closely with other departments (such as manufacturing, quality control, R&D, and supply chain) to ensure alignment and effective implementation of improvement initiatives. Promote cross-functional collaboration to ensure reliability and robustness in both product design and manufacturing processes.
•    Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilize data analytics and engineering tools to assess and improve design and process reliability. Ensure decisions are driven by objective data, statistical analysis, and testing results to validate the effectiveness of improvement initiatives.
•    Sustainability of Improvements: Drive the standardization of best practices through the development of standardized work procedures, process controls, and continuous feedback loops. Ensure that implemented improvements are embedded into the organization’s processes and are sustainable over the long term.
 

DESIRED SKILL:

•    Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical, or related field). A Master’s degree or certifications in Lean, Six Sigma (Black Belt or Green Belt), Design for Reliability (DfR), Robustness Validation (RV), or 3P is preferred.
•    Experience: Minimum of 9 years of experience in continuous improvement, product design, or process optimization within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
•    Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of engineering processes, product development cycles, and design principles, including DfR, RV, and 3P. Experience with product lifecycle management, reliability testing, and process automation is essential.
•    Methodologies Expertise: Proficient in Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, DfR, RV, 3P, and other CI frameworks. Ability to apply these methodologies to engineering challenges to improve product performance, reliability, and process efficiency.
•    Leadership: Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive change, influence stakeholders, and mentor teams. Proven experience leading cross-functional teams and Kaizen events to deliver tangible results.
•    Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Ability to present complex technical information clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
•    Project Management: Strong organizational and project management skills with experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, focusing on achieving deadlines and organizational goals
 

Competencies