Value Stream Leader in Strongsville, Ohio at The Eastern Company

Position Title: Value Stream Leader

Reports To: Production Manager

Position Summary:

The Value Stream Leader is responsible for the overall performance of an assigned value stream, ensuring safe operations while delivering exceptional results in quality, productivity, customer service, cost management, and employee engagement. This role provides leadership to production, maintenance, quality, and support teams to achieve operational excellence through Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives.

The Value Stream Leader drives accountability for meeting business objectives and develops a culture focused on safety, teamwork, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

A successful Value Stream Leader is a visible, hands-on operational leader who consistently drives safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance while developing people and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability. This individual uses Lean principles to eliminate waste, improve flow, and create sustainable operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Safety Leadership

· Champion a zero-incident safety culture within the value stream.

· Ensure compliance with all company safety policies and standards.

· Lead safety investigations, corrective actions, and risk-reduction activities.

· Conduct regular safety audits, Gemba walks, and safety reviews.

· Promote employee engagement in safety improvement initiatives.

Operational Performance

· Lead daily operations to achieve production, quality, delivery, and cost targets.

· Drive attainment of key performance indicators (KPIs) including:

· Safety, Quality, On-Time Delivery, Productivity, Scrap and Waste Reduction, Inventory Management, Cost Performance

· Monitor production schedules and ensure customer requirements are met.

· Escalate and resolve operational issues that impact performance.

Continuous Improvement

· Lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives including:

· Kaizen Events, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, 5S, Root Cause Problem Solving

· Visual Management and Waste Elimination

· Facilitate continuous improvement projects that improve efficiency and reduce costs.

· Develop and execute value stream improvement roadmaps.

· Utilize data analysis to identify performance gaps and improvement opportunities.

Team Leadership & Development

· Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, team leaders, and hourly employees.

· Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and employee engagement.

· Conduct performance reviews and talent development activities.

· Support workforce planning and succession planning efforts.

· Promote cross-functional collaboration across departments.

Quality

· Ensure compliance with quality standards and customer requirements.

· Drive corrective and preventive action activities.

· Monitor and improve quality metrics and customer satisfaction performance.

· Lead efforts to reduce defects, rework, and non-conformance issues.

Financial Responsibility

· Manage labor, material, and overhead costs within budget targets.

· Support annual planning, and operational budgeting processes.

· Identify cost-reduction opportunities while maintaining safety and quality standards.

· Improve productivity and asset utilization.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Responsibilities are organized around SCORE (Safety, Conformance, On time, Results, Engagement), aligning with Lean manufacturing operations.

The Value Stream Leader is accountable for achieving results in areas such as:

Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), Near Miss Reporting, First Pass Yield

Customer Complaints, Scrap and Rework, On-Time Delivery, Schedule Attainment

Productivity, Labor Efficiency, Inventory Turns, Equipment Uptime, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), Cost Reduction Savings, Employee Engagement, Continuous Improvement Project Completion

Direct Reports May Include:

Production Supervisors, Team Leaders, Coordinators, Material Handlers,

Continuous Improvement Specialists, Maintenance

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, Manufacturing, or a related field; or equivalent combination of manufacturing leadership experience, demonstrated performance, and specialized professional development training.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing, operations, or production environment.
• Demonstrated success leading teams, achieving operational objectives, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Equivalent Experience Consideration:

• Extensive manufacturing leadership experience combined with company-sponsored leadership and operational excellence training may be considered in lieu of a formal degree.
• Examples include training and demonstrated application of:
  • Lean Manufacturing Principles
  • Continuous Improvement Methodologies
  • Value Stream Management
  • Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis
  • Leadership Development Programs
  • Dale Carnegie Leadership Training
  • Change Management
  • Employee Development and Coaching

Preferred Certifications

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt or equivalent operational excellence certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Strong leadership and team development skills.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Advanced problem-solving and analytical abilities.

Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement principles.

Experience with KPI management and performance reporting.

Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence organizational change.

Strong financial and business acumen.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ERP/MRP systems.

Employment with Eberhard Manufacturing is “at-will”, meaning that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, in accordance with Ohio law.

Eberhard Manufacturing Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are evaluated without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability/handicap status, genetic history information, or protected veteran status.