Value Stream Manufacturing Owner

About our client:
Our employer is the leading manufacturer of Premium Metal Payment Cards and also offers best-in-class Authentication and Digital Asset solutions. The Company's offerings combine elegance, simplicity, and security to deliver exceptional experiences and peace of mind, enabling trust for millions of people around the globe.


Position Overview:
The Value Stream Manufacturing (VSM) Owner will be responsible for the overall performance, continuous improvement, and strategic development of a designated product value stream in a high-volume manufacturing environment. This role serves as the primary owner of all initiatives impacting the assigned product line, including yield improvement projects, introduction of new equipment, and management of changes to the bill of materials (BOM). The VSM Owner acts as the central point of coordination between production, engineering, quality, supply chain, and other key functions to ensure operational excellence and sustained product performance.
 
Key Responsibilities:

1. Value Stream Leadership & Ownership

• Acts as the main point of accountability for operational and quality performance within the assigned product line.
• Monitors and manages KPIs related to yield, throughput, scrap, cost, and on-time delivery.
• Leads regular operational reviews for the value stream on a daily or weekly basis.

2. Yield Improvement Projects

• Identify, prioritize, and execute initiatives aimed at enhancing yield and optimizing processes.
• Collaborate with process engineers, quality assurance teams, and operators to address and prevent production inefficiencies.
• Apply lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma techniques, and root cause analysis to ensure lasting improvements.

3. New Equipment & Technology Implementation

• Responsible for evaluating, selecting, and deploying new production equipment within the value stream.
• Oversees integration into current operations, including conducting operator training and process qualification.
• Manages capital project schedules, budgets, and performs ROI analysis.

4. Bill of Materials (BOM) Management

• Manage BOM changes for the value stream, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and cost efficiency.
• Work with product engineering to confirm material substitutions and design updates.
• Oversee transitions from old to new materials to avoid production delays.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the liaison among manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, and product management.
• Facilitate alignment on customer requirements, product specifications, and production priorities.

6. Continuous Improvement & Lean Leadership

• Drive operational excellence in the value stream.
• Lead Kaizen events, standard work setup, and waste reduction efforts.
• Coach team members on lean tools and problem-solving.

 

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience, with at least 2 years in a leadership or ownership role.
• Proven experience in high-volume production environments.
• Strong background in yield improvement, equipment implementation, and BOM management.
• Proficiency in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

 

Preferred:

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and BOM structures.
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and advanced manufacturing analytics.
• Experience facilitating Kaizens

 
 
Key Competencies

• Strong ownership mindset and accountability.
• Strategic and tactical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence without direct authority.
• Effective communicator at all levels of the organization.
• Data-driven decision making.
• Ability to develop others