Expertise: Asia, Europe, China, International, Lean Distribution, Lean Supply Chain, Lean Logistics, Lean Supplier Development, Lean Operations Planning, Lean Manufacturing, Lean Sales

Client: (Confidential) High-Tech Consumer Electronic Products

Start: Immediate

Location: Cupertino, (Silicon Valley), California

Comp: Excellent first year total package includes base salary, significant sign-on bonus, and equity (stock) award

Position Overview

Global travel, complex distribution and customer service solutions, supply chain and supplier development activities, sales and operations planning; and a piece of the action (equity)…

Our client is an immensely creative and innovative research and development company which just seems to come up with brilliant ideas for some of the neatest high-tech electronic gadgets on planet Earth. You already know who they are, though you may not know them by name. Why not give some thought to joining the team?

The company designs and engineers high-profile, portable, hand-held consumer electronics products which are known and loved pretty much everywhere. Why? Because they have a whole bunch of very smart and dedicated people on board who love the excitement of thinking cutting-edge thoughts and doing leading-edge work.

Now, it so happens that these folks also do an excellent job of listening to their customers and then translating customer wishes and dreams into real-world, useful technology. Then they wow the world by delivering this technology in packages that demonstrate real value because they’re fun, easy-to-use and highly-reliable. That’s why.

The company’s rapid growth globally has created the need for one or two especially talented Lean practitioners to jump into vital and visible value stream improvement roles. Is it possible that you could be that right person, at the right time and in the right place? If you’re already smart, inspired and Lean, well, why not give it a shot? Find out more…

Position Detail – The Role

•Act as lead change-agent, systematically driving continuous improvement (CI) throughout the organization and its global logistics and distribution/fulfillment organization, or supply chain and supplier development group, or operations planning units

•Champion cross-functional CI initiatives and projects within warehousing and fulfillment facilities and contractors, finished product flow, customer direct-ship systems, customer service & response processes; or similar Lean focus within the supply chain or operations planning groups

•Identify what’s necessary to influence, lead and sustain company-wide Lean culture transformation – and do it

You

• Have demonstrated strong leadership skills in at least one or two previous hands-on roles as a successful Lean champion
• Thoroughly enjoy dealing with fast-paced, challenging and often “impossible” situations, and thrive on solving them
• Effectively manage multiple complex ideas, issues and initiatives simultaneously, and consistently deliver over and above expectations
• Earned a BS/BA in engineering or other technical field, and most likely added an MA/MBA

Travel – you should expect to travel as necessary, between the US and Europe, the UK and Asia, as well as domestically

Compensation – Excellent base salary, sign-on bonus and equity award at sign-on and subsequently in future.

Other - We’re particularly interested in Lean executives with experience in environments such as consumer electronics, telecommunications, portable electronics, mobile electronics, hand-held devices, and similar. So, it’s probable that alumni of Microsoft (Xbox?); Sony; Dell; HP; Cisco; Intel; Flextronics; Nokia; Motorola; RIM, and those countless other dedicated organizations driving Lean transformations throughout their global operations, might be a perfect fit. Obviously, a Toyota Production System background with consumer electronics experience would be an ideal combination. And of course, if your resume demonstrates successes at Lean innovators such as Toyota, NUMMI, Danaher, United Technologies, and – well you get the picture – all the better. You know who you are.

Also, we have a strong interest in individuals who have earned the LFM – LGO (Leaders for Manufacturing, now called Leaders for Global Operations) degree at MIT, or similar top educational institution.

Connect with Us – Please connect with me in whatever way is most convenient for you. We share no information about you with anyone outside our firm until we’ve agreed on this with you. So email me directly and tell me why you are the Rock Star of Lean. I’ll get right back to you ASAP!

Tell your friends.

Adam Zak, CEO – Adam Zak Executive Search +1 (847) 304-5301 direct resume@LeanRecruiter.com

$500 million Global Manufacturer, Wilmington, NC 

(download PDF>>)   Director_Global_Six_Sigma-2

We’re looking for an experienced Six Sigma leader with broad business acumen, global perspective and experience, and the ability to drive, facilitate and sustain change in a fast-paced, highly entrepreneurial environment.

The selected individual will become our client’s Director, Global Six Sigma, and leverage her or his outstanding leadership, communications and technical skills to create significant and lasting impact and value at all levels of this organization.

And yes, it’s going to take an ambitious, determined and committed “A-player” to reap the rewards of success in this demanding role.  But what business transformation worthy of that designation wouldn’t be a major problem-solving opportunity, and a challenge of such caliber that it rigorously tests the mettle of even the best Six Sigma pros in today’s competitive manufacturing world?

Could you be up to this challenge?   

The Position
If you’re the right person for this position it’s going to be pretty obvious to us both that you’ve already done a lot of this once or twice before.  Negotiated, developed and set company-wide improvement objectives and goals. Led the corporate and site-level strategy and tactical teams. Championed and facilitated DMAIC and DFSS initiatives. Developed and led the Black Belt project teams. Built and tracked metrics, and then improved, rebuilt and retracked them again.  Trained, coached, counseled. And demonstrated that you, individually and together with the teams you led, could deliver the goods.

So, why then, might this position interest an expert like you?  Why could this be the right “next step” in building your career? And why must you take a closer look?

Here’s Why

Company Background

Our client is a leading global Tier Two supplier to the automotive industry, as well as a supplier to USA broader industrial and medical markets.  With revenues of approximately $500 million and over 2500 employees worldwide, the company has five manufacturing facilities in the US, two in the UK, and one in France.  China is next.  A private company, our client is owned by a major New York-based private equity firm which also holds controlling or significant minority interests in companies around the world that generate over $60 billion in annual revenues.

Conclusions -

1. You experience top management visibility and impact opportunity in a business that’s a size you can really get your hands around
2. You do hands-on international management in Europe and Asia
3. You receive exposure to private equity management issues and build direct understanding of how private investor-owned business leadership works
4. You have a shot at career growth opportunities here and also within other portfolio companies

Real-World Six Sigma Commitment

This company is about Six Sigma Quality in everything it does. Perfection is the target.  They understand that conformity and consistency are critical to their customers.  Every associate is involved in the pursuit of Quality and continually strives for excellence and ways to pass cost savings to the customer.  Manufacturing Excellence is delivered through:

• Philosophy of Lean Enterprise
• Focus on process efficiencies through Six Sigma techniques
• Real-time data for real-time decision making
• Cost-down and cost-out culture throughout the organization

Conclusions  –

1. You already have the core corporate support you need for your Six Sigma success
2. You won’t need to reinvent the Six Sigma wheel; build on the foundation, and make it even better, and take it to the next level
3. You’ll  develop the business skill sets and senses to drive Lean Six Sigma at broader and deeper operational and executive levels

Opportunity

“Best people” is where it all begins. Our client’s commitment to quality, innovation, sales and service begins with their people (possible you?). Attracting and retaining talent is key to the company’s success, and because they want only the best, they deliver exactly that in return:  competitive compensation, a healthy benefit package, additional opportunity for rewards, and always career growth possibilities.

Conclusions  –  Please draw your own.  And if you are indeed among the best-in-class Six Sigma practitioners today, perhaps an image of your possible next step on the career ladder is already forming in your mind.

Some Additional Details

The position of Director, Six Sigma reports to a company Vice President who is personally very strong and hands-on in continuous improvement, and also holds other major operational responsibilities within the business. He in turn, works directly for the CEO, who has also been personally and directly (Gemba level) involved in Six Sigma and Lean throughout his career.  You’ll be in good company.

The position is based on the Southeastern Coast of the US in a college town which is also known for its attractive seaside resort areas. Lifestyle is appropriate to the setting with scenic beaches and seafood abounding, and with ample cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities available as well.

Travel should amount to no more than 50%, and a good portion of that would be considered local (not necessarily over night).

Requirements

You’ll need to be a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt from a recognized program, with at least a BS/BA in Engineering from a top university (an MBA would weigh strongly in your favor).

We’d like to see a minimum of 10 years Six Sigma operations improvement leadership experience with proven results, leading major change initiatives (multiple Black Belts, multiple locations, globally).

You must also show a few years of hands-on operations (manufacturing)  or plant management experience at some point in your career.  While some consulting background could be beneficial, our ideal candidate will most likely have built the bulk of his or her expertise while excelling as an internal agent of change.

Finally, you should genuinely believe in change, continuous improvement and growth, both professionally and personally.

Connect with Us

Please connect with me in whatever way is most convenient for you. We share no information about you with anyone outside our firm until we’ve agreed on this with you.

No resume?  That’s OK.  If you feel very strongly that you meet all our criteria, let’s talk first.  Call me… 

And, lastly, if you know someone who is absolutely the perfect candidate for this outstanding position, please let them know about the opportunity, or refer them to me in total confidence.

Adam Zak, CEO,  Adam Zak Executive Search

az@LeanRecruiter.com  http://LeanRecruiter.com

+1 (847) 304-5301 direct

Adam Zak Executive Search – Executive Recruiters for the Lean Enterprise

Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Scottsdale, or…

I’m conducting an executive search for a world-class practitioner of LEAN, Six Sigma and process improvement consulting and training.

Why Should You Consider this Position?

Because you are driven to excel. Passionate about LEAN. Steeped in Six Sigma. Creative. Analytical. Professional. You think and act like an entrepreneur. You crave to make a difference. You love to solve problems and your solutions must make an impact. Not just in the work cell, but across the enterprise, clearly improving your client’s operational and financial success.  You are hands-on, yet also connect to the big picture. You have breakthrough ideas, you share them, you collaborate. You are rewarded for your results. You derive professional and personal satisfaction from your career success. Is this you?  We must talk! (847 304-5301) 

Client Profile

Since 1994 our client has helped hundreds of companies, from the largest of the Fortune 500 to the smallest private equity portfolio company,  improve how they operate. They’ve delivered billions of dollars in bottom line benefits: higher margins, revenue growth, and more efficient use of capital. At the same time, they have helped clients truly transform their operations – boosting efficiency and efficacy, increasing customer satisfaction,  empowering individuals, and building internal skills and talent.

The Company was founded in 1994 by the progenitors of the Six Sigma revolution at Motorola. They developed the Six Sigma methodology, teaching companies like GE, Allied-Signal, DuPont and Merrill Lynch to achieve a higher level of quality, with substantially lower costs. Along the way, our client quickly found that the basic framework and tools of Six Sigma were applicable to much more than cost and quality, and well beyond the manufacturing floor or order-processing desk. From these real-world learnings and experiences, our client developed one of the most widely used and well-regarded management systems – a way of transforming a business using analysis, rigor, and individual empowerment.

Today, our client continues to improve and evolve from that legacy. The nature of their              consulting work has expanded well outside the boundaries of Lean and Six Sigma.  Their new brand, name and identity more effectively represent how they leverage process improvement expertise more broadly and deeply to help clients transform organizations.  

Our client works with commercial and investment Banks, private equity and professional services firms, and many global Fortune 500 firms in consumer products, energy, healthcare, industrial products and communications & technology industries.  The Company has offices in New York, Beijing, Dusseldorf, London, Paris, Scottsdale and Shanghai.

Position Summary

Our Director, Lean Six Sigma Consulting will ideally reside in the Metro New York, Atlanta, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago or Scottsdale regions, or within any major metro area easily accessible to a hub airport.  He or she will travel regularly across the United States (some international travel possible) to client locations. Our Director, Lean Six Sigma Consulting will be responsible for managing client relationships and the Lean/Sigma work engagements that result from those relationships, from project beginning onward. Our Director will be hands-on in driving projects, applying Lean and Six Sigma techniques to analyze client/project operational and financial metrics, developing project execution plans and targets, and supporting overall execution of client engagements.

Responsibilities

·        Work closely with the client to analyze both operational processes and financial metrics of the client to assess project opportunities that positively impact the financial performance of the client business

·        Develop and implement the roll out the execution plan with emphasis on yielding multiple ROI for the client

·        Provide Lean training, facilitate Kaizen Events and provide follow-up to drive operational improvements

·        Mentor and coach others in the use of Lean tools on assessments, operational analysis and implementation of lean methods

·        Ensure that the work provided is consistent with the firm’s domain expertise and beliefs and is delivered with high-impact, tangible results

·        Support the firm’s activity in developing new business and developing intellectual property.

·        Extensive travel to client locations; international travel possible

Requirements

·        Minimum of five years of direct LEAN experience and at least two years of SIX SIGMA experience in a manufacturing environment and preferably a transactional environment (financial services, airlines, etc.).

·        Ability to clearly quantify project metrics/results in terms of hard savings, soft savings and non-financial improvements.

·        Three-plus years of prior consulting experience in a management consulting firm preferred. 

·        Five years of operational leadership experience in a large manufacturing or transactional corporation required.  Internal consulting experience for a recognized leader in Lean/Six Sigma (LSS) methodologies preferred.

·        Direct experience leading multiple kaizen events and Six Sigma quality-based projects.

·        Hands-on experience leading LEAN events in LEAN tools areas including setup reduction, TPM, standard work, etc.  Strong preference for experience in value stream design and plant re-design. 

·        MBA preferred, engineering or business undergraduate degree required

About Travel

The individuals who choose to be a part of our client’s success would describe the firm’s environment as empowering, attentive to each individual’s professional and personal goals and objectives, and family-friendly. By its nature, however, world-class consulting work requires extensive travel. Firm members find that a 75% travel expectation is not unusual.  Please consider this in light of your lifestyle preferences.

Contact Sheila Cunningham or Adam Zak: 

Adam Zak Executive Search, Executive Recruiting for the Lean Enterprise 

POB 129,  Barrington,  IL 60011-0129  USA   

Direct +1 847 304 5301    Main +1 847 304 5300  

resume@LeanRecruiter.com     www.LeanRecruiter.com