Lean manager

Also searched as: Responsable de optimización · Mejora continua · Jefe de mejora continua · Ingeniero de mejora continua · Excelencia operacional · Lean

Code 2421.4

What does a Lean manager do?

The optimisation / continuous-improvement lead (mejora continua, lean or operational excellence) designs and holds the method that stops a plant or process improvising: standard work, waste measures and closed improvement loops. Chilean ads almost never use the MAPHA title: they ask for lean manager, continuous-improvement engineer or excelencia operacional. Use this Job Dictionary profile to keep it distinct from a process engineer (technical flow) and from the plant manager (the shift).

How critical is this role

Linchpin roleReference time to hire: 4595 days

Connects strategy with day-to-day execution.

Holds continuous improvement and the method that stops the plant improvising. Their absence does not break the shift: it freezes it at the performance of the day they left.

A reference range based on our own search work in Chile, not a figure from a published study. It shifts with the salary offered, the location and any exclusivity requirement.

How we classify critical roles

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Essential skills

Knowledge

  • root cause analysis
  • SMED
  • lean manufacturing
  • continuous improvement philosophies
  • project management
  • 5S methodology
  • six sigma methods
  • leadership principles
  • production processes

Skills and competences

  • analyse business processes
  • animar a los equipos de trabajo a que procuren mejorar continuamente
  • manage corrective actions
  • liaise with managers
  • define organisational standards
  • lead process optimisation
  • identificar acciones de mejora
  • identify process improvements
  • report on overall management of a business
  • motivate employees

Transversal competences

  • act reliably
  • adjust priorities
  • analyse production processes for improvement
  • apply change management
  • advise on efficiency improvements
  • set quality assurance objectives
  • manage production changeovers
  • manage medium term objectives
  • manage a team
  • teamwork principles

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What to assess for this role

Assess before/after KPI projects, work with operators (not only classroom kaizen) and whether the method survives when that person is away.

See psychometric assessment
Preguntas frecuentes

Lo que más nos preguntan

Common questions about this role when you are hiring or writing the job profile.

What does a continuous-improvement lead do?
Picks where to attack waste, sets the standard, trains operators and closes the loop with a metric. It is not a lean-slides job.
Lean manager vs process engineer?
The process engineer redesigns the technical flow. Continuous improvement holds the method (standard, discipline, loops) so that redesign does not unwind in two shifts.
When does headhunting make sense for this role?
When the plant depends on one person not to slip back into improvisation, the profile mixes shop-floor time with method, and the active market yields classroom consultants instead of owners of the standard.

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Sources

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission and the Mapha Taxonomy developed by OTIC SOFOFA (CC BY 4.0), in an adapted version. Group codes come from the ILO's ISCO-08. See sources and licences