Lean Expert (m/f/d)
Lean Expert (m/f/d)
Location: Germany
Industry: Automotive
Function: Lean / Operational Excellence
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Central Lean Expert to support multiple mid‑sized to large automotive manufacturing sites. This role requires a highly hands‑on, execution‑driven professional who is deeply connected to daily operations and the shopfloor. The ideal candidate has a strong track record of driving Lean initiatives across various production environments and acting as a trusted partner to plant leadership and operational teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide Lean expertise and coaching across several manufacturing sites simultaneously
- Conduct Gemba coaching and partner closely with shopfloor teams
- Lead and facilitate key Lean workshops, including Kaizen events, Line Balancing, SMED / changeover reduction, 5S implementations and Material flow and logistics redesign
- Serve as a strategic Lean advisor to site leadership, supporting long‑term operational excellence roadmaps
- Identify and drive cross-site harmonization of Lean standards, methods, and best practices
- Support continuous improvement initiatives in complex production environments (paint shops, assembly, logistics, injection molding, JIS/JIT sequencing)
- Deliver measurable improvements in productivity, quality, and operational stability
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams in engineering, production, logistics, and quality
Qualifications
- Extensive Lean background with hands-on implementation experience
- Proven experience working across multiple manufacturing sites simultaneously
- Strong expertise in automotive operations, ideally including experiences in paint shops, assembly processes, injection molding
- Demonstrated ability to influence shopfloor teams
- Strong analytical, coaching, and workshop facilitation skills
- Must be located in Germany
- Automotive industry background is an advantage
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