Continuous Improvement Lead

About Convatec

Pioneering trusted medical solutions to improve the lives we touch: Convatec is a global medical products and technologies company, focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, with leading positions in Advanced Wound Care, Ostomy Care, Continence Care, and Infusion Care. With more than 10,000 colleagues, we provide our products and services in around 90 countries, united by a promise to be forever caring. Our solutions provide a range of benefits, from infection prevention and protection of at-risk skin, to improved patient outcomes and reduced care costs. Convatec’s revenues in 2024 were over $2 billion.

About the role

Leadership of the site Continuous Improvement Programme. Embedding a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organisation, engaging and empowering individuals at all levels of the business. Using a tool set of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Principles to eliminate process waste and variation. Supporting the site to deliver the annual CI strategy and transformation plan. Management of the site CI team at Rhymney, collaborating with teams across the Convatec network to implement best practices.

Your key duties and responsibilities:

• Ensure effectiveness of the Site Performance management system.
• Coach Tier meetings and effective use of the site escalation system.
• Ensure actions are identified to ensure performance metrics are met in all areas: SQDCP.
• Developing effective Visual Management systems to drive quick decision making.
• Implementation of Lean Principles, 5S, SMED, VSM, LSW, VM, Poka Yoke, JIDOKA, 8W.
• Coaching others to ensure effective use of the tools.
• Delivery of Improvement projects.
• Leading project teams.
• Ensuring effective allocation of resources and stakeholder management.
• Create business cases for cost saving and Capex requirement.
• Deliver projects on time and within cost, meeting planned cost savings.
• Adherence to the site change management process when implementing change.
• Ensuring a full understanding of requirements during scoping of improvements.
• Adhering to regulatory requirements and validated parameters.
• Support the delivery of the site “Quality at Source” programme.
• Implementing a culture of ‘right first time’.
• Leading Quality investigations, using an 8D approach.
• Implementing quality improvements using 6-Sigma tools to reduce process variation and improve process capability.
• Support Operations and Maintenance in specific machine and process related issues.
• Using problem solving methodologies to identify root cause.
• Lead Kaizen workshops to deliver improvements across all areas of the business.
• Use data to understand opportunities for improvement.
• Analyse trends to predict future performance gaps.
• Ensure effective data sampling plans.
• Use statistical tools to ensure data accuracy.
• Collaborate with other Convatec plants to share and implement best practice.
• Take ownership of the project portfolio and drive/facilitate projects on site.

Skills & Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in working in a manufacturing environment implementing Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma Tools.
• Proven experience of driving culture change.
• Data analysis skills.
• Excellent Presentation and Communication skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in Problem solving.
• Able to train others in improvement skills.
• Ability to coach others to deliver improvements.
• Ability to engage and empower others.
• Proven ability to balance multiple, competing priorities.
• Fluent PC skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, plus ideally MS Project.

Qualifications/Education:

• Degree qualified in a Leadership Discipline or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 6-Sigma Green Belt Certification.
• Training or Certification in Lean Manufacturing.
• A good strong knowledge of delivery of Lean and Six Sigma tools.

Travel Requirements:

Position may involve travel up to 20% of the time, mostly within Europe but overseas travel is expected. Most trips will include overnight travel.

Working Conditions:

Site based at Rhymney.

Ready to join us? At Convatec, we’re pioneering trusted medical solutions to improve the lives we touch. If you’re ready to make a real impact, apply today and help us bring our Forever Caring promise to life.