Program​/Launch Manager

Job Summary

The Launch/Program Manager will lead the World Class Manufacturing team towards a culture of Continuous Improvement at LM Manufacturing. In addition, the Launch/Program Manager will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of Plant Launch. Leads the department managers by creating and implementing and updating industrialization plans. Overall responsibility for tracking costs to launch budget. Develop and lead change management process to ensure smooth implementation of design and production process changes.

Act as Primary Voice of the plant with the customer, corporate senior management, and suppliers. Assists the General Manager and Assistant General Manager in maintaining a plant‑wide commitment that the highest quality product possible is manufactured.

• Initiates and drives continuous improvement activities to improve performance including environment, people, processes and equipment/machinery and which also includes the development of procedures and methods to improve safety, quality, timing, cost and motivation.
• Provide training to all employees so that they clearly understand the concepts of improvement (standardization/MPS/5S/TPS/Lean etc.).
• Lead Kaizen events and coordinate implementation.
• Provide ongoing tracking, analyzing, reporting and communication of continuous improvement initiatives.
• Make presentations at employee communication meetings.
• Lead teams toward the cost savings goal established annually.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of LMS best practices and share best practices with others.
• Develop and maintain model lines as per MAFACT guidelines.
• Conduct value stream mapping and process mapping, developing opportunities from these events.
• Work toward a mindset of lean and elimination of waste.
• Look for new, innovative ideas to further strengthen our employee involvement teams to improve overall operations.
• Lead the improvement of MAFACT assessment scores through auditing and coaching leads/participating in creating improvement opportunities.
• Supervise staff within the department, providing training, mentoring and performance management to ensure employee productivity and effectiveness.
• Perform regular formal/informal workplace inspections.
• Report all accidents/incidents and unsafe conditions/behavior.
• Perform and ensure team performs all job functions in a safe and healthful manner, abiding by all health, safety and environmental rules and regulations, promoting safety in the workplace.
• Train employees on specific job hazards.
• Enforce safety rules and correct unsafe acts or conditions.
• Ensure that all employee questions, suggestions and concerns are addressed in a timely manner; communicate regularly with all employees.
• Maintain work area in accordance with the principles of 5S and operate daily within these standards.
• Manages all launch activities.
• Direct responsibility for overseeing the daily operations of plant launch.
• Leads the department managers by creating and implementing and updating industrialization plans.
• Develop and lead change management process to ensure smooth implementation of design and production process changes.
• Act as primary voice of the plant with the customer, corporate senior management, and suppliers.
• Assist the general manager and assistant general manager in maintaining a plant wide commitment that the highest quality product possible is manufactured.
• Accountable for overseeing all aspects of new program launch as it pertains to the assembly plant.
• Act as primary interface between program team and plant team during launch.
• Provides leadership and daily direction to plant departments (materials, manufacturing engineering, quality, IT services, and production) concerning upcoming build timing/plans, product configuration, and component part status leading up to pre‑production builds.
• Assist plant departments/disciplines in developing industrialization plans and tracking progress for all disciplines within the launch.
• Establish monitor and update centralized status process (i.e., war room).
• Lead team report‑out to management meetings.
• Overall budget tracking for launch costs (tooling/equipment, capital, tracking and reporting).
• Maintain and…