Senior Operations Excellence Specialist

We are looking for a talented Senior Operations Excellence Specialist to join our Manufacturing team of Cummins Drivetrain and Braking Systems (CDBS) in Forest City, NC.         

In this role, you will make an impact in the following ways:         

• Action Orientation: Takes on new opportunities and challenging assignments with urgency, energy, and enthusiasm to accelerate organizational results.


• Collaborative Partnership: Builds strong cross‑functional relationships and works seamlessly with others to achieve shared objectives.


• Customer Focus: Develops deep customer understanding and delivers solutions that strengthen relationships and drive customer success.


• Engagement Leadership: Creates an environment where individuals feel motivated, supported, and empowered to perform at their highest level.


• Ambiguity Management: Operates effectively in uncertain or evolving situations, providing clarity and steady progress without complete information.


• Complexity Navigation: Synthesizes complex, high‑volume, or contradictory information to inform sound decisions and solve problems efficiently.


• Conflict Management: Addresses conflict constructively and promptly, minimizing disruption while fostering productive dialogue and resolution.


• Process Optimization: Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement, streamlines workflows, reduces waste, and enhances quality across operations.

To be successful in this role you will need the following:       

• Master Standard Work & Lean Tools: Develop and sustain standard work practices while applying lean problem‑solving methods (A3, DMAIC, 8D, 5Why, Fishbone) to drive consistency, quality, and sustainable operational improvements.
• Lead Process Optimization: Analyze and enhance production processes to improve safety, efficiency, and quality, leveraging continuous improvement principles and TPS‑based methodologies to reduce waste and elevate performance.
• Build Relationships & Coach Effectively: Establish strong partnerships with stakeholders and provide coaching that supports best‑practice adoption, Kaizen participation, and a culture of operational excellence.
• Adapt, Collaborate & Value Differences: Demonstrate situational adaptability, optimize work processes, and embrace diverse perspectives to navigate complex environments and lead improvement initiatives with clarity and inclusiveness.

Education, Licenses, Certifications:
College, university or equivalent degree, or equivalent practical experience required.
This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations.

Experience:
Intermediate level of relevant work experience, including manufacturing or manufacturing plant experience, team leadership experience, preferred.

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field required.
• 3 years of experience working in a Lean manufacturing field preferred.
• Standard Work Development: Skill in creating, implementing, and maintaining standard work methods that drive consistency, quality, and efficiency across production lines. 
• Coaching & Relationship Building: Ability to maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders and provide coaching that supports adoption of best practices, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. 
• Process Analysis & Improvement: Capability to analyze and improve production processes to enhance safety, quality, efficiency, and overall operational performance. 
• Lean Problem-solving Skills: Proficiency in applying lean methodologies and tools such as A3, DMAIC, 8D, 5Why, and Fishbone to identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.  
• Project & Kaizen Leadership: Ability to lead projects and facilitate Kaizen events that drive continuous improvement and measurable operational gains. 
• TPS Implementation Support: Experience supporting and coaching teams in the implementation of the Toyota Production System (TPS) or similar production systems preferred.
• Its a 100% On-site position