A.O. Smith

Continuous Improvement Manager

A.O. Smith • $88K — $105K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Operations, Engineering, or related field.
  • 3+ years of Continuous Improvement (CI) related work experience.
  • Intermediate knowledge of Lean tools and CI methodologies.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Willingness to learn and apply new CI tools and methodologies.

Responsibilities

  • Own the Small Sites CI roadmap, prioritizing opportunities based on business impact.
  • Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to improve productivity and standardize best practices.
  • Mentor local CI site leads to foster a continuous learning environment.
  • Guide structured problem solving using methodologies like 8-Step Problem Solving and RCA.
  • Serve as the central communication point between operations, dealer services, and leadership.
  • Lead the implementation of CI tools in partnership with local CI leads.
  • Collect and analyze operational data to identify improvement opportunities.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical and dental insurance.
  • Company-sponsored life insurance.
  • Retirement security savings plan.
  • Short- and long-term disability programs.
  • Tuition assistance.
Full Job Description
Primary Function

The CI Manager leads the implementation and execution of Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives across the North America Water Treatment (NAWT) Small Sites network. This role delivers measurable improvements to safety, quality, productivity, and customer experience by partnering with site leaders and frontline teams to simplify work, reduce waste, standardize critical processes and build sustainable continuous improvement capability.

The position has two primary areas of focus:
  1. Improving day-to-day operations of water treatment equipment assembly plants.
  2. Optimizing professional water treatment dealership service operations.


Sites supported by this role include:
  1. Atlantic Filter - West Palm Beach, FL
  2. Clean Water Center & Clean Water Testing - Appleton, WI
  3. Clean Water Center - Oconomowoc, WI
  4. Impact Water Products - Ontario, CA
  5. Water Tec - Tucson, AZ
  6. Water Tec - Las Vegas, NV


This role requires up to 25% travel.

Responsibilities

SCOPEOF RESPONSIBILITY
  • Network-Wide Leadership. Own the Small Sites CI roadmap across traditional OEM assembly and dealer service operations prioritizing opportunities and projects based on business impact.
  • Project Execution. Partner with cross-functional stakeholders across the small sites to improve productivity, build best practices and standard work, among other strategic operational gains to replicate across the network.
  • CI Mentorship. Work directly with local CI site leads to build a continuous learning environment and coach CI best practices and behaviors.


SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES/ACCOUNTABILITIES:
  • Guide structured problem solving, including 8-Step Problem Solving methodology, RCA, A3 development and/or other CI methodologies.
  • Serve as the central communication point between the small site network's operations, dealer services, and leadership team.
  • Lead the implementation of CI tools across the small site network, in direct partnership with local CI leads.
  • Collect and analyze operational data to identify improvement opportunities.
  • Support daily management systems and monitor KPIs for continuous performance tracking.
  • Provide coaching and mentoring to teams on basic CI techniques.
  • Assist in developing process improvements and standardization initiatives.
  • Collaborate with the larger NAWT and Corporate CI community of practice.
  • Report progress and key findings to small site leadership.


Qualifications

BASIC QUALIFICIATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Operations, Engineering, or related field.
  • 3 + years of CI related work experience.
  • Intermediate knowledge of Lean tools and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Demonstrated problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Willingness to learn and apply new CI tools and methodologies.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
  • 1-2 Years of supervisory experience or project management, preferred
  • Experience in process mapping software (e.g. Visio, Miro).
  • Lean or Six-Sigma Training (e.g. Through Shingo/AME/SME/ASQ)


We Offer

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.
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About A.O. Smith

A.O. Smith Corporation is an American manufacturer of both residential and commercial water heaters and boilers. It is the largest manufacturer and marketer of water heaters in North America. It also supplies water treatment products in the Asian market. The company has two operating segments: North America and Rest of World. The North America segment manufactures and markets a comprehensive line of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, electric and solar water heaters, as well as boilers. The Rest of World segment manufactures and markets specialty commercial water heating equipment, condensing and non-condensing boilers, and water systems tanks.
Learn more about A.O. Smith
Size
16,000 employees
Industry

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