East Peoria, IL - Salary Range 106-163kJob BriefThe Value Stream Manager is responsible for the overall performance, leadership, and continuous improvement of a designated manufacturing value stream. This role leads production operations across three shifts through a team of supervisors and department leaders to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality products. The Value Stream Manager is accountable for achieving key performance indicators related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, inventory, and cost while fostering a culture of employee engagement and operational excellence.
ResponsibilitiesValue Stream Leadership- Lead all activities within the assigned value stream to achieve operational and business objectives.
- Develop and execute strategies to improve safety, quality, delivery performance, productivity, and profitability.
- Ensure alignment of value stream goals with overall plant and organizational objectives.
- Serve as the primary operational leader for assigned product lines and manufacturing processes.
- Directly supervises Production Supervisors and other value stream leaders.
- Indirectly responsible for all hourly employees within the assigned value stream across three shifts.
- Responsible for staffing, performance management, employee development, succession planning, and operational results within the value stream.
People Leadership and Development- Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to Production Supervisors and team leaders across three shifts.
- Build a culture of accountability, engagement, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
- Develop supervisors and high-potential employees through mentoring, training, and succession planning.
- Conduct performance evaluations and support employee development initiatives.
- Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, employee relations, and talent management activities.
Safety and Environmental Compliance- Champion a safety-first culture throughout the value stream.
- Ensure compliance with all company policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Lead incident investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions.
- Drive employee participation in safety programs and continuous improvement efforts.
Operational Excellence- Manage daily production activities to ensure customer requirements and production schedules are met.
- Monitor key operational metrics and implement actions to improve performance.
- Drive improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), throughput, cycle time, and labor efficiency.
- Ensure effective communication and coordination among all shifts.
- Partner with Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to resolve operational issues.
Quality Management- Ensure products consistently meet customer and company quality standards.
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to quality concerns.
- Support implementation of quality improvement initiatives and process controls.
- Promote a culture focused on defect prevention and continuous quality improvement.
Continuous Improvement- Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives within the value stream.
- Facilitate Kaizen events and problem-solving activities.
- Utilize data-driven decision-making to eliminate waste and improve operational performance.
- Drive sustainable process improvements that enhance customer value and business results.
Financial Accountability- Manage labor, material, and operating expenses within the value stream.
- Develop and execute plans to achieve productivity and cost reduction targets.
- Monitor and improve inventory management and working capital performance.
- Support annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
Customer Focus- Ensure on-time delivery and responsiveness to customer requirements.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to resolve production and service issues.
- Drive initiatives that improve customer satisfaction and operational reliability.
Requirements- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Manufacturing, or related field preferred.
- Equivalent combination of education and manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.
- Strong leadership and team development capabilities.
- Demonstrated success leading manufacturing operations and achieving operational metrics.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, value stream mapping, and continuous improvement principles.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency with ERP systems, manufacturing software, and Microsoft Office applications.
Key Performance Metrics- Safety Performance (TRIR, Near Miss Reporting, Incident Reduction)
- Quality Performance (Scrap, Rework, Customer Complaints, First Pass Yield)
- Delivery Performance (On-Time Delivery, Schedule Adherence)
- Productivity (Labor Efficiency, Throughput, OEE)
- Cost Management (Labor Cost, Material Utilization, Cost Reduction Initiatives)
- Employee Engagement and Retention
