The Kraft Heinz Company is currently seeking Continuous Improvement Lead to work at our food processing facility in Lowville, NY. Successful candidates must be willing to supply improvements suggestions and ideas to help continue the success of our facility. Ideal candidates must be safety and quality orientated along with demonstrate adaptability and willingness to work in a team orientated, fast paced work environment. This position requires individuals to perform general production duties in a food manufacturing environment following strict quality and safety standards.

EEO Policy

Kraft Heinz is an EO employer – Underrepresented groups/Women/Vets/Disabled and other protected categories

The company will review all requests for reasonable accommodations as required.

Benefits & Compensation Overview:

We offer a variety of benefits depending on how you chose what is best for you, but what is offered are:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Reimbursement Account/Health Savings Account.
• Additional perks: Pet Insurance, (EAP) Employee Assistance Program, Company paid Life Insurance, Company paid Short-term disability
• $26.55-30.87
• A $1.00 shift differential for second shift and $1.25 shift differential for third shift.

Work Schedule:

Schedule is based on 7 days per week production.

Plant & Community Overview:

The Lowville plant produces the legendary Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Kraft String Cheese! Built in 1971, the facility is over 400,000 square feet and houses 18 production lines. Milk and cream is supplied by local farms. With over 500 employees, the plant is one of the largest employers in Lewis County.

For more information on the company or the community, visit https://www.kraftheinzcompany.com/ or https://lowville.racog.org/ 

Job Overview

Under the direction of the Area Production Manager and Continuous Improvement Manager and with the support of management staff, the employee will follow the job descriptions as it relates to the job title. The employee will own results for clean inspect and lube, centerline management system, 5S system, integrity of process data and the Oscar scrap elimination system. Active participation in annual planning, weekly PDCA meetings, Daily Level 2 meetings.

This employee will lead transformation analysis, center line definition and associated standard development. Develop control strategies to enable operators to respond to out of control situations. Leads root cause problem solving efforts on key chronic losses for the process. Coaches teams on CIL, CLM, 5S, FPQ, and Oscar systems execution. Coaches and develops teams by building problem solving skills within the process.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Facilitates the line loss analysis (waste elimination and yield improvement) and line throughput improvement plans.
• Leads transformation analysis and centerline definition and associated standard development.
• Analysis daily and shift line data to identify and prioritize loss elimination opportunities.
• Participates in internal audit program, food safety committee, and sanitary design team.
• Spends time on the floor to collect information on stops, centerlines and changeovers over the past 24 hours.
• Investigates initial root cause of top stops.
• Begin to develop plan for the day for ownership areas.
• Attend level 2 and DDS meetings.
• Discuss top stops and root cause. Establish countermeasures in plan for the day.
• Ensure centerline completion and compliance. Create countermeasures on any outages.
• Works with Process Owner and Maintenance Lead to address sporadic losses.
• Lead Universal Problem Solving to eliminate chronic losses for the line.
• Lead centerline and Quality Daily Management Systems.
• Align with all established GMP, Housekeeping guidelines, Housekeeping responsibilities and QRMP operating procedures.
• Assist in the implementation of the QRMP program and acts as trainer of new associates.
• Flexibility to adjust to shifts to work with employees from all shifts as the need arises.
• AM Step 2 qualified or demonstrate expertise in CIL, Basic Problem Solving (6W, 2H).
• Capable of learning intermediate Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power Point, Microsoft Word, Matrix and ZPI skills.
• Strong planning/organizational skills and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to understand and coach management systems including but not limited to CIL, CLM and 5S.
• Ability to understand and write WINs, SOPs and OPLs.
• Can optimally lead RCFA events.
• Flexibility to adjust shift schedule to work with employees on other shifts as the need arises.
• Willingness to become Centerline Management System qualified within one month.
• Willingness to become Green Belt qualified within one year.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Sanitation

Will ensure that the equipment and machinery they work with is cleaned and sanitized according to the Kraft Heinz Sanitation Program rules explained at the beginning of the employment and during refresher sessions.

Quality Assurance:

Ensures all products manufactured align with the Quality Assurance Program and policies reviewed during the on the job training applicable to this specific operation function.

Safety:

Will adhere to the Kraft Heinz Safety Process and will keep themselves and others away from harm while performing their duties. Will comply to LOTO policy and procedures.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

A Minimum of a High school diploma or equivalent experience. Qualifications to be considered for this position include: attendance, prior experience and/or education and past job performance.

Preferred Skills

Must have strong communication skills, digital literacy, and plant maintenance SAP skills.

Additional Notes

Weekend, overtime, and holiday work will be required. Flexibility to adjust shift schedule to work with employees on other shifts as required. Work is indoors, Primary production floor is wet, Secondary locations are occasionally wet, seasonal climate.

Work on all shifts expected, Weekend and Holiday work will be required. Schedule is based on a 7 day/week production; therefore, workdays may fluctuate from week to week based on production.