Continuous Improvement Manager

Company / Location Information

A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

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

SCOPE OF 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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ADA Statement & EEO Statement

In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status.

We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.