Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.
Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.
We are seeking an Operational Excellence Leader for our First Quality Tissue faciality located in Lock Haven, PA. This position will lead and implement continuous improvement initiatives at all Tissue Paper sites to ensure we are the highest quality, lowest cost producer in the market.
Primary responsibilities include:
Define, reapply, implement, and coach world class manufacturing systems, approaches, techniques, standards, and tools to drive loss analysis and loss elimination in all areas (Safety, Quality Manufacturing, Maintenance, HR/People, Projects and Initiatives, Supply Chain and Supply Networks, Logistics, Planning, Warehouse).
Build CI capability in the organization by driving the world class manufacturing systems, standards, and tools to deliver stable and predictable operations.
Perform calibrated assessments and health checks to provide direction to the site leadership teams.
Drives production output improvements in the Production, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Safety and Morale areas (PQCDSM) following a TPM approach.
Has passion for the CI work and can help others see the vision. Be “Zero-Oriented”
Able to influence plant managers, plant leadership teams and directors as required.
Can coach, benchmark, and work closely with different sites and operations.
Ability to teach, coach and develop others at all levels (on-the floor – Senior Leadership).
Consulting skills (developing relationships, diagnosis, feedback, and enrolling leadership teams to take action)
Works closely with the plant members to drive cross functional/company initiatives for the tissue paper division. Drive efficiencies and reduce scrap through the application of continuous improvement tools.
Provides roadmap and training for the effective implementation of center lining, Cleaning and Checking Standards, Material Quality, Autonomous and Planned/Scheduled Maintenance, and run to target.
Drives and owns productivity initiatives and involves plant personnel to achieve targets across all departments.
Builds a team to implement & facilitate SMED, Kaizen and rapid improvement process events.
Manages Kaizen projects with periodic follow-up to ensure that all improvements have been completed.
Acts as a “player-coach” type change agent by facilitating multi-day structured events.
Supports and promotes safe practices and environmental commitments in alignment with company commitments, policies, and compliance requirements.
Mentors and provide training in continuous improvement techniques.
Actively participate in annual strategy deployment
The ideal candidate should possess the following:
Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent qualification.
Minimum of 10 years of experience in Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering and a Minimum of five years of experience in a high-speed manufacturing environment and leading rapid continuous improvement.
Minimum 2 years of demonstrated TPM Experience. TPM Pillar Knowledge and experience is a must.
Tissue Converting and Paper Making experience is desired.
Proven Root Cause Analysis and loss elimination skills.
Exceptional analytical problem solver and has training in SPC, Root Cause Analysis with demonstrated successes applying these principles.
Proven record of implementing new systems and procedures.
Has strong personal computer proficiency with MS Office, statistics, and design of experiments software.
Excellent communication skills both oral and written with executive presence.
Demonstrated ability to act as a business partner.
Data-driven, disciplined, objective and detail oriented.
Strong experience with Visual Management and Value Stream Mapping
Strong experience in leading others
Travel to other FQ sites as needed.
What We Offer You
We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:
Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
Paid time off (three-week minimum)
Medical, dental and vision starting day one
401(k) with employer match
Paid parental leave
Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)
Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
Tuition assistance
Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums
...and more!
First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.
First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.
Top Skills
What We Do
First Quality was founded over 30 years ago and has grown to become a diversified family of companies with over 4,000 employees. Manufacturing Adult Incontinence Products, Feminine Hygiene Products, Baby Wipes, Adult Washcloths, and Consumer Paper Products, we serve institutional and retail markets throughout the world. Our trusted, household brands include Prevail®, Cuties®, Plenty®, Panda®, and Incognito® Our facilities operate independently to maintain focus on the markets they serve, but benefit from being a part of the First Quality family of companies. We may be spread out across 9 locations and 2 countries, but we are one team! With our focus on innovation, technology, and sustainability, we strive to create the best products that stand out and make a real difference in people’s lives without ever sacrificing quality for affordability. If advanced technology, innovative thinking, and a passion for challenging the status quo excite you, come join our team at First Quality! When you look at one of our job listings what you’ll find is an opportunity: to meet teams who challenge each other to improve, encounter leaders who empower you to experiment, and discover work that inspires you. As a new employee in our FQ family your training begins day one and continues throughout your career as you learn and grow with our organization. Be part of making things better – apply today to join our team at www.firstquality.com/join-us!
