Lean Facilitator III

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases is a leading provider of cryogenic pumps, heat exchangers, process systems, services, and solutions for the LNG and industrial gases industry. We are a subsidiary of Nikkiso Company Ltd, a leading industrial manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with over $1.5 B in annual revenue, 8000 + employees worldwide, and publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Nikkiso ACD is an engineering and manufacturing company specializing in machinery designed to operate at cryogenic temperatures as low as – 420 degrees Fahrenheit, the boiling point of Liquid hydrogen. For over 50 years, Nikkiso ACD has specialized in centrifugal and reciprocating pumps as well as turbines for air separation. Nikkiso ACD has the most diversified product line in the industry covering nearly every application requiring pumps or turboexpanders.

The Lean Facilitator will be responsible for facilitating Lean transformation projects, guiding teams in the use of Lean tools, and promoting a culture of operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have experience with Lean transformation, Hoshin Kanri, daily management, and value stream analysis, and will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements and eliminate waste.

This position is based at Nikkiso ACD, LLC, located in Santa Ana, CA.

Lean Transformation Facilitation

• Facilitate Lean transformation initiatives across various departments to improve efficiency, eliminate waste, and enhance process flow.
• Support the design and execution of Lean transformation strategies in alignment with the organization’s goals and priorities.
• Guide teams through the application of Lean tools and methodologies, ensuring successful implementation and sustainable results.

Hoshin Kanri Facilitation

• Assist in the facilitation of the Hoshin Kanri (policy deployment) process to ensure alignment of strategic objectives across the organization.
• Work closely with leadership to develop clear and actionable plans that connect strategic priorities with operational goals.
• Facilitate regular Hoshin reviews, track progress against objectives, and support teams in making adjustments as needed.

Daily Management System Implementation

• Establish and support the implementation of daily management systems, enabling teams to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Coach teams on conducting effective daily stand-ups, problem-solving using Lean tools, and maintaining visual management systems to drive continuous improvement.
• Help implement standardized work practices and other Lean tools to ensure process stability and consistency.

Value Stream Mapping & Analysis

• Lead value stream mapping (VSM) workshops to assess current processes, identify inefficiencies, and create future state maps that improve flow and reduce waste.
• Work with cross-functional teams to prioritize improvement opportunities identified through value stream analysis.
• Facilitate the development and execution of action plans to optimize value streams and drive process improvement initiatives.

Kaizen Event Facilitation

• Plan, organize, and facilitate Kaizen events to identify and eliminate waste, improve process flow, and engage teams in continuous improvement activities.
• Collaborate with teams to implement and sustain improvements made during Kaizen events.
• Track the progress and outcomes of Kaizen activities, ensuring that improvements are measurable and sustained over time.

Training & Coaching

• Provide Lean training and coaching to employees at all levels to build a deep understanding of Lean principles and tools.
• Mentor teams on the use of Lean tools such as 5S, root cause analysis, A3 problem-solving, and standard work.
• Foster a continuous improvement mindset by encouraging team members to take ownership of identifying and implementing improvements.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Support the development of KPIs that align with Lean transformation goals, ensuring that performance improvements are measurable and tracked.
• Assist in the creation of dashboards and reports that communicate progress on Lean initiatives to leadership and stakeholders.
• Facilitate the use of data in decision-making processes to drive performance improvements and achieve strategic goals.

Collaboration & Engagement

• Engage with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to build collaboration and commitment to Lean initiatives.
• Serve as a Lean ambassador, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence throughout the organization.
• Partner with managers and team leaders to ensure that Lean improvements are integrated into daily operations and are continuously sustained.

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in a Lean or continuous improvement role, with a focus on Lean transformation, Hoshin Kanri, daily management, and value stream analysis.
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher preferred).
• Strong working knowledge of Lean tools such as value stream mapping, 5S, Kaizen, and root cause analysis.
• Proven experience in facilitating Lean projects and engaging cross-functional teams.
• Experience implementing Hoshin Kanri and aligning strategic goals with Lean initiatives (preferred).
• Hands-on experience facilitating value stream mapping workshops and executing process improvement projects (preferred)
• Strong project management skills and the ability to lead cross-functional teams through change (preferred)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong facilitation and coaching skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Data-driven decision-making
• Stakeholder engagement and teamwork

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands and reach with hands and arms.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Salary: $85,000 - $115,000 annually

Nikkiso CE&IG is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.