What does a lean manufacturing manager do?
A lean Manufacturing Manager is part of the manufacturing department. They are the one who is responsible for creating the design as well as strategies to improve the operation of the company. They monitor the daily activities of the employees and report them to the Area or division head. They must also ensure that all the job descriptions and responsibilities of the employees are met based on the company's policy. Also, their job includes identifying ways to improve the system operation and setting a future goal for a company.
Lean manufacturing manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real lean manufacturing manager resumes:
- Manage OEM accounts and lead demand generation & proposals.
- Manage global, multi-facete, highly visible sales growth and logistics projects.
- Implement lead manufacturing principles to achieve continuous improvement processes; hire qualified machinists; ensure division-wide OSHA compliance.
- Streamline document control process and work instructions in support of ISO certification.
- Eliminate 107 miles of waste forklift traffic reducing logistics cost by $90K.
- Convert MRP base push production control to Kanban base pull to create visual replenishment system.
- Re-Establish pull system with improve flow, reduce kanban sizes, point-of-use storage and parts supermarket.
- Provide information on cost performance and financial opportunities and develop team trackers and KPIs to measure success of initiatives.
- Project are winner of the corporate EHS & golden step awards, produce $20MM in sales and save $1.5MM.
- Prepare company for ISO certification.
- Analyze, conduct and develop multiple performance KPIs to provide visibility on opportunities on cross-functional teams.
- Mentor and develop personnel, collaborating with VSM peers and other operational managers to improve overall goals achievement.
- Revised/Reviewed/Implement assembly instructions, BOM, QC inspection reports.
- Conduct process capability studies and analyze SPC data in order to improve manufacturing activities and incoming material quality.
Lean manufacturing manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Lean Manufacturing Managers are proficient in Lean Manufacturing, Sigma, and Process Improvement. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Management skills, and Leadership skills.
We break down the percentage of Lean Manufacturing Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Lean Manufacturing, 9%
Created and implemented Lean Manufacturing in PPG's manufacturing and assembly facility by teaching lean principals and facilitating Focus Workshops.
- Sigma, 7%
Spearheaded and designed system-wide process improvement program including Lean Six Sigma project portfolio management and training strategy deployment.
- Process Improvement, 7%
Worked with various business entities within each manufacturing area to develop detailed recommendations for process improvements.
- Visual Management, 6%
Implemented Managing for Daily Improvement and Principles of Visual management in supported production areas.
- Lean Tools, 6%
Introduced TPM workshops to eliminate safety issues, machine downtime using OEE data (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and lean tools.
- Kaizen Events, 5%
Facilitated kaizen events focused on improving product quality, reducing fabrication defects, and improving productivity.
"lean manufacturing," "sigma," and "process improvement" are among the most common skills that lean manufacturing managers use at work. You can find even more lean manufacturing manager responsibilities below, including:
Leadership skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of lean manufacturing managers is leadership skills. This skill is critical to many everyday lean manufacturing manager duties, as "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provided kaizen leadership, training and coaching to improve product quality and measurement metrics to drive sustainable standardization and customer satisfaction"
Problem-solving skills. lean manufacturing manager responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." This resume example shows what lean manufacturing managers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "conducted assessments of multiple value streams to determine process improvement opportunities and led project teams to implement identified solutions. "
Interpersonal skills. Lastly, "interpersonal skills" is an important element of what a lean manufacturing manager does. Lean manufacturing manager responsibilities require this skill because "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." This resume example highlights how lean manufacturing manager duties rely on this skill: "train and certify production supervisors to written procedures and to develop interpersonal skills. "
The three companies that hire the most lean manufacturing managers are:
- Parker Hannifin6 lean manufacturing managers jobs
- Fastenal3 lean manufacturing managers jobs
- Toro3 lean manufacturing managers jobs
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Compare different lean manufacturing managers
Lean manufacturing manager vs. Production administrator
Production administrators support all artistic and production functions with expert administrative support to the entire production team. Part of their responsibilities includes maintaining the annual production expenses and production calendar, researching potential venues and maintaining a venue database, and preparing expense reports for artists and production staff. These administrators must be excellent in organization and planning skills, comfortable and flexible with evolving roles, and highly proficient in computer skills such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Office.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a lean manufacturing manager are more likely to require skills like "lean manufacturing," "sigma," "process improvement," and "visual management." On the other hand, a job as a production administrator requires skills like "data entry," "purchase orders," "windows," and "payroll." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Production administrators tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $43,182. In contrast, lean manufacturing managers make the biggest average salary, $100,016, in the manufacturing industry.The education levels that production administrators earn slightly differ from lean manufacturing managers. In particular, production administrators are 13.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a lean manufacturing manager. Additionally, they're 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lean manufacturing manager vs. General milling superintendent
Plant superintendents must have skills in operations, productions, and management. They also need a 4-year degree in business or industrial management. Those who choose this career will be called upon to oversee a plant's manufacturing processes and to recommend improvements to increase productivity. They also enforce all state and federal regulations for plant operations and employee safety.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, lean manufacturing manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "lean manufacturing," "sigma," "process improvement," and "visual management." Meanwhile, a general milling superintendent has duties that require skills in areas such as "safety program," "maximo," "mill operations," and "haccp." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. General milling superintendents tend to reach lower levels of education than lean manufacturing managers. In fact, they're 14.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Lean manufacturing manager vs. Plant superintendent
A Continuous Improvement Manager initiates and facilitates lean improvement programs and activities. They ensure that progress is maintained on an ongoing basis.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a lean manufacturing manager is likely to be skilled in "visual management," "lean tools," "kaizen events," and "lean six sigma," while a typical plant superintendent is skilled in "plant safety," "production supervisors," "osha," and "plant operations."
Plant superintendents make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $116,194. On the other hand, lean manufacturing managers are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $100,016.When it comes to education, plant superintendents tend to earn lower degree levels compared to lean manufacturing managers. In fact, they're 11.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Lean manufacturing manager vs. Continuous improvement manager
Types of lean manufacturing manager
Updated January 8, 2025
