Operations Excellence Consultant - Food & Beverages

Role Overview:

The Operations Excellence Consultant will play a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency, driving cost reductions, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the consumer food industry. This role will apply Lean, Six Sigma, and other process improvement methodologies to optimize key operational functions, including supply chain, manufacturing, and logistics. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with hands-on experience in operational excellence, committed to driving sustainable improvements that enhance product quality and operational workflows.

Role Purpose:

This role is designed to focus on reducing operational costs, improving product quality, optimizing manufacturing processes, and driving continuous improvement across all areas of the business. The Operations Excellence Consultant will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to ensure operational processes meet the highest standards of efficiency, quality, and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Improvement & Process Optimization:

- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to drive operational excellence and achieve business objectives.

- Identify opportunities to streamline processes, eliminate waste, reduce costs, and improve quality across manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics functions.

- Conduct comprehensive time and motion studies, root cause analysis, and process mapping to detect operational bottlenecks and implement effective solutions.

- Develop and champion continuous improvement initiatives that align with business goals, driving sustainable improvements in operations.

Supply Chain & Logistics Optimization:

- Work closely with procurement, production planning, and logistics teams to optimize the end-to-end supply chain process, ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of raw materials and finished products.

- Implement strategies to improve inventory management, reduce lead times, and enhance supplier performance, contributing to improved service levels and cost reductions.

- Ensure operational processes align with sustainability goals, focusing on reducing waste, enhancing energy efficiency, and optimizing resource use.

Manufacturing Efficiency & Automation:

- Design and implement best practices for manufacturing processes that improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and drive enhanced production efficiency.

- Lead digital transformation and automation projects to improve production workflows, product traceability, and system integration across operations.

- Regularly monitor key manufacturing KPIs, including production yield, cycle time, and defect rates, and recommend corrective actions when necessary.

Quality Assurance & Compliance:

- Collaborate with the quality assurance team to establish and maintain rigorous quality standards throughout the production process.

- Implement systems to track, analyze, and resolve quality issues, ensuring the prevention of recurring problems and adherence to industry regulations and certifications (e.g., ISO, HACCP, FSSC 22000).

- Lead initiatives to drive a culture of quality across all teams, ensuring consistent product quality and safety.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Knowledge Transfer:

- Foster collaboration across R&D, marketing, sales, and customer service teams to ensure operational processes align with customer needs and business objectives.

- Provide training and coaching on operational excellence principles, ensuring the development of internal capabilities and skills across the workforce.

- Act as a subject matter expert and resource to drive continuous learning and improvements throughout the organization.

Project Management & Stakeholder Engagement:

- Lead and manage multiple operational excellence projects, ensuring they are executed within scope, on time, and within budget.

- Regularly report project progress to senior management, including key performance updates and recommendations for further improvements.

- Facilitate communication and collaboration between departments to ensure successful project delivery and stakeholder alignment.

Qualifications & Skills:

- Proven experience in operational excellence, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies, ideally within the food and beverage industry.

- Strong understanding of supply chain management, manufacturing processes, and logistics.

- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and process optimization skills.

- Experience in digital transformation and automation within manufacturing operations is a plus.

- Strong communication, presentation, and training skills to drive change and influence key stakeholders at all levels.

Education:

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field. Advanced certifications (e.g., Lean Six Sigma Black Belt) are a plus.