Process Improvement Specialist - Transportation
Build Your Career with Ashley Furniture - Where Innovation Meets Comfort
Who We Are:
At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world's largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we're more than a business — we're a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry.
If you're ready to grow, you've come to the right place. With a true "Growth Mindset," Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business.
If you are a current Ashley employee:Please login to your UKG account and apply using the internal job board.
The Process Improvement Specialist is responsible for identifying, designing, implementing, and sustaining operational improvements across the transportation division. This role partners with operations, safety, maintenance, asset management, customer service, billing, and technology teams to streamline workflows, eliminate waste, improve service performance, and drive standardization. The Process Improvement Manager leads process optimization initiatives, develops operational standards, supports change management, and ensures continuous improvement efforts deliver measurable business results. This role serves as a catalyst for operational excellence by combining data-driven decision making with practical field execution.
Responsibilities:
Process Improvement & Optimization
- Analyze business processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, duplication, and waste across transportation operations
- Lead process mapping, workflow design, and root cause analysis initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies
- Develop and implement solutions that improve productivity, quality, cost efficiency, and service delivery
- Monitor and report on improvement initiative results, business impact, and ROI to leadership teams
- Facilitate continuous improvement events, kaizen workshops, and problem-solving sessions with cross-functional teams
- Conduct value stream mapping and process analysis to identify improvement opportunities
- Benchmark best practices and industry standards to drive competitive performance
Standardization & Process Governance
- Develop and maintain operational standards, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and work instructions across business units
- Ensure consistency in process execution through standardized workflows, templates, and tools
- Establish governance structures for process ownership, accountability, and continuous monitoring
- Conduct process audits and compliance reviews to ensure adherence to established standards
- Maintain process documentation repositories, best practice libraries, and knowledge management systems
- Create and update process documentation including flowcharts, SOPs, and visual work instructions
- Implement process controls and metrics to sustain improvements over time
Change Management & Implementation
- Develop implementation plans for new processes, operational changes, and transformation initiatives
- Create communication and training strategies to support adoption, engagement, and sustainment
- Support organizational transformation initiatives by managing change impacts and stakeholder resistance
- Partner with operational leaders to drive change readiness and process adherence
- Assess change impacts and develop mitigation strategies for process transitions
- Conduct readiness assessments and post-implementation reviews
- Build change management plans including stakeholder analysis, communication plans, and training strategies
Technology & Digital Process Enablement
- Collaborate with IT and operations business partners to improve business system utilization and optimize technology investments
- Evaluate opportunities for automation, workflow tools, digital transformation, and emerging technologies
- Support testing, implementation, and rollout of system enhancements and new technology platforms
- Serve as a business process subject matter expert for operational technologies including TMS, ELD, fleet management systems, and workflow automation
- Identify opportunities to leverage AI, machine learning, and intelligent automation to enhance processes
- Develop business requirements and use cases for technology solutions
Training & Performance Support
- Collaborate with training teams to develop process-related learning materials, job aids, and training curricula
- Support operational leaders in driving adherence to new standards and process expectations
- Provide ongoing support during process transitions, implementations, and go-live activities
- Develop train-the-trainer materials and certification programs for process champions
- Create performance support tools and resources to enable successful process execution
Project Leadership
- Lead cross-functional projects from initiation through implementation, ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery
- Define project scope, timelines, deliverables, success metrics, and resource requirements
- Coordinate resources and stakeholders across multiple departments including operations, IT, finance, and safety
- Present project updates, status reports, and results to leadership teams and steering committees
- Manage project risks, issues, and dependencies to ensure successful outcomes
- Apply project management methodologies and tools to plan, execute, and monitor initiatives
Data Analysis & Performance Measurement
- Analyze operational data to identify trends, patterns, and improvement opportunities
- Develop dashboards, reports, and visualizations to track process performance and KPIs
- Establish baseline metrics and measure improvement results against targets
- Conduct statistical analysis to validate improvements and support data-driven decision making
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to cost, quality, delivery, and safety
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field required (equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered)
- Experience with Value Stream Mapping using technology to improve utilization
- Minimum 5 years of experience in process improvement, operations management, continuous improvement, transportation, supply chain, or related field
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives with measurable business results
- Experience developing SOPs, workflows, operational standards, and process documentation
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with data-driven decision-making approach
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills with ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to influence without direct authority and drive change through collaboration
- Project management experience with ability to manage timelines, resources, and deliverables
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and process mapping tools (Visio, Lucidchart, or similar)
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or similar continuous improvement methodologies
- Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
- Strong presentation skills with ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences
Additional Qualifications, Preferred:
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field
- Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt)
- Transportation, logistics, fleet, distribution, or manufacturing experience
- Experience with TMS (Transportation Management Systems), ELD (Electronic Logging Devices), fleet maintenance systems, or transportation technology platforms
- Experience implementing workflow automation, RPA, or AI-enabled business processes
- Change management certification (Prosci, ACMP, or similar) or experience leading enterprise transformations
- Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar project management certification
- Experience with business process management (BPM) software and workflow automation tools
- Knowledge of DOT regulations, fleet operations, and transportation compliance requirements
- Background in supply chain optimization, network design, or logistics planning
- Experience with data analytics, SQL, or business intelligence tools
- Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, or other project delivery methodologies
Work Environment:
This position is located in a climate-controlled office environment with standard lighting and moderate noise levels typical of professional workspace settings. The role primarily involves sitting at a desk for extended periods while working with computers, phones, and other office equipment. The collaborative environment includes interaction with team members and may require attendance at meetings, conference calls, and cross-departmental communications during regular business hours. The position may require occasional travel to transportation terminals, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, or other Ashley locations to conduct process assessments, support implementations, and engage with field teams.
Pay:
Competitive compensation based on experience
Benefits We Offer:
- Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
- Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Tuition Assistance
- Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
- 401(k) and Profit Sharing
- Life Insurance
Our Core Values:
Honesty & Integrity:Acts with transparency, discretion, and ethical judgment. Trusted to handle sensitive information and provide accurate, unbiased insights.
Dirty Fingernail:Takes full accountability for outcomes, not just tasks. Inspects details, ensures data accuracy, and follows through to completion.
Continuous Improvement:Actively seeks better ways to improve templates, tools, and processes. Learns from prior initiatives and embeds lessons into standard work.
Growth & Results Focus:Understands how transformation initiatives drive growth, cost reduction, and profitability. Keeps work aligned to enterprise priorities.
Culture of Leadership:Leads through influence, reliability, and example. Builds trust across functions and supports leaders at every level.
Customer-Centric & Boundaryless:Works across silos for the greater good of the organization. Ensures outputs meet the needs of executives, initiative owners, and teams.
Operational Excellence:Demonstrates strong organizational discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear, executable tools.
Interested in learning more about Ashley Furniture's Community Engagement programs, Environmental Stewardship, or our Core Values, click the links below:
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and provide a drug-free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates, only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. The company reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.
Notice to Search Firms:We are not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms. We will not pay any placement, referral or other fees to any search firms unless we have agreed otherwise in a valid, written agreement for the specific position posted and signed by an authorized representative of Ashley Furniture Industries.
Please note this position is not eligible for current or future employment sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or at any time in the future.
