Job Description

Supply Chain Optimization Manager

Work Mode:Hybrid

Location: Remote

Opportunity

As a strategic leader within the KBA Production Control organization, this role spearheads the continuous transformation and optimization of supply chain operations across Kohler’s Kitchen & Bath manufacturing plants in the Americas region.

This role is responsible for architecting and revolutionizing material flow, conveyance, and intra-logistics strategies. The core mission is to drive unprecedented levels of efficiency and productivity, ensuring a synchronized ecosystem where the right inventory is strategically stored, readily available, and delivered to the right place at the right time.

Key deliverables include governance of the Plan for Every Part (PFEP) and a high-impact blend of strategic leadership and tactical support for regional continuous improvement initiatives to achieve end-to-end Supply Chain optimization.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategic Design & Lean Material Flow
• Integrated Systems Design: Design and implement material flow, conveyance, and inventory management systems fully integrated with Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Infrastructure & Layout: Lead new facility and warehouse design by optimizing material flow and developing layouts/models using Lean tools; drive improvements in existing facilities as needed.
• Facility Tactics: Partner with plant teams to implement supermarkets, kanban, and smart buffers to ensure seamless production support.
• Packaging Strategy: Collaborate with Purchasing and Packaging Engineering to define optimal packaging for internal and external components, minimizing waste and maximizing density.
• Physical & Information Flow: Ensure effective synchronization between physical movement and information flows to maximize conveyance performance and minimize total logistics and operational cost.

2. Industry 4.0 & Smart Logistics
• Strategic Transformation: Lead the transition to a Smart Material Handling ecosystem, leveraging Industry 4.0 to enhance digital visibility and real-time decision-making.
• Advanced Automation: Deploy autonomous vehicles and intelligent robotics where feasible to reduce manual conveyance and increase responsiveness to operational changes.
• Digital Visibility (IoT): Implement IoT-based tracking (e.g., smart containers/pallets) to improve real-time visibility, storage utilization, and inventory accuracy.
• Predictive Analytics: Utilize predictive analytics to forecast and prevent bottlenecks, material shortages, and equipment-related disruptions.
• Design flexible, energy-efficient workflows that boost agility, throughput, and sustainability in intra-logistics.

3. Operational Excellence & Governance
• PFEP Ownership: Develop and maintain the Plan for Every Part (PFEP) for all components; conduct plant audits and coach teams on PFEP compliance and end-to-end material flow.
• KPI Governance: Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success and drive a culture of continuous improvement.
• Best Practice Deployment: Scalability of regional best practices for warehouses, supermarkets, storage, kanban, conveyance, and line feeding across the network.
• Benchmarking & Innovation: Advance modern warehousing by evaluating best-in-class picking and delivery technologies, recommending high-impact adoption opportunities.
• Process Standardization: Remove flow constraints through sustainable solutions; standardize processes and performance metrics through rigorous benchmarking.

4. Project Management & Data Intelligence
• End-to-End Leadership: Lead complex projects by building project teams, defining resources, developing schedules, and managing scope, cost, quality, and timing.
• Cost Management: Identify and execute cost-reduction initiatives; build robust cost/benefit analyses and own savings reporting via Power BI and related tools.
• Labor Productivity: Optimize direct labor productivity through continuous improvement & dedicated Lean activities.
• Data-Driven Insights: Consolidate and analyze large datasets from service and delivery performance to identify trends and implement improvements at the point of use

As a strategic leader within the KBA Production Control organization, this role spearheads the continuous transformation and optimization of supply chain operations across Kohler’s Kitchen & Bath manufacturing plants in the Americas region.
This role is responsible for architecting and revolutionizing material flow, conveyance, and intra-logistics strategies. The core mission is to drive unprecedented levels of efficiency and productivity, ensuring a synchronized ecosystem where the right inventory is strategically stored, readily available, and delivered to the right place at the right time.

Key deliverables include governance of the Plan for Every Part (PFEP) and a high-impact blend of strategic leadership
and tactical support for regional continuous improvement initiatives to achieve end-to-end Supply Chain optimization.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategic Design & Lean Material Flow
• Integrated Systems Design: Design and implement material flow, conveyance, and inventory management systems fully integrated with Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Infrastructure & Layout: Lead new facility and warehouse design by optimizing material flow and developing layouts/models using Lean tools; drive improvements in existing facilities as needed.
• Facility Tactics: Partner with plant teams to implement supermarkets, kanban, and smart buffers to ensure seamless production support.
• Packaging Strategy: Collaborate with Purchasing and Packaging Engineering to define optimal packaging for internal and external components, minimizing waste and maximizing density.
• Physical & Information Flow: Ensure effective synchronization between physical movement and information flows to maximize conveyance performance and minimize total logistics and operational cost.

2. Industry 4.0 & Smart Logistics
• Strategic Transformation: Lead the transition to a Smart Material Handling ecosystem, leveraging Industry 4.0 to enhance digital visibility and real-time decision-making.
• Advanced Automation: Deploy autonomous vehicles and intelligent robotics where feasible to reduce manual conveyance and increase responsiveness to operational changes.
• Digital Visibility (IoT): Implement IoT-based tracking (e.g., smart containers/pallets) to improve real-time visibility, storage utilization, and inventory accuracy.
• Predictive Analytics: Utilize predictive analytics to forecast and prevent bottlenecks, material shortages, and equipment-related disruptions.
• Design flexible, energy-efficient workflows that boost agility, throughput, and sustainability in intra-logistics.

3. Operational Excellence & Governance
• PFEP Ownership: Develop and maintain the Plan for Every Part (PFEP) for all components; conduct plant audits and coach teams on PFEP compliance and end-to-end material flow.
• KPI Governance: Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure success and drive a culture of continuous improvement.
• Best Practice Deployment: Scalability of regional best practices for warehouses, supermarkets, storage, kanban, conveyance, and line feeding across the network.
• Benchmarking & Innovation: Advance modern warehousing by evaluating best-in-class picking and delivery technologies, recommending high-impact adoption opportunities.
• Process Standardization: Remove flow constraints through sustainable solutions; standardize processes and performance metrics through rigorous benchmarking.

4. Project Management & Data Intelligence
• End-to-End Leadership: Lead complex projects by building project teams, defining resources, developing schedules, and managing scope, cost, quality, and timing.
• Cost Management: Identify and execute cost-reduction initiatives; build robust cost/benefit analyses and own savings reporting via Power BI and related tools.
• Labor Productivity: Optimize direct labor productivity through continuous improvement & dedicated Lean activities.
• Data-Driven Insights: Consolidate and analyze large datasets from service and delivery performance to identify trends and implement improvements at the point of use.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Academic Background: Bachelor’s degree in Logistics or industrial engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Logistics, Information Systems, or a high-level Operations-related field.
• Professional Tenure: Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience. A proven track record in Supply Chain Engineering, Warehousing, or Continuous Improvement is highly preferred.
• Technical Domain:

• Engineering Excellence: Deep working knowledge of engineering principles applied to process and production system design.
• SAP Mastery: High proficiency in SAP (Logistics & Materials Management modules, EWM).
• Lean Architecture: Proven ability to design material routes, supermarkets, mapping processes, and complex Lean material flow solutions.

Knowledge Transfer:

• Ability to develop and deliver high-impact end-user training and technical documentation.
• Advanced Analytics: Mastery of Excel and data visualization, advanced proficiency in Power BI or Tableau, ability to transform raw data into strategic insights, and creating dashboards.

Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.

About Us
It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact kohlerjobs@kohler.com Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.