<p>As an integral member of Ford's Chicago & Louisville Assembly Plants leadership team. You will be responsible for leading transformation and change efforts using the Ford Production System (FPS) as a core methodology while merging it with innovative Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies. This role is not only about operational improvement but about creating a new manufacturing ideology that establishes Ford plants as global leaders in operational excellence. You will have the opportunity to apply your extensive expertise in Lean Manufacturing and transformation directly into manufacturing operations and business processes, eliminating waste from the system, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The Transformation and Innovation Manager will drive the next-generation manufacturing strategy by combining the best practices from FPS with advanced digital technologies (AI, ML, IoT), pioneering a new doctrine of operational excellence. This person will lead a transformation that aligns people, processes, and technology, positioning Ford Manufacturing as the benchmark of operational innovation in the automotive industry. this position will be based in Chicago and will require travel to Louisville.</p> <p>Manager, Transformation & Innovation We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we're all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves? As part of our Manufacturing team, you'll help build the world-class, state-of-the-art smart vehicles we're known for. In our plants around the world, we're constantly developing innovative technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. You'll get the satisfaction of making great products people use and love.</p> <p>What you'll do…</p> <ol> <li>Revolutionizing Operational Excellence through the Ford Production System (FPS): </li></ol> <ul> <li>Build on the foundation of the Ford Production System, elevating its principles with Lean methodologies to create a next-generation operational framework that maximizes efficiency, reduces waste, and improves flow across Chicago & Louisville Assembly Plants. </li><li>Drive the evolution of FPS, incorporating new philosophies and techniques. </li><li>Lead kaizen-based cultural transformation, empowering teams at all levels to identify and implement improvements aligned with FPS principles, while leveraging digital tools to accelerate and scale best practices. </li></ul> <ol start="2"> <li>Industry 4.0 Leadership and Integration: </li></ol> <ul> <li>Spearhead the digital transformation of Ford's manufacturing sites, embedding Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, IoT, and big data into the Ford Production System. </li><li>Drive the adoption of smart factories, where predictive maintenance and real-time production insights create a self-learning and self-optimizing ecosystem. </li><li>Lead the integration of AI-driven decision-making models that empower plant managers and workers to make real-time data-informed choices, improving speed, agility, and accuracy in operations. </li></ul> <ol start="3"> <li>Leading Cultural Transformation for Future-Proof Manufacturing: </li></ol> <ul> <li>Develop and promote a new organizational mindset, where FPS principles are combined with an entrepreneurial spirit of innovation and experimentation with emerging technologies. </li><li>Create a culture of collaboration that fosters the sharing of best practices across plants, making every site a hub of innovation and continuous improvement. </li><li>Inspire our generation, ensuring Ford's Chicago & Louisville region remains at the forefront of global manufacturing. </li></ul> <p>What you'll do…</p> <ol> <li>Revolutionizing Operational Excellence through the Ford Production System (FPS): </li></ol> <ul> <li>Build on the foundation of the Ford Production System, elevating its principles with Lean methodologies to create a next-generation operational framework that maximizes efficiency, reduces waste, and improves flow across Chicago & Louisville Assembly Plants. </li><li>Drive the evolution of FPS, incorporating new philosophies and techniques. </li><li>Lead kaizen-based cultural transformation, empowering teams at all levels to identify and implement improvements aligned with FPS principles, while leveraging digital tools to accelerate and scale best practices. </li></ul> <ol start="2"> <li>Industry 4.0 Leadership and Integration: </li></ol> <ul> <li>Spearhead the digital transformation of Ford's manufacturing sites, embedding Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, IoT, and big data into the Ford Production System. </li><li>Drive the adoption of smart factories, where predictive maintenance and real-time production insights create a self-learning and self-optimizing ecosystem. </li><li>Lead the integration of AI-driven decision-making models that empower plant managers and workers to make real-time data-informed choices, improving speed, agility, and accuracy in operations. </li></ul> <ol start="3"> <li>Leading Cultural Transformation for Future-Proof Manufacturing: </li></ol> <ul> <li>Develop and promote a new organizational mindset, where FPS principles are combined with an entrepreneurial spirit of innovation and experimentation with emerging technologies. </li><li>Create a culture of collaboration that fosters the sharing of best practices across plants, making every site a hub of innovation and continuous improvement. </li><li>Inspire our generation, ensuring Ford's Chicago & Louisville region remains at the forefront of global manufacturing. </li></ul>