Operational Excellence Practitioner

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The Position

1. Primary Purpose of Job (Job Summary)

Roche is hiring for a greenfield facility in Shanghai and we are looking for an Operational Excellence Practitioner who is overall responsible for driving business process improvement and digital transformation within the Manufacturing department. Also provides support during the operation readiness and start-up phase to make sure readiness is executed efficiently with schedule.

For this role, strong skill and experience are required to cover two areas: Capex project delivery and Routine Operation.

• Drive the implementation and integration of digital tools to guide smart manufacturing.
• Promote the concept of Operational Excellence and foster the establishment and implementation of a culture of continuous improvement.
• Coordinate continuous improvement, optimization projects, facilitating Operational Excellence, and adopting suitable digital tools and technology.
• Promote Operational Excellence Concepts and Problem-Solving Capabilities.

2. Principle Roles & Responsibilities / Accountabilities

Engineering Project Support and Operation Readiness: 

• Drive the implementation and integration of digital tools to guide the smart Manufacturing management.
• Promote the concept of Operational Excellence and drive the establishment of a continuous improvement culture in the new facility. 
• Support the Manufacturing Head in executing the Operational Readiness project by acting as a coordinator to align the work of Quality, Engineering, MM, MSAT, and other departments. Ensure the project is executed in accordance with overall readiness and end-to-end (E2E) project timelines, with all departments working towards consistent goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Routine Operation:

Continuous Improvement and Optimization Projects

• Coordinate the identification, evaluation, and selection of production processes, systems, or operational areas that require improvement and optimization.
• Develop detailed project plans, including objectives, scope, timelines, resource requirements, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Coordinate collaboration among cross-departmental teams (e.g., production, quality, engineering, IT, etc.) to ensure smooth project progress.
• Regularly monitor project progress, identify potential risks, and take timely corrective actions.
• Ensure projects are completed on time, within budget, and with high quality, and achieve expected benefits.

Operational Excellence Concepts and Practices

• Advocate and promote the culture and methodology of Operational Excellence within the manufacturing department.
• Systematically eliminate waste, reduce variation, and improve process efficiency and reliability through tools and techniques such as Lean Production and Six Sigma.
• Organize and facilitate workshops and seminars, training team members in continuous improvement tools and skills.

Digital Tools and Technologies

• Continuously monitor the latest digital trends and technologies in the industry.
• Evaluate and select digital solutions suitable for the manufacturing department's needs to improve production efficiency, data visualization, and decision-making capabilities.
• Lead or participate in the implementation and promotion of digital tools, ensuring their effective integration with existing systems and processes.
• Train and support team members in adapting to and using new digital tools, driving digital transformation.

Production Processes and Improve Efficiency

• Deeply analyze existing production processes, identify bottlenecks, non-value-added activities, and opportunities for improvement.
• Design and implement optimized production processes, reduce cycle time, and increase capacity utilization.
• Continuously improve production efficiency through means such as process parameter optimization and equipment performance enhancement.

Production Problem Solving and Root Cause Eradication

• Actively participate in the investigation of deviations, failures, and quality issues occurring in production.
• Apply systematic problem-solving tools (e.g., Fishbone Diagram, 5 Why, DMAIC, etc.) for root cause analysis.
• Develop and implement effective corrective and preventive measures to ensure similar issues do not recur.
• Establish and maintain a knowledge base, sharing problem-solving experiences and best practices.

Perform other duties as assigned

3. Qualification and Experience

Education/Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Pharmaceuticals, Chemistry, Industrial Engineering, or related fields.
• Professional certifications in Operational Excellence or Lean Production (e.g., Lean Six Sigma, Green Belt/Black Belt) are preferred.

Job Required Competencies

• 5 or more years’ operation experience in the  pharmaceutical industry, or operational excellence; MNC preferred.
• Experience in new facility setup or operational transformation projects.
• Excellent cross-departmental communication and coordination skills, capable of driving collaboration among functional departments.
• Proficient in process optimization and continuous improvement methodologies, with practical experience in Lean Production and Six Sigma.
• Familiar with digital tools, strong data analysis skills, with the ability to use database tools and data visualization software for decision-making support.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills to ensure alignment of project goals
• Fluent communication skills in English and the ability to effectively communicate, collaborate, and foster positive interactions with team members and stakeholders.

Who We Are

A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100’000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.

Let’s build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.