Manager Product Performance I - Ti - Quality & Product Development

sylvamo•Ticonderoga, NY

About The Position

This position reports to the Group Leader - Quality & Product Development and is responsible for applying quality management principles, structured problem solving, statistical methods, and work systems to drive continuous product quality improvement, reduce customer complaints and claims, and increase customer satisfaction. The Product Performance Manager (PPM) will have or obtain expertise in the quality attributes, systems, and processes associated with Ticonderoga’s products and be expected to be able to resolve complex situations or problems where no precedence exists. Successful candidates must be able to utilize technical knowledge to assist the business units in maintaining knowledge of strategic customer’s quality expectations. Key Accountabilities: The PPM is the voice of the customer within the mill. At the same time, the PPM represents the mill’s point of view when working with Sales, Marketing, Technology, or others external to the mill.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, with minimum of 3 years with a preferred 5 years of paper industry experience
Ability to learn and master mill quality systems such as Proficy, Pi, PPR/Omega, Business Warehouse, Thumb Print, WebApps, Crystal Reports, SAP, etc. to efficiently analyze data daily and communicate analysis/results effectively.
Proven leadership and supervisory experience are preferred.
Experience with MiniTab/Excel and applying data analytics, creating supporting documentation or presentations in MS Office.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing Excellence experience (Green Belt level) preferred, otherwise, must be willing to obtain Green Belt certification.

Responsibilities

Fully participate in all mill-wide and departmental safety initiatives and programs and understands the basic environmental compliance and safety requirements of the business unit.
Responsible for coordinating all internal and external customer visits. This includes communicating with Sales, CTS, Marketing, etc. as needed, ensuring all arrangements & details are set, communications throughout the mill, inviting appropriate mill personnel, etc…
Responsible for providing training to mill personnel, especially operators, First Line Leaders, and area supervisors, on products, grade lines, customers, end user applications and Quality Work Systems.
People management – will conduct effective one-on-ones, and be responsible for Day Lab personnel to ensure alignment of the department, mill, and company goals
Become knowledgeable of the quality labs testing procedures, and understand why each test is performed and its importance
Weekly review of Day Force to ensure proper work hours for hourly lab employees.
Assess the health of the mill first thing each day and communicate daily with appropriate business unit members. This will be accomplished through reviews of quality and production logs, as well as participation in daily production meetings to obtain information on key operational issues.
Be action-oriented by working with the business units daily to ensure that quality issues are resolved as quickly as possible. The PPM should be courageous and manage conflict to ensure quick resolution of problems. A PPM perseveres and moves forward despite fears or difficulties, is open and straightforward with others
A PPM can influence change as an individual contributor by being Trustworthy and demonstrating care by elevating what matters to individuals and supports an environment where all are welcome and valued
Committed to the success of the business units.
Continuously work with the business units to assess process capability and reduce variability. For example: Paper Losses, Grade Change Times, Quality Rejects, and Downtime
Review of the paper machine’s run schedule for potential quality issues
Proactive – anticipates production or other technical department needs (trials, start-ups, operational or quality issues, etc.) and provide resources or guidance to accomplish.
A PPM is Customer Focused – they actively participate and is the key driver in the development of quality work systems to prevent the recurrence of quality issues. We will continuously look for opportunities to involve operators in customer visits and complaint calls. Feedback on the visit should be given to appropriate parties
Responds to all appropriate complaints within a week.
Support the business unit and area technical leaders in product development and cost reduction, and cash flow generation opportunities
Works with manufacturing, technical, and the appropriate product manager in Sylvamo Headquarters to optimize the manufacturing specs.
Audits the quality systems routinely, including internal quality inspection action items
Works with manufacturing, marketing and sales on product inquiries, product application opportunities, and other customer/sales issues. Key areas include machine and process capabilities, systems needed, etc.
Manages Corporate Quality System Policy, Corp Quality Initiatives, and Corporate Quality Audit and tracks action items and improvements
A PPM is sustainability focused – they are responsible for facilitating the development and enhancing the Quality’s Top 100 worksystems
Perform testing on complaint samples.
Coordinate disposition of non A-1 products.
Manage Quality Hold report (rolls produced within 30 days and sheeted product within 60 days).
Manage color shade standard inventories.
Maintain the Elrepho color units in Stock Prep.
Weekend Duty Support for the mill in a key operating area on a 6-week rotation
Communication between the PPM and business units regarding trials, complaints, customer visits and other issues that affect the area is expected. Daily communication internally through memos, communiqués, verbal exchange, Quality Alerts, One Point Lessons, E-Mails, etc. is a way of life.