Lean Manager

We offer you a challenging and exciting job in a well-established international company with good career opportunity and great many career paths, both for generalists and for specialists in a wide array of fields. Key responsibilities 1. Lean Transformation & CI Culture Lead the deployment of the MCIQ Lean Operating System, inspired by Toyota Production System (TPS) and other world-class models. Establish, train, and coach CI champions in all departments (Production, PTD, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, HR, HSSE). Build a speak-up and problem-solving culture based on Kaizen, PDCA, A3 thinking, and root cause analysis. Create an environment of standard work, visual management, and accountability across shopfloor and office functions. Ensure lean becomes a leadership philosophy, not just a toolset. 2. Department Development & Strategy Build and expand the Continuous Improvement Department into a center of excellence over the next 3 years. Define department strategy, KPIs, and roadmap aligned with MCIQ 2030 vision (reducing man-hours, world-class quality, TPM). Recruit, mentor, and develop CI specialists, ensuring a strong talent pipeline. Act as an internal consultant to leadership on lean, Industry 4.0, and digital initiatives. 3. Operational Excellence & Projects Drive cross-functional projects targeting OEE improvement, cost reduction, quality enhancement, and safety performance. Lead value stream mapping, process re-engineering, and digital lean board introduction to eliminate waste. Champion TPM, predictive maintenance, and reliability engineering as enablers for sustainable efficiency. Support CAPEX and automation projects with lean design principles (line balancing, takt time, SMED). 4. Industry 4.0, AI & Digital Transformation Integrate digital tools, MES, IoT, and AI-based analytics into CI projects. Develop a vision for AI-supported problem-solving, predictive quality, and real-time production monitoring. Partner with IT/Engineering to scale data-driven decision-making and digital lean systems. Explore machine learning, process mining, and digital twin simulations to enhance productivity and flexibility. 5. Leadership & Collaboration Partner with MD and SMT to align CI strategy with corporate goals. Actively benchmark against Toyota, Bosch, Danaher, and other lighthouse factories. Foster cross-department collaboration, breaking down silos and creating “One Team MCIQ” spirit. Act as a visible leader on the shopfloor, role-modeling lean leadership behaviors. We are looking for a candidate with Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Management, Operations, or related field. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent required. Experience: 8–12 years of progressive experience in Lean/CI roles, preferably in world-class manufacturing (Toyota, Bosch, Danaher, or similar) or a Lean Consulting Company (like McKinsey, Stauffen, Kaizen Institute, Porsche Consulting). Proven track record of implementing lean systems from scratch and embedding CI culture. Experience in Industry 4.0 technologies (MES, IoT, AI, automation, digital lean tools). Strong project management experience across cross-functional teams. International exposure and ability to work across cultures. Skills & Competencies: Lean mastery: TPS, Kaizen, A3, VSM, TPM, SMED, Jidoka, 5S, problem-solving. Digital fluency: MES, ERP integration, data analytics, AI tools, process mining. Leadership: Coaching, influencing without authority, cultural transformation. Change management: Ability to inspire, overcome resistance, and drive behavioral change. Strategic mindset: Vision setting, roadmap planning, benchmarking. Communication: Excellent cross-cultural communication, bilingual preferred (English/Chinese). MCIQ is located in Chengyang District, Qingdao, a renowned coastal city of eastern China. We occupy an area of more than 420,000 m2. The factory started reefer container production in 1998, reefer machine production is 2005, and now has an annual capacity of more than 45,000 reefer containers. We focus on: Second to none service to the customer; Our employees; Innovation (design, processes, and materials); Sustainability (HSSE and CSR) with special focus on a safe working environment; Understanding and living our Values and Principles of Conduct. Maersk Container Industry is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, valuing different perspectives. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applicants of all backgrounds. We consider qualified candidates with criminal histories in accordance with legal requirements. We are committed to accommodating your needs during the application and hiring process. If you require special assistance or accommodations to use our website, apply for a position, or perform a job, please contact us. Visit our website to learn more: