Operational Excellence Project Manager

Operational Excellence Project Manager Location: Gurnee, IL – Onsite Contract Role: 12-month duration Automated Systems, Inc. is seeking an Operational Excellence Project Manager to support a 12-month contract role reporting directly to the SVP of Supply Chain & Warehousing. This contract role is a purpose built to build the operational foundation the business currently lacks; documented processes, system-native workflows, reporting infrastructure, trained process owners, and the accountability structures required to support scalable growth. The role spans process design, systems adoption, workforce training, and operational discipline across eight key areas: Order-to-Cash, Procure-to-Pay, RACI accountability frameworks, 6S workplace organization, Environmental Health & Safety, KPI and root cause analysis infrastructure, WMS/ERP/TMS adoption and exception reporting, and organizational capability transfer. The individual in this role will not only build each program, they will train the internal owners who sustain them. Key Responsibilities Order-to-Cash (O2C) Process Mapping & Documentation: Conducts a current-state assessment of the end-to-end O2C process, documenting actual workflow across all functions and identifying where system-native steps have been replaced by manual workarounds. Develops detailed swim-lane process maps for each O2C stage; order entry, order management, pick-pack-ship, carrier handoff, invoicing, and collections using standardized mapping conventions. Identifies and prioritizes gaps, handoff failures, redundancies, and non-value-added steps, with specific attention to activities that should be executed within the WMS, ERP, or TMS. Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Process Mapping & Documentation: Conducts a current-state assessment of the end-to-end P2P process from requisition through vendor payment, documenting all points where manual processes or spreadsheets have displaced system-native workflows. Develops detailed swim-lane process maps covering requisition, PO issuance, goods receipt, invoice matching, and payment, with clear illustration of roles, decision points, and system touchpoints. RACI Framework Development & Accountability Architecture Develops a comprehensive RACI framework across all critical Supply Chain and Warehousing processes O2C, P2P, warehouse operations, inventory management, carrier management, and systems administration. Facilitates cross-functional working sessions to assign, validate, and align on RACI designations, including system-specific responsibilities within the WMS, ERP, and TMS. Resolves accountability gaps, ownership conflicts, and decision authority ambiguities, escalating unresolved issues to the SVP with recommended paths forward. Workplace Organization Program Implementation Conducts a scored, photographic current-state assessment of all warehouse and operational areas against 6S principles (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain, Safety). Develops and executes a phased 6S implementation plan, leading hands-on kaizen events and establishing visual standards, floor markings, shadow boards, and labeling conventions. Builds a 6S audit program with standardized checklists, scoring methodology, and corrective action tracking to sustain gains beyond initial implementation. Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) Program Development Conducts a comprehensive EH&S current-state assessment, evaluating safety practices, incident history, hazard identification processes, regulatory compliance posture, and documentation gaps. Develops a formal, written EH&S program meeting applicable OSHA requirements, including Safety Policy, Emergency Action Plan, Hazard Communication Program, PPE Assessment, and JHA documentation for high-risk tasks. Implements a safety incident reporting, investigation, and corrective action process ensuring all incidents and near-misses are documented, root-caused, and resolved with tracked permanent corrective actions. Infrastructure, Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Action Conducts a KPI discovery process to identify existing metrics, available data sources, and measurement gaps across O2C, P2P, warehousing, systems adoption, and safety. Designs and implements a comprehensive KPI framework defining measures, targets, data sources, reporting frequency, and accountable owners across operational, financial, quality, safety, and systems dimensions. Builds the data infrastructure required to support reporting and defining ERP/WMS/TMS data tables and structures that eliminate dependence on manually maintained spreadsh