Manufacturing Excellence Specialist

About us  

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world’s most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life’s moments — from everyday connections to landmark celebrations. 

Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and raising the bar for our brands, our business and each other. 

Join us and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more. 

About the Function

Supply Chain & Manufacturing is where our brands are made, moved and delivered to the world.

With over half of our people working across more than 100 sites, this is a complex, large-scale operation that brings together production, logistics, engineering and supplier partnerships.

It’s fast-paced and hands-on, with teams working together to ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability at every stage. From sourcing ingredients to getting products into customers’ hands, you’ll play a role in delivering the brands people know and love.

About this role 

The Diageo Plainfield location is a growing 24x7 alcoholic spirit and malt beverage manufacturing facility delivering 30+ million cases per annum. The site houses both manufacturing and central brand technical functions with approximately 400 hourly union employees and 70 salaried employees. The plant is focused on driving continued performance improvement in its manufacturing operations; the Diageo Manufacturing Management System (MMS) framework is a key enabler to this goal.   

 The Manufacturing Excellence Specialist will be focused on driving an integrated approach to continuous improvement across the Plainfield site, establishing a robust MMS Program to improve the plant’s overall performance and building internal capabilities for teams to unlock new levels of possibilities.  

 
Key Outputs: 

• To lead and facilitate continuous improvement activities that deliver breakthrough performance improvements across the Plainfield site. 

• To drive all aspects of MMS to ensure that good practices are embedded. 

• Deploy an integrated manufacturing excellence operating system (TRACC) that encompasses people, plant and process enhancement, building internal capabilities and empowering work teams to drive improvements autonomously. 

• Ensure everyone at Plainfield understands what manufacturing excellence means, is engaged into the operating system and is playing their part in delivering a world class production operation.  

• To ensure that any improvements implemented are standardized and sustained within their teams. 
• To establish understanding at all levels within Plainfield of how the site benchmarks with other leading Diageo sites and the external business environment.

Experience/skills required

• Knowledge of manufacturing excellence tools and techniques such as A3 Problem Solving, 5S, Set-Up Time Reduction, Lean Six Sigma, and Reliability-Centered Maintenance.  

• Knowledge of planning processes and optimizing demand cycles.   

• Working knowledge of SAP. 

• Experience in coaching and influencing a wide range of stakeholders for success. 

• Knowledge and understanding of CI Methodologies, (e.g. DMAIC, RCPS, SPC). 

• Intermediate project management skills.  

• Ability to interpret and analyze extensive data sources to identify waste and cost saving opportunities, (e.g. Redzone, Power BI, SAP systems). 

Personal Characteristics: 

• Ability to lead and inspire people 

• Conscientious, accurate and detail-oriented. 

• Problem solving skills. 

• Good communicator and team player. 

• Positive attitude to work, flexible and reliable. 

• Focus on delivering business objectives. 
• Ability to influence at all levels. 

Working with Us 

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one. 

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:  

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible. 

We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team. 

Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more. 

Ready to bring your best? This could be your opportunity. 

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application. 

Recruitment Scam Warning 

Protecting candidates is very important to us. All communications regarding your application will come from an email address ending in @diageo.com. In our recruitment process, we'll never ask for money. 

At Diageo certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including annual incentive payment and stock awards. US-based employees are eligible for healthcare benefits, retirement benefits , short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellness benefits and industry leading parental leave, among others.  (Benefits/perks listed may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Diageo and the country where you work.)  The salary range displayed is the salary range for the role’s primary location.