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Value Stream Manager

Generac · Whitewater, WI · Full time

Posted Aug 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you found a problem hidden in a process because no one had made it visible. How did you catch it and what did you do about it?

What they are checking: whether they build visual management systems that surface problems instead of masking them

Tell me about a new product introduction you led or supported in operations. What went wrong, and how did you keep the launch from disrupting the existing value stream?

What they are checking: real NPI leadership experience and ability to protect steady-state operations during change

Tell me about a person on your team who was underperforming. How did you handle the conversation and what happened over the following months?

What they are checking: real performance management skill versus a scripted answer about

Describe a continuous improvement initiative you led that didn't stick, that reverted back to the old way within a few months. What did you learn about sustaining change?

What they are checking: self-awareness about the gap between running a kaizen event and building standard work that holds

Tell me about a time you had to cross-train employees to cover for absences without slowing the line down. How did you structure it?

What they are checking: practical workforce flexibility planning, a recurring operational need in this role

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a plant or facility strategic decision. How did you push back, and what was the outcome?

What they are checking: whether they can influence upward and align with company strategy without just complying silently

What would you do

Say your line is missing its daily metric target for the third day in a row and the daily MDI meeting shows no clear root cause. What do you do in that meeting and right after it?

What they are checking: practical command of PDCA and MDI discipline under pressure, not just knowledge of the acronyms

If safety and delivery targets conflict on a given day, say a machine guard needs repair that will blow the shipment deadline, how do you decide what happens?

What they are checking: whether safety is a genuine non-negotiable or something that gets traded away under schedule pressure

How do you decide which KPI to chase first when people, safety, quality, delivery, and cost are all showing yellow at the same time?

What they are checking: prioritization judgment and understanding of which metrics are leading versus lagging indicators

About the work

Walk me through a value stream you've managed. What did the flow look like from raw material to shipped product, and where were the bottlenecks?

What they are checking: whether the candidate actually understands end-to-end value stream mapping versus just managing a department

Describe a time you implemented a pull system or kanban where continuous flow wasn't possible. What told you flow wasn't an option, and how did you size the kanban?

What they are checking: hands-on lean implementation experience versus textbook familiarity with the terms

How would you go about building a plan for every part for a value stream that's never had one?

What they are checking: depth of PFEP knowledge and whether they know where to start with a messy, unstructured problem

Have you worked in SAP or a similar ERP for production planning and inventory? Walk me through how you'd use it to spot a growing inventory or lead time problem.

What they are checking: actual system fluency versus generic familiarity with ERP concepts

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Manager Value Stream has responsibility and leadership for overall operation of a value stream. The Value Stream Manager i mplements the Generac Manufacturing System (GMS) to ensure a safe work environment, drive quali ty improvements, provide an excellent customer experience, develop a qualified team , maximize profitable growth and reduce operating costs, inventories & lead times through continuous improvements. The Value Stream Manager leads day-to-day activities to deliver daily, monthly, quarterly and yearly expectations of metric performance . Essential Duties: • Lead the Value Stream in daily operations and continuous improvement activities. • Emphasize the creation of continuous product flow, utilize pull systems where flow is not currently possible, and work to level the workload. • Create the basis for continuous improvement and employee empowerment by ensuring that standardized work/processes are followed, countermeasures implemented and the area drives safety improvements. • Create the foundation of a culture that stops to fix problems in order to get quality right the first time. • Designs and directs the work of the functional area. Selects, coaches and develops the team, setting objectives that align with company strategy to inspire and motivate the team. • Manages organizational talent through performance management, succession planning and development. • Designs and directs processes by which team and individual performance are recognized, feedback is consistently delivered and performance is systematically improved. • Utilize PDCA process in conjunction with the MDI process to deliver metric results in people, safety, quality, delivery & cost. • Develop a visual value steam that ensures problems do not remain hidden. • Ensure leaders provide effective training & cross-training for the employees, including backups from other areas, to assure a continuous smooth running Value Stream. • Develop and execute short and long range continuous improvement plans to deliver improvements in people, safety, quality, delivery & cost metrics. • Responsible for leading and coordinating the successful launch of New Product Introductions (NPI) within Operations. • Participate in the development of standards and programs. • Participate in the development and implementation of facility strategic plans and initiatives. • Facilitate the flow of information sharing of best practices and external benchmarks. Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or related field OR equivalent experience • 5 years progressive operations or lean management experience Preferred Qualifications: • 3 years of demonstrated implementation experience in Lean principles • Lean, Operations or Supply Chain Certifications • Experience with SAP or equivalent ERP system • Demonstrated experience in flow principles, Kanban, and plan for every part (PFEP) • Demonstrated experience in leadership with a diversity of team skills Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: • Experiment and Push Boundaries – Designs/implements facility solutions that challenge the norm • Ideate & Breakthrough – Analyzes and implements successful facility change • Connect & Coach – Creates cross functional dialog, drives action through coaching • Continuous Improvement – Uses KPI’s to create reliable/sustainable improvements, drives standard work, focuses on process • Drive to Win – Sets high performance standards, Monitors/redirects ensuring project results, Coaches balance, problem solving, improved customer/employee experience Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 - 50 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision and ability to adjust focus. Great Reasons to work for Generac: • Competitive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401k and many more • Many employee activities • Scheduled events throughout the year that allow our employees, both current and retirees, to gather together and enjoy their time with their families and co-workers • Pride! When a storm strikes, Generac employees always rise to the occasion. Each time a storm hits many employees volunteer their time with the customer support team or on the production line while others go right into storm-affected areas to repair generators • We believe in having fun. From minor celebrations to major events, our employees balance their work by building a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration through a variety of occasions, including our Fun Days. • Every day is Jeans Day! Dress for your day. • Product loan and discount programs “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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