Continuous improvement career path and competency model

In today’s fast-evolving industries, a clearly defined career path and a dynamic competency model are no longer optional — they are strategic necessities. This session will explore how structured career development empowers both individual growth and organizational resilience. Learn how competency models not only clarify expectations but also drive skill-building and performance.

Continuous improvement isn’t just about processes — it’s about people. Attending this session ensures you stay ahead by understanding how to align talent development with business needs, foster adaptability and strengthen your organization’s long-term success. Gain practical insights and proven strategies to accelerate growth, inspire top talent and lead with confidence into the future.

Key learning objectives

1. Recognize the critical importance of developing career paths across all business functions to drive organization success, reduce employee turnover and retain top talent.
2. Identify the requirements for effective collaboration in developing career paths.
3. Understand the importance of providing employees with a clear vision of the continuous improvement (CI) skills and competencies required for their professional growth.

Company

For more than 150 years, A. O. Smith has delivered innovative solutions to millions of consumers, business owners, property managers and professionals worldwide. As a global leader, A. O. Smith prides itself on applying innovative technology and energy-efficient solutions to water technology products marketed worldwide. The company focuses heavily on new product development, global expansion, strategic acquisitions and partnerships to achieve this goal.

The company was founded in 1874 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where it is still headquartered today. A. O. Smith employs more than 12,700 individuals at operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, India, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and has sales and distribution in more than 60 countries around the world. https://www.aosmith.com/

Presenter

Claudia Robinson is an accomplished industrial engineer with over 25 years of experience across various industries, including automotive, medical and manufacturing. Throughout her career, she has held diverse professional roles such as production planning leader, lean process engineer, continuous improvement manager, assistant plant manager and enterprise excellence manager, enabling a broad and practical perspective on operations and process optimization.

Currently serving as a subject matter expert (SME) in daily management systems, VSM-MIFC, lean maturity assessments and eight wastes, Robinson specializes in implementing and coaching teams on continuous improvement methodologies, including tools and frameworks such as:

• Lean manufacturing tools
• Value stream mapping- MIFC
• 5S, root cause analysis, problem-solving

Robinson carries a degree in industrial engineering and is certifed in Shingo Discovery Excellence and Shingo Systems Maps.