Plant Manager @ Handling Systems International (HSI)
Bedford Park, IL
About Us
Handling Systems International (HSI) is one of the nation's leading manufacturers of custom overhead bridge cranes, runway systems, gantry cranes, workstation cranes, and other material handling equipment. Every crane we build is engineered to order, making our manufacturing environment fast-paced, challenging, and rewarding.
We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead approximately 50 manufacturing employees and oversee day-to-day production while driving safety, efficiency, quality, and on-time delivery.
This is a leadership position for someone who enjoys managing people, solving problems, improving processes, and creating accountability.
Position Summary
The Plant Manager is responsible for the daily operation of our manufacturing facility, ensuring production stays on schedule while maintaining high standards for safety, quality, and productivity.
While prior overhead crane experience is not required, experience leading manufacturing operations is essential.
The successful candidate will work closely with Engineering, Project Management, Master Scheduling, Purchasing, and Ownership to ensure customer ship dates are consistently achieved.
Responsibilities
- Lead approximately 50 manufacturing employees across multiple departments
- Ensure daily production remains on schedule to meet customer ship dates
- Hold supervisors and employees accountable for performance and productivity
- Coordinate closely with the Master Scheduler regarding production priorities
- Work with Project Managers to proactively resolve manufacturing bottlenecks
- Monitor labor utilization and staffing requirements
- Recruit, interview, hire, and onboard new manufacturing employees
- Conduct employee performance reviews and coaching sessions
- Address attendance, disciplinary issues, and performance concerns
- Foster a positive, accountable, team-oriented culture
- Improve manufacturing processes and workflow efficiency
- Coordinate with Engineering when technical questions arise
- Ensure safety procedures are followed throughout the facility
- Monitor quality standards and reduce rework
- Assist with planning future manufacturing capacity and growth
Qualifications
Required
- 7+ years managing manufacturing operations
- Experience supervising 30-75+ employees
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- Proven ability to manage production schedules
- Experience hiring, coaching, and developing employees
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced custom manufacturing environment
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to prioritize multiple projects simultaneously
Preferred
- Structural steel fabrication
- Heavy equipment manufacturing
- Industrial machinery
- Welding or fabrication environments
- Lean Manufacturing experience
- ERP/MRP experience
- OSHA and manufacturing safety knowledge
What Success Looks Like
The successful Plant Manager will:
- Keep production moving efficiently
- Consistently meet customer ship dates
- Build a culture of accountability
- Maintain high employee morale
- Improve communication between production, engineering, and project management
- Continuously improve manufacturing processes
- Develop supervisors and future leaders
Why Join HSI?
- Industry leader in custom overhead crane manufacturing
- Stable, growing company
- Major investment in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility
- Opportunity to build and improve manufacturing operations
- Work directly with company leadership
- Competitive compensation
- Health Insurance
- Paid Vacation
- 401(k)
- Bonus opportunity
Pay: $125,000.00 - $155,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
