Primary Role
The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and operational success of the manufacturing facility. This position provides strategic and hands-on leadership across production, safety, quality, maintenance, materials, scheduling, and continuous improvement initiatives.
The Plant Manager will drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing principles, data-driven decision making, accountability systems, and workforce development. This individual must be highly visible on the production floor, capable of building credibility with operators and leadership alike, and committed to creating a culture of safety, efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement.
Position Impact
The Plant Manager directly influences plant profitability, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, safety performance, production efficiency, quality standards, and long-term operational growth. Success in this role ensures manufacturing operations consistently meet customer commitments while maximizing productivity, minimizing waste, improving equipment reliability, developing talent, and supporting the organization's strategic objectives.
Duties and Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
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Direct, monitor, and measure all manufacturing operations to ensure achievement of safety, quality, delivery, and productivity goals.
- Monitor daily production schedules to maximize output and meet customer commitments.
- Lead daily production meetings and establish accountability throughout the organization.
- Work closely with department managers to effectively manage workforce utilization and maximize equipment performance.
- Continuously evaluate operational performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, throughput, and profitability.
- Establish, communicate, and monitor departmental goals and performance metrics.
- Monitor plant constraints and proactively implement solutions to minimize disruptions to production schedules.
- Ensure alignment between operational objectives and overall company goals.
Safety & Compliance
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Serve as leader of the facility safety culture and ensure compliance with all OSHA, environmental, and company safety requirements.
- Lead the Safety Committee, coordinate monthly meetings, and ensure completion of corrective actions.
- Investigate workplace incidents and implement preventative measures.
- Promote employee involvement and accountability in all safety initiatives.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, customer, and internal quality standards.
Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement
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Lead Lean Manufacturing, TPM (Total Productive Maintenance), and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility.
- Implement and sustain visual management systems and daily accountability processes.
- Facilitate root cause analysis and corrective action activities.
- Identify and eliminate waste within production, maintenance, material flow, and administrative processes.
- Drive measurable improvements in productivity, quality, delivery performance, and cost reduction.
- Utilize operational data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas requiring improvement.
Production & Quality Management
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Evaluate and react to data related to scheduling, productivity, quality, labor utilization, machine utilization, and customer performance.
- Partner with Engineering, Quality, Customer Service, and Supply Chain teams to ensure successful execution of customer requirements.
- Support development of manufacturing specifications and process improvements for new and existing products.
- Ensure customer expectations are consistently met through effective production planning and execution.
- Lead efforts to improve first-pass yield, reduce scrap, and improve overall product quality.
Maintenance & Capital Management
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Partner with Maintenance leadership to maximize equipment reliability and uptime.
- Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
- Identify capital improvement opportunities and assist with capital project planning and implementation.
- Ensure facility assets are maintained to support operational objectives.
- Participate in long-term planning related to equipment, infrastructure, and facility improvements.
Financial & Business Performance
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Manage operational budgets and departmental spending.
- Monitor labor efficiency, operational costs, inventory levels, and manufacturing performance.
- Utilize data-driven decision making to improve plant profitability.
- Support strategic business initiatives and growth objectives.
- Assist in forecasting labor, equipment, and capacity requirements.
Leadership & Workforce Development
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Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, managers, and production personnel.
- Establish clear expectations and accountability standards throughout the organization.
- Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and development.
- Foster a culture of ownership, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
- Support succession planning and workforce development initiatives.
Education / Experience
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Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience leading multiple departments within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience in metal fabrication, machining, welding, industrial manufacturing, or related industries preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading operational improvement initiatives and driving measurable business results.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies preferred.
