Blow Molding Manager (Confidential)
Position Summary
The Extrusion Blow Molding Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of extrusion blow molding operations, including safety, quality, production, maintenance, staffing, continuous improvement, and cost control. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring active involvement on the production floor to troubleshoot processes, optimize machine performance, develop team members, and drive operational excellence. The manager ensures production goals are met while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and customer satisfaction.
Key Responsibilities
Production Management
- Lead daily extrusion blow molding operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
- Manage production schedules to meet customer demand and plant performance targets.
- Monitor and improve machine uptime, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), scrap rates, and labor efficiency.
- Coordinate production priorities with planning, maintenance, quality, and logistics teams.
- Ensure compliance with standard operating procedures and work instructions.
Process Optimization
- Serve as the technical expert for extrusion blow molding processes.
- Troubleshoot molding defects, equipment issues, and process variations.
- Establish and maintain optimal process parameters for quality and productivity.
- Lead mold trials, new product launches, and process validations.
- Drive continuous improvement projects focused on cycle time reduction, waste elimination, and productivity gains.
Leadership and Team Development
- Directly supervise production supervisors, technicians, setup personnel, and operators.
- Recruit, train, coach, and develop manufacturing team members.
- Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback.
- Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and employee engagement.
- Ensure effective shift-to-shift communication and operational consistency.
Maintenance and Equipment Reliability
- Partner with maintenance teams to develop preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
- Support troubleshooting and repair of extrusion blow molding equipment, auxiliary systems, molds, and tooling.
- Participate in capital equipment evaluations and implementation projects.
- Ensure molds and tooling are maintained in optimal operating condition.
Quality Management
- Ensure products meet all customer specifications and quality standards.
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to quality issues.
- Support internal and external audits.
- Utilize statistical and problem-solving tools to improve process capability and reduce defects.
Safety and Compliance
- Champion a culture of safety through leadership and active participation.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company safety requirements.
- Conduct safety audits, risk assessments, and corrective action activities.
- Lead incident investigations and implement preventive measures.
Financial Management
- Develop and manage departmental budgets.
- Monitor labor, scrap, maintenance, and operational costs.
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability and reduce manufacturing costs.
- Support capital expenditure planning and justification efforts.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, or related field preferred.
- Equivalent combination of education and extensive extrusion blow molding experience will be considered.
Experience
- 7+ years of extrusion blow molding manufacturing experience.
- 3+ years of leadership experience in a supervisory or management role.
- Proven experience with HDPE, PP, PETG, PVC, or other thermoplastic materials.
- Strong background in hands-on process troubleshooting and manufacturing operations management.
- Experience in high-volume consumer packaging, industrial containers, automotive, or related industries preferred.
Technical Skills
- Extensive knowledge of extrusion blow molding machines, molds, tooling, and auxiliary equipment.
- Experience with production systems, KPIs, OEE tracking, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and root cause problem-solving techniques.
- Ability to interpret technical drawings, process documentation, and quality specifications.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and ERP/MES systems.
Core Competencies
- Hands-on leadership
- Technical troubleshooting
- Team development
- Continuous improvement mindset
- Data-driven decision making
- Strong communication skills
- Change management
- Customer focus
- Results orientation
- Safety leadership
Working Conditions
- Significant time spent on the manufacturing floor in a fast-paced production environment.
- Ability to work flexible hours and support off-shift operations when needed.
- Frequent walking, standing, and interaction with production equipment.
- Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
Success Metrics
- Safety performance (TRIR, lost-time incidents)
- OEE and equipment uptime
- Production attainment
- Scrap and waste reduction
- Quality performance (PPM, customer complaints)
- Labor efficiency
- Employee retention and development
- On-time delivery performance
- Cost reduction and continuous improvement results
This position requires a highly engaged, hands-on leader who can effectively balance people leadership, technical expertise, and operational execution to drive world-class extrusion blow molding performance.
The Blow Mold Manager provides professional and positive leadership for the plastic molding operations that will inspire the associate to work safely while creating a quality product at the rate of our customers’ demand. The individual in this position will use lean concepts and practices to drive continuous improvement activities.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function.
- Develop systems and processes that ensure quality is built into the production of bottles at the rate of our customers’ demands.
- Develop appropriate metrics to track production line and equipment performance so improvement efforts can be focused in the problem areas.
- Effectively utilize lean tools and methodology to make improvements and lead the department in continuous improvement activities.
- Create a culture of accountability where team members desire to meet high expectations.
- Coordinate molding activities with purchasing, maintenance, and quality control activities to obtain optimum production and utilization of human resources, machines, and equipment.
- Revise molding schedules and priorities as a result of equipment failure or operating problems.
- Recommend and implement measures to improve the safety of the associates, quality of product, production methods, and equipment performance.
- Suggest changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency of plastics molding team, while maintaining safe working conditions.
- Prepare and manage an annual budget to achieve the company’s strategic goals.
- Provide recommendations on new equipment purchases and tooling; coordinate with engineering department on new equipment and line installations to ensure designs meet operational needs, performance expectation, and safety procedures.
- Oversee installations to ensure machines and equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.
- Analyze current systems and processes for effectiveness and recommend improvements.
- Develop and conduct equipment training programs for team members.
- Identify and contribute to continuous improvement efforts to reduce costs or increase productivity without reducing effectiveness.
- Maintain an open and candid working relationship with immediate supervisor/manager in discussing matters of importance.
- Use independent judgment to assign team member work duties to meet operational requirements. Make sure that team members and co-workers have the information needed to perform their job duties.
- Supervise team members in a manner that enables growth and success through feedback, training, and encouragement
- Establish performance expectations for team members and provide regular feedback and performance reviews to ensure that team members understand how their job duties support the company’s mission and have the right tools/resources to do their jobs well.
- Use independent judgment to ensure that team members follow company policy and maintain a safe work environment by encouraging safe practices and promptly resolving violations, including initiating, or recommending rewards and discipline as needed.
- Adhere to established company values, practices, policies, and procedures at all times. Follow and support compliance with all applicable safety rules, laws, regulations, and standards.
- Demonstrate regular and punctual attendance at the assigned work location.
- Travel may be required to other facilities and vendor sites.
- The individual may be asked to perform other duties as requested.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
An individual qualified for this job must be able to:
- Demonstrate excellent project coordination skills, managing multiple projects simultaneously.
- Complete data-based analyses of problems, develop potential casual factors, and help guide teams through root cause analysis and determination for difficult or complicated problems.
- Operate a computer – PC proficiency. Use MS Office Word and Excel with the ability to learn MS Power Point and MS Project applications.
- Effectively and professionally communicate with co-workers, team members, and internal or external customers. Present information clearly and accurately.
- Pay attention to details and pursue quality in accomplishing work duties and tasks. Look for opportunities to reduce costs or increase productivity without reducing effectiveness.
- Efficiently perform accurate mathematical calculations.
- Handle challenges skillfully, thoroughly, and effectively.
- Independently take advantage of opportunities to improve or increase skills, abilities, and job knowledge.
- Make sure that work is delivered on time and of high quality.
- Develop good work practices in order to get the job done.
- Use equipment, resources, and time in an efficient and effective manner.
- Use good judgment when making decisions.
- Perform work in a safe manner at all times.
- Be professional in all interactions and dealings with co-workers, internal/external customers, and vendors
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND CERTIFICATIONS
An individual qualified for this job must have and maintain the following qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, operations, engineering, or related field; or a combination of equivalent education, training and related experience may be considered in lieu of a formal degree.
- 4 years of operations management experience as a department manager, plant superintendent, or other management position including manufacturing and quality responsibilities.
- A minimum of 2 years “on the floor” supervising hourly associates, preferred.
- Thermoplastic processing experience in one of the following: plastics molding, injection molding, injection-blow, extrusion, vacuum forming, or polymer compounding operations, preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the Essential Functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- This is a desk-based job and will require the individual to remain seated for long periods of time and have the manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment such as computer keyboard, mouse, calculator, phone, copier/scanner, and similar machines.
- Must be able to frequently move about all company locations, including industrial manufacturing and distribution facilities, to provide support and maintain equipment.
- Observe and interact with associates and equipment in the plant setting.
- Perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels and have the ability to exchange detailed information; in designated areas where hearing protection is required, must be able to communicative effectively while wearing hearing protection.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
The environmental conditions described here are representative of those the associate encounters while performing the Essential Functions of the job.
- Approximately 60% of the time, the individual will work in an office setting in the same room as other individuals. Noise levels are average for a shared office space and include conversation and/or office equipment noise.
- Approximately 40% of the time, the individual will be required to work in an industrial setting located in the company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities. On these occasions, the individual may be exposed to loud noises, extreme physical or atmospheric conditions, workspaces that restrict movement, high temperatures, elevated workspaces, and low lighting.
- PPE are required when performing job functions, such as gloves, safety glasses, ear plugs, etc.
ADA/ADAAA
The Company will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Amendments.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
