Plant Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead all manufacturing operations within our high-volume electronics manufacturing facility specializing in the production of precision sensor technologies. The Plant Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership across Production, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, EHS, and Continuous Improvement while driving operational excellence, employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and financial performance.

This leader will be responsible for creating a culture focused on safety, quality, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement while ensuring the facility consistently meets production schedules, cost targets, and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead all day-to-day plant operations to achieve Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Productivity objectives.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans aligned with corporate business goals.
• Drive manufacturing performance utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Ensure production schedules meet customer demand while maintaining inventory accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Monitor and improve key operational metrics including:
• • OEE
  • First Pass Yield
  • Scrap
  • Labor Efficiency
  • On-Time Delivery
  • Inventory Accuracy
  • Cost per Unit
  • Customer Returns
  • Equipment Uptime

Manufacturing Excellence

• Lead high-volume electronics assembly operations including:
• • SMT (Surface Mount Technology)
  • Through-Hole Assembly
  • Sensor Assembly
  • Calibration
  • Functional Testing
  • Automated Inspection
  • Final Assembly
  • Packaging
• Optimize manufacturing processes to improve throughput while maintaining product integrity.
• Support implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies, automation, robotics, MES, and smart manufacturing initiatives.

Quality Leadership

• Champion a Zero Defect culture throughout the facility.
• Ensure compliance with all quality management systems including:
• • ISO 9001
  • IATF 16949 (if automotive)
  • ISO 14001
  • Customer Specific Requirements
• Lead root cause investigations using structured problem-solving methodologies including:
• • 8D
  • Fishbone
  • 5 Why
  • DMAIC
  • PFMEA
• Partner closely with Quality Engineering to reduce customer complaints and warranty claims.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage annual operating budgets.
• Control manufacturing costs while improving productivity.
• Analyze plant financial performance and identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Drive capital investment projects and manage ROI expectations.
• Support annual forecasting and strategic planning activities.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing leadership team consisting of:
• • Production Managers
  • Engineering Manager
  • Quality Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Maintenance Manager
  • HR
  • EHS
• Build succession plans for critical leadership positions.
• Foster an engaged culture built on accountability, teamwork, communication, and continuous learning.
• Conduct regular leadership meetings, Gemba walks, and performance reviews.

Engineering & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with Engineering on:
• • New Product Introductions (NPI)
  • Process Validation
  • Capacity Planning
  • Equipment Upgrades
  • Automation Projects
• Lead Kaizen events and continuous improvement initiatives across the facility.
• Improve manufacturing flow through value stream mapping and waste elimination.

Supply Chain Collaboration

• Work closely with Procurement and Planning to ensure material availability.
• Minimize inventory while supporting customer demand.
• Improve supplier performance and overall supply chain efficiency.
• Support Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP).

Safety & Environmental

• Promote a world-class safety culture.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and company safety standards.
• Drive proactive safety initiatives resulting in zero lost-time accidents.
• Lead emergency preparedness and risk mitigation programs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Business, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of manufacturing leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years in a Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Director of Operations, or equivalent senior leadership role.
• Experience leading electronics manufacturing operations.
• Strong knowledge of electronic assembly processes.
• Demonstrated success improving operational KPIs.
• Experience managing budgets, capital projects, and large cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or Master's Degree
• Experience manufacturing sensors, industrial controls, or electronic components
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt
• Experience with:
• • SMT Manufacturing
  • Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)
  • ICT Testing
  • Functional Testing
  • Robotics
  • MES Systems
  • ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Microsoft Dynamics)
• Knowledge of automotive, aerospace, industrial automation, or medical device manufacturing

Desired Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Thinker
• Servant Leader
• Strong Business Acumen
• Operational Excellence
• Results Driven
• Exceptional Communication Skills
• Change Management
• Talent Development
• Data-Driven Decision Maker
• Customer Focused
• Collaborative Leadership Style

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Safety Incident Rate
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• First Pass Yield (FPY)
• Scrap Reduction
• On-Time Delivery
• Inventory Turns
• Labor Productivity
• Manufacturing Cost Reduction
• EBITDA Contribution
• Employee Engagement
• Employee Retention
• Customer Complaint Reduction
• Warranty Performance
• Continuous Improvement Savings