Manufacturing Plant Manager

Reports To: Vice-President of Operations

About Hermes Abrasives

Hermes Abrasives, a subsidiary of WALTER Surface Technologies, is a global manufacturer of high-performance coated abrasive solutions serving industrial customers worldwide. Our success is built on operational excellence, product quality, innovation, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Position Summary

The Plant Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable execution of day-to-day manufacturing operations. This role leads production and warehouse and strongly partners with maintenance and quality activities to achieve operational objectives related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.

The Plant Manager translates business priorities into executable manufacturing plans while developing frontline leadership capability and driving operational discipline throughout the facility.

This role is highly visible on the production floor and focused on execution, workforce engagement, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Operations

• Lead daily manufacturing activities to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.
• Ensure production schedules are executed effectively, and customer commitments are met.
• Drive adherence to standard work, operating procedures, and production controls.
• Monitor operational KPIs and implement corrective actions when performance gaps arise.
• Coordinate activities across Production, Quality, Maintenance, Logistics, and Planning.
• Optimize labor utilization, equipment effectiveness, and manufacturing throughput.
• Lead daily management systems, production reviews, and shift accountability processes.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote a zero-incident safety culture.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and corporate HSEQ standards.
• Conduct safety audits, incident investigations, and corrective action reviews.
• Maintain training and certification compliance for all manufacturing personnel.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Kaizen initiatives.
• Drive waste elimination, productivity improvement, and process standardization.
• Improve OEE, scrap reduction, labor efficiency, and schedule adherence.
• Champion problem-solving methodologies and root-cause analysis.

People Leadership

• Lead and develop supervisors, team leaders, and hourly employees.
• Establish accountability and performance expectations.
• Support workforce planning and talent development initiatives.
• Partner with HR on employee relations, performance management, and succession planning.

Financial Accountability

• Manage operating expenses within approved budgets.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Support annual budgeting and forecasting processes.

Scope

• Direct leadership of Production and warehouse teams with strong partnership & influence of Maintenance and Quality teams.
• Single-site manufacturing responsibility.
• Ownership of operational KPIs and plant execution.
• Significant influence on labor, productivity, and customer service performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations, Business, or related field. MBA is considered a strong asset.
• 8+ years of manufacturing leadership experience.
• 3+ years leading production managers or department leaders.
• Strong Lean Manufacturing background.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
• Demonstrated success improving safety, productivity, and operational performance.

Success Looks Like (12-18 Months)

• Improved safety performance and operational discipline.
• Increased productivity and schedule attainment.
• Reduced waste and manufacturing costs.
• Strong frontline leadership capability.
• Stable production performance supporting customer growth.