Plant Manager

Plant Manager

Job Location : Apple Creek, OH

Reports to : Chief Operating Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Type: Full-time

About PPG

Precision Products Group (PPG) is a growing global leader in converting niche engineered materials for electrical, aerospace & defense, medical, and electrical industrial markets across the globe. PPG operates across multiple company divisions and brands, which include Cindus Corporation, Paramount Tube, Breyden Products, Saylor Technical Products, Euclid Medical, and PPG China. PPG has developed significant operational capabilities to serve a wide range of customers with unique solutions and products by leveraging decades of experience in their respective markets. In supporting the customers and markets, PPG designs and builds highly customized engineered solutions and products using a collaborative team approach and partnership with our customers. PPG is a process driven organization that relies on robust engineering practices, highly skilled team members, and a customer-centric approach that delivers high-quality products to the market.

Role Overview

The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and profitability of the manufacturing facility. This role directs all daily operations, including production, quality, safety, maintenance, and continuous improvement. The Plant Manager is responsible for building a strong and engaged team, driving a culture of accountability, enhancing safety practices, and achieving operational excellence. This role will require a demonstrated track record of success in transformative leadership, proven hand-on experience in implementing lean manufacturing, and detailed understanding of machine & labor capacity planning. This role will be leading a manufacturing environment that is in a period of sustained growth and increasing levels of compliance for quality requirements and product specifications. The Plant Manager is tasked with optimizing resources to deliver strong financial results, defining operational objectives, enhancing the safety program, meeting and exceeding customer expectations, and driving operational excellence at all levels of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Leadership

• Direct all plant operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, capital budgets, and production forecasts.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, 5S) to increase throughput and reduce waste.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement corrective actions to close performance gaps.
• Ensure equipment, facilities, and processes are maintained to support consistent, reliable production.

People Leadership & Culture

• Lead, coach, and develop team members at all levels of the organization – Production Associates, Department Leads, Supervisors, and Managers.
• Foster a culture of engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement across all shifts.
• Partner with Human Resources on staffing, performance management, labor relations, and employee relations matters.
• Actively lead site engagement efforts and focus on building a work environment in which team members are able to maximize their talents and skills.
• Establish clear performance expectations and provide regular feedback, coaching, and development opportunities.

Safety & Compliance

• Champion a proactive safety culture; ensure compliance with OSHA and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Oversee incident investigations, root-cause analysis, and corrective action plans.
• Ensure the plant maintains compliance with environmental, quality (e.g., ISO9001/AS9100), and customer-specific requirements.

Quality & Customer Focus

• Partner with Quality leadership to maintain certification standards and resolve customer quality issues.
• Ensure products meet or exceed customer specifications and PPG quality standards.
• Support new product launches and process qualifications in partnership with Engineering.

Financial & Strategic Management

• Own the plant's P&L performance, including labor, materials, and overhead cost management.
• Identify and lead capital investment projects to support growth and productivity improvements.
• Collaborate with corporate leadership and Auxo Investment Partners stakeholders on strategic planning and reporting.
• Represent the plant in cross-site initiatives and enterprise-wide best-practice sharing across PPG's portfolio companies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field required; advanced degree a plus.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including 3+ years in a Plant Manager or senior operations leadership role.
• Experience in textile manufacturing, precision manufacturing, metal forming, tube fabrication, or a related industrial environment preferred.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort working with data in Excel.
• Experience working within an ERP/MRP system (e.g., Made 2 Manage, SAP, Oracle, Infor, or similar).
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communicator able to collaborate and work cross-functionally across the enterprise.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Outlook).
• Preferred experience working within small-to-mid-sized companies that are PE-owned.

Travel

This position is based at the Apple Creek, OH location and will have some travel required. Ability to travel up to 10% of the time to attend off-site company meetings, plant visits, and supplier locations.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation (base salary plus performance-based incentives)
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision (PPO and HSA options)
• 401K with company match
• Highly engaged culture that recognizes and rewards high performance
• A collaborative and supportive team environment with strong leadership
• Opportunities for career progression and the ability to make an immediate impact on the business
• Exposure to a diverse customer base spanning pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and medical device markets

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.