Director of Manufacturing

Director of Manufacturing

Location: Simpsonville, SC
Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried
Reports To: President / Executive Leadership Team

Position Summary

General Equipment & Supply is seeking an experienced, energetic, and strategic Director of Manufacturing to lead and optimize all aspects of our manufacturing operations. This critical leadership position is responsible for driving operational excellence across production, remanufacturing, fabrication, assembly, quality, inventory, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The Director of Manufacturing will develop and execute manufacturing strategies that align with company objectives, improve operational efficiency, maximize resource utilization, and ensure the highest standards of quality, safety, and customer satisfaction. The successful candidate will be a hands-on leader with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, implementing process improvements, and delivering measurable business results in a manufacturing environment.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future growth of General Equipment & Supply while leading manufacturing innovation and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Leadership & Operations

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, remanufacturing, paint, production, and warehouse operations.
• Lead daily production planning, scheduling, and execution to ensure customer commitments, quality standards, and operational goals are achieved.
• Establish departmental goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and performance metrics to measure operational success.
• Develop scalable manufacturing processes that support company growth and increased production capacity.
• Optimize labor utilization, equipment efficiency, production flow, and plant performance.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, lower costs, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives to address production, quality, and process challenges.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and innovation.
• Implement best practices in workflow management, inventory control, and production processes.

Production Planning & Supply Chain Coordination

• Oversee production scheduling and capacity planning to meet delivery commitments and operational objectives.
• Collaborate with purchasing, warehouse, logistics, and supply chain teams to ensure uninterrupted material flow and inventory availability.
• Support Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and inventory management processes.
• Utilize ERP systems and operational data to improve forecasting, planning, and manufacturing performance.
• Drive efficiencies in procurement-to-production workflows and support just-in-time manufacturing initiatives where appropriate.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure products and services consistently meet company and customer quality expectations.
• Establish and maintain quality control procedures and manufacturing standards.
• Partner with quality, engineering, and operations teams to improve product reliability and consistency.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and industry regulations.
• Lead initiatives focused on workplace safety, risk reduction, and regulatory compliance.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop production managers, supervisors, team leads, and manufacturing personnel.
• Create a high-performance culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Support workforce planning, succession planning, employee development, and training initiatives.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with engineering, sales, customer service, warehouse, and executive leadership teams.
• Effectively communicate organizational goals, performance expectations, and operational priorities.

Financial & Business Management

• Develop and manage manufacturing budgets, labor planning, and capital expenditure projects.
• Monitor productivity, labor efficiency, scrap, inventory utilization, and overall manufacturing costs.
• Analyze operational data and manufacturing metrics to drive informed business decisions.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction while maintaining product quality and customer satisfaction.
• Support strategic growth initiatives, facility improvements, and operational expansion projects.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Minimum of 5 years leading production teams, plant operations, or manufacturing departments.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing management systems, ERP platforms, and production planning processes.
• Experience with MRP systems, inventory management, and supply chain coordination.
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing, Lean Management, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, quality systems, and operational performance metrics.
• Proven leadership experience managing large teams and cross-functional departments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and business reporting tools.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and team development abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced degree in Engineering, Business, or Operations Management.
• Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent certification.
• Lean Manufacturing Certification.
• Experience in industrial equipment manufacturing, remanufacturing, fabrication, welding, power distribution, construction equipment, utility equipment, or related industries.
• Experience leading multi-department manufacturing operations in a growth-oriented environment.
• Knowledge of welding, machining, painting, fabrication, assembly, and industrial production processes.
• Experience with facility expansion, operational transformation, or large-scale process improvement initiatives.

Core Competencies

• Manufacturing Operations Leadership
• Lean Manufacturing
• Six Sigma & Continuous Improvement
• Production Planning & Scheduling
• Supply Chain Management
• ERP & MRP Systems
• Financial Management & Budgeting
• Team Leadership & Development
• Quality Assurance
• Operational Excellence
• Strategic Planning
• Change Management
• Data Analysis & Process Optimization
• Safety & Regulatory Compliance

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications, plus comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits include:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Flex PTO
• Paid Holidays
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Leadership Development Programs
• Stable and Growing Organization

About General Equipment & Supply

General Equipment & Supply provides new, remanufactured, and reconditioned tools, equipment, and services to the construction, utility, industrial, and contractor markets. Our offerings include conduit bending, cable pulling, pipe threading, welding, lifting, rigging, material handling, and custom power distribution solutions from leading manufacturers such as Greenlee, Ridgid, and Miller Welding.

Our mission is to provide quality products, exceptional service, and innovative solutions that help our customers maximize productivity while reducing costs.

Why Join General Equipment & Supply?

• Opportunity to shape the future of a growing manufacturing organization
• Executive-level leadership role with direct business impact
• Collaborative and entrepreneurial environment
• Commitment to innovation, quality, and continuous improvement
• Strong company reputation within the industrial and construction markets
• Family-oriented culture focused on employee development and success

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

General Equipment & Supply is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.