Global Capacity Manager

Global Capacity Manager – Gaskets & Elastomers

Position Summary

The Global Capacity Manager – Gaskets & Elastomers is responsible for leading the global capacity strategy and execution for all gasket product lines across internal manufacturing sites and external supply partners. This role owns the end-to-end management of manufacturing capacity, including presses, molds, compounds, tooling, and supplier capabilities at the SKU level.

This position requires a highly analytical and strategic leader capable of balancing short-term operational requirements with long-term capacity planning and capital investment strategies. The role serves as the global subject matter expert for gasket manufacturing capacity and plays a critical role in ensuring customer commitments, operational efficiency, and scalable growth across all markets.

Travel Requirement: Up to 25% domestic and international travel.

Key Responsibilities

Global Capacity Planning & Analysis

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive global capacity model for all gasket product lines, incorporating:
• Press utilization
• Mold utilization
• Press and mold inventories
• Compound availability
• Internal and external supplier capabilities
• Build and maintain a global press, mold, compound, and supplier matrix at the SKU level.
• Conduct detailed SKU-level capacity analysis to identify constraints, bottlenecks, risks, and optimization opportunities across manufacturing operations and supply partners.
• Lead the global asset utilization strategy, including capacity optimization, capital planning, and recommendations for new press and mold investments or upgrades.
• Evaluate and recommend press allocation strategies to align manufacturing capabilities with product mix, customer demand, and business priorities.
• Partner with Materials Management teams to monitor compound inventory levels, supplier lead times, and supply continuity risks.
• Develop rolling demand projections and long-range capacity forecasts using sales pipeline data, project backlogs, forecast trends, and historical demand patterns.
• Create scenario-based capacity models to assess the impact of:
• Demand fluctuations
• New product introductions
• Capacity constraints
• Capital investments
• Supply chain disruptions
• Develop and present monthly capacity dashboards, KPI reporting, and executive-level recommendations to support strategic decision-making.

Press & Mold Management

• Maintain a comprehensive global mold inventory database at the SKU level, including:
• Mold condition
• Tooling lifecycle status
• Press compatibility
• Geographic location
• Manage the mold procurement and lifecycle process from specification and sourcing through qualification, refurbishment, replacement, and retirement.
• Coordinate mold and tooling allocation across manufacturing sites to optimize capacity utilization and minimize production inefficiencies and changeovers.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations teams to support tooling standardization and process improvement initiatives.

Quality & Operational Integration

• Partner with Quality Assurance to monitor and address quality-related issues impacting manufacturing capacity, including:
• Scrap rates
• Rework volumes
• Supplier non-conformances
• Production containment activities
• Ensure quality-related production holds, lot dispositions, and corrective actions are reflected in capacity planning assumptions and models.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives for quality events that negatively impact production capacity or customer delivery performance.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the single point of accountability for global gasket manufacturing capacity across the organization.
• Provide clear, proactive communication to Sales, Customer Care, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, and Executive Leadership teams regarding capacity risks, constraints, and mitigation plans.
• Participate in S&OP, demand planning, and operational review processes as the global gasket capacity subject matter expert.
• Drive cross-functional alignment on priorities, capacity investments, and operational readiness to support business growth objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, Business Analytics, Operations Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing capacity planning, operations planning, supply chain, or related manufacturing roles.
• Strong experience with advanced Excel modeling, capacity planning systems, and data analysis tools.
• Demonstrated understanding of manufacturing operations, supply chain processes, and production planning methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to translate complex business needs into actionable operational strategies.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, global manufacturing environment.
• Self-directed learner with strong intellectual curiosity and continuous improvement mindset.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ERP and production planning systems in manufacturing environments (Infor M3 experience preferred).
• Experience with simulation modeling, scenario planning, or advanced analytics tools.
• Familiarity with elastomer manufacturing, gasket production, pipe joining systems, or related industrial manufacturing industries.
• Project management experience leading cross-functional operational initiatives.
• APICS/ASCM, PMP, Lean, or Six Sigma certifications are a plus.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking with strong attention to operational detail
• Data-driven decision-making and quantitative analysis
• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management
• Executive communication and presentation skills
• Problem-solving in complex, fast-paced environments
• Continuous improvement and operational excellence mindset
• Ability to manage ambiguity and drive organizational clarity
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and results orientation