Plant Manager

Plant Manager – Job Description

Position Summary

The Plant Manager leads all manufacturing operations for our electronics and electromechanical assembly facility, delivering products safely, on time, at target quality and cost. This leader has been trained in 5S, Standardized Work, Lean Daily Management, and Setup Reduction (SMED), and will implement these concepts on the manufacturing floor. The ideal candidate has hands-on electromechanical assembly experience and a track record of building a continuous-improvement culture.

Detail

Information

Job title

Plant Manager

Department

Operations / Manufacturing

Reports to

General Manager

Direct reports

Production Supervisors, Team Leads, Assemblers, Technicians

Location

On-site, manufacturing facility

Employment type

Full-time, Exempt

Shift

Day shift, with flexibility to support all shifts

Key Responsibilities

Production Operations

• Plan, schedule, and direct production of electronic and electromechanical assemblies (PCBAs, cable and wire harnesses, box builds, sub-assemblies, and final system integration).
• Meet daily, weekly, and monthly output targets while balancing labor, materials, and equipment capacity.
• Partner with Planning, Purchasing, and Materials to align the production schedule with customer demand and material availability.
• Manage capacity planning, labor allocation, and cross-training to maintain flexibility across lines and shifts.
• Own the production budget, including labor efficiency, overtime, scrap, and consumables.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, team leads, and assemblers; set clear expectations and hold teams accountable.
• Conduct performance reviews, skills assessments, and individual development plans.
• Recruit, onboard, and retain production talent; maintain a skills matrix for every work area.
• Build an engaged culture where employees raise problems and contribute improvement ideas.

Quality

• Partner with Quality Engineering to drive first-pass yield and reduce defects, rework, and customer returns.
• Ensure compliance with IPC-A-610, IPC/WHMA-A-620, J-STD-001, and ESD (ANSI/ESD S20.20) requirements as applicable.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action (8D, 5 Whys, fishbone) for production-related nonconformances.
• Support ISO 9001 audits and maintain documented work instructions.

Safety

• Champion a safe workplace; ensure compliance with OSHA and company EHS policies.
• Lead safety walks, near-miss reporting, and ergonomic improvements at assembly stations.

Engineering Collaboration

• Work with Manufacturing and Design Engineering on new product introduction (NPI), DFM/DFA feedback, line layouts, and pilot builds.
• Support equipment and tooling decisions, preventive maintenance, and capital justification.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7+ years of manufacturing experience, including 5+ years in electromechanical assembly or electronics manufacturing (box build, cable/harness assembly, PCBA, or system integration).
• 3+ years in a production supervisory or management role leading teams of 25 or more.
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering training in 5S, Standardized Work, Lean Daily Management, and Setup Reduction (SMED).
• Working knowledge of IPC workmanship standards, ESD controls, and ISO 9001 quality systems.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams, BOMs, and work instructions.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., Epicor, SAP, Oracle, Plex) and Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to teach and coach at every level, from assemblers to executives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean certification (e.g., Lean Bronze/Silver, Shingo, or equivalent) and/or Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• TWI (Training Within Industry) certification in Job Instruction, Job Methods, or Job Relations.
• Experience with value stream mapping, kanban/pull systems, and one-piece-flow cell design.
• High-mix, low-to-medium volume production experience.

Key Competencies

• Teacher and coach: builds capability in others rather than solving every problem personally.
• Gemba-focused: spends most of the day on the production floor managing orders and people.
• Data-driven: uses metrics and visual management to drive decisions.
• Accountable: sets clear standards and follows through.
• Collaborative: works effectively with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sales.

Performance Measures

KPI

What it measures

Safety

Recordable incident rate, near-miss reports closed

Quality

First-pass yield, defects per unit, customer returns

Delivery

On-time delivery, schedule attainment

Productivity

Labor efficiency, units per labor hour, OEE

Changeover

Average setup time reduction vs. baseline

Lean maturity

5S audit scores, Standardized Work coverage, huddle attendance

People

Training hours completed, skills-matrix coverage, retention

Working Conditions

• Primarily on the production floor; requires standing and walking for extended periods.
• Must follow ESD, PPE, and safety requirements in assembly and test areas.
• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs occasionally.
• Occasional off-shift, weekend, or travel availability to support production needs.