Plant Manager - Manufacturing

The Plant Manager is responsible for overseeing all daily operations of a custom hydraulic cylinder manufacturing facility. This role ensures production efficiency, product quality, safety compliance, and on-time delivery while driving continuous improvement initiatives. The Plant Manager will lead cross-functional teams to support the production of hydraulic jacks, braking systems, valves, steering cylinders, and precision pistons used across automotive, agricultural, construction, and industrial equipment sectors.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Production Management

• Lead all plant operations including machining, assembly, welding, testing, and finishing of hydraulic components
• Ensure production targets, quality standards, and delivery schedules are consistently met
• Optimize workflow, capacity planning, and resource allocation to maximize efficiency
• Monitor KPIs (OEE, scrap rates, downtime, throughput) and implement corrective actions

Leadership & Team Development

• Direct, coach, and develop supervisors and department leads across production, maintenance, and quality
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement
• Partner with HR on hiring, training, and performance management

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and enforce quality standards aligned with automotive and industrial manufacturing requirements
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with OSHA and all regulatory safety standards
• Promote a zero-incident safety culture through training and proactive risk management
• Oversee environmental and regulatory compliance

Financial & Strategic Oversight

• Manage plant budget, cost controls, and capital expenditures
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or delivery
• Collaborate with executive leadership on strategic planning and growth initiatives

Supply Chain & Customer Alignment

• Work closely with procurement, engineering, and sales to align production with customer demands
• Ensure timely delivery of custom-engineered hydraulic cylinders and components
• Support customer audits and technical discussions as needed

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field preferred
• 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, with at least 3+ years in a plant or operations management role
• Experience in hydraulic systems, automotive components, or heavy equipment manufacturing strongly preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of machining, fabrication, and hydraulic component assembly
• Proven leadership in Lean Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement environments
• Solid understanding of quality systems (ISO, TS/IATF standards a plus)
• Financial acumen with experience managing budgets and cost controls
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills

Email Resume scott.slater@gogpac.com

Call 515-461-1578