The Plant Manager is a strategic and independent thinker responsible for leading and managing all aspects of plant operations. This includes oversight of Production, Maintenance, Quality, Human Resources, Finance, IT, and all other site-related activities. The Plant Director leads and manages all plant employees, driving performance management in collaboration with functional leaders. This role is accountable for achieving key manufacturing objectives—cost efficiency, product quality, on-time delivery, and workplace safety—while maintaining a strong focus on customer satisfaction and the promotion of the organization’s core values. The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated organizational and planning expertise, as well as outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills.

Piston Automotive wasn’t just founded to make things. It was founded to make things better. And that begins with building better teams solely dedicated to achieving excellence at every level of execution through a combination of experience, expertise, and a deep seeded passion for what we do. Our assemblies consistently set the standard because our people consistently raise the bar.

• Plans and monitors both short and long-term budgets to ensure the plant meets the sites financial commitments.
• Coordinate plant activities through the planning with departmental managers to insure the manufacturing objectives are accomplished in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Implement cost effective systems of control over capital, operating expenditures, manpower, wages and salaries.
• Will oversee all new product launch activities within the site and ensure successful execution
• Responsible for oversight and execution of new product launch activities within the site
• Execute the corporations manufacturing strategy, prioritizing work as required and interacting with all the organization's departments to maintain and improve operations performance while building customer relationships
• Analyze and lead resolution of manufacturing initiatives and core issues, participate in planning and recommendation of space, personnel, and equipment.
• Will execute the corporations manufacturing strategy and will prioritize work as required and interact with all the organization's departments to maintain and improve on-time deliveries of product while building customer relationships
• In collaboration with Human Resources develops and maintains a productive work team by assisting in creating programs for hiring, training, and professional development of hourly and salaried staff.
• Analyze and lead resolution of manufacturing trends and core issues, participate in planning and recommendation of space, personnel, and equipment.
• Will establish, implement, and deliver Structural Continuous Improvement Manufacturing Excellence principles to meet and improve upon operational performance and customer requirements.
• Adherence to all Piston Group and Business Unit company standards including executing new technologies
• Manages capital asset maintenance.
• Establish and monitor overall plant performance for production and quality standards.
• Control and minimize overtime, premium freight and repair expenses.
• Maintain existing plant facilities and equipment; replace, or make adjustments to plant facilities and equipment when necessary.
• Provide leadership and training to accomplish the company goals and objectives in a safe manner.
• Implements and maintains preventative maintenance programs.
• Incorporates shop floor organization and plant cleanliness among plant personnel.
• Ensure all legal requirements, company safety procedures, and local and state health and safety regulations are met.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Minimum 10-15 years of manufacturing operations experience
• Must have five (5) years experience as Plant Manager in an automotive setting
• Experience in managing launches at a tier 1 automotive supplier
• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience managing in a union environment.
• Eight (8) years of experience leading salaried employees
• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience with:
• Lean Manufacturing Principles
• 5-S
• Kanban
• Kaizen
• Poka-Yoke
• Six Sigma
• Root Cause Analysis
• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Business, Engineering, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Highly motivated self-starter with strong leadership skills capable of managing multiple cross-functional teams and projects.
• Excellent communications skills required as well as have and the ability to work effectively with all other functional groups throughout the organization
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills that will enable the director the ability to lead, motivate, and get results in a matrix organization.
• Required to think strategically in order to adapt to a changing environment.
• The candidate will need to have excellent analytical skills in order to problem solve and implement permanent corrective actions.
• Ability to create and implement cost reductions thru continuous improvement methodologies.
• Customer-focused individual with exceptional problem-solving skills and a strong sense of urgency.
• Able to motivate and lead technical teams
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.