Manufacturing Manager

Description

Exceptional opportunity for an experienced leader and team player to oversee our manufacturing team under the supervision of our plant manager as we celebrate our 50^th year in business in our new Corporate Headquarters in Germantown, WI. Using your combination of strategic thinking, creativity, and communication skills you’ll foster a high-performance culture and drive continuous improvement to ensure we meet our customers expectations. You’ll join a family-owned business that truly cares about its employees and has a reputation for excellence in quality and equipment reliability. Our employees enjoy a friendly work environment, generous profit-sharing programs, opportunities for growth, and stability in serving resilient markets. Join an industry leader and take your career to the next level!

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the supervision and management of hourly associates including supervisors, engineers, and direct production personnel.
• Lead and develop the Test and Repair department by setting clear strategic goals and objectives that align with overall company objectives.
• Drive Tiered SQDC meeting structure and other lean initiatives within the plant to ensure the proper tracking of KPIs and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership and direction to Production Supervisors and their teams to ensure daily operations meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost (SQDC) objectives.
• Inspire, motivate, and develop teams to achieve their full potential and exceed business objectives.
• Monitor production schedules, capacity and assist in the allocation of resources to meet customer demands and maintain efficient workflow.
• Ensure the daily completion of work objectives through issue resolution and effective prioritization of all the work cells
• Engage directly on the production floor to address and resolve operational challenges, collaborating with teams face-to-face to drive immediate and sustainable solutions.
• Investigate root causes of missed deadlines or shipping delays, using a data-driven approach to implement corrective actions and prevent recurrence.
• Take ownership of complex projects, ensuring timely delivery and measurable results.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and implement strategies that enhance efficiency, quality, and performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Supply Chain, and Planning) to resolve production challenges and ensure smooth operations.
• Work closely with the Plant Manager, CEO, and senior leaders to align departmental goals with organizational objectives.
• Proactively address challenges, driving resolutions that foster long-term success.
• Lead and support initiatives to enhance company culture, improve employee engagement, and build a high-performing organization.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to team members, focusing on their professional development and career progression.
• Directly responsible for employee selection, reviewing employee performance, administering work rules, and recommending compensation adjustments.
• Supports the operations team in positioning the manufacturing team to ship at forecasted business levels, complete and on time, in the most efficient manner to achieve shipping goals.
• Collaborates with HR on EHS (environmental health and safety) activities.
• Perform additional responsibilities as needed to support the team and meet business objectives. Adapting to evolving priorities and contributing to various initiatives.
• Supports Plant Manager with back-up supervision of plant personnel as needed for vacation or other periods. Complies with all housekeeping, safety, and quality rules and any other relevant regulations.

Qualifications

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Education, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3 or more years of manufacturing operations, including 2 or more years in a direct supervisory leadership role.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated success in motivating and building high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Proven ability to lead complex projects from conception to completion, delivering measurable results.
• Analytical mindset with a proven ability to identify challenges, develop innovative solutions, and drive results.
• Experience leading process improvement initiatives, such as Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies, is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and familiarity with data analysis tools is a plus.