Manager, Manufacturing

Manufacturing Manager

About Graco

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense, and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. This includes pumping peanut butter into your jar, the oil in your car, gluing the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows, and the screen on your phone. We also spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, paint on your house, and texture on your walls.

Where You'll Work - Contractor Equipment Division (CED)

The Contractor Equipment Division makes sprayers that apply paint to walls and other structures, with product models for users ranging from do-it-yourself homeowners to professional paint contractors. Contractor equipment also includes sprayers that apply texture to walls and ceilings, highly viscous coatings to roofs, and line markings on roads, parking lots, athletic fields, and floors.

Job Description

Cultural and Employee Performance Leader

• Manage a large team (typically 30-60 direct and indirect reports).
• Actively engage in hands-on tasks on the production floor to stay connected with the team and operations.
• Recognize and celebrate individual and team achievements to reinforce a culture of success.
• Set and communicate expectations for employees; monitor performance, give feedback when appropriate, and take corrective action when necessary.
• Identify and fill skill gaps by providing on-the-job training and establishing training programs.

Safety Champion

• Provide a clean, safe, organized working environment within the cell that is conducive to efficient and productive operations.
• Lead by example in adhering to safety protocols, quality standards, and efficiency practices.
• Oversee safety vision and improvement goal of 10% by factory to drive towards an injury-free environment.
• Leverage technology, simplification tools, and automation to advance safety practices, prevent injuries, and enhance employee wellness.
• Increase employee engagement by reviewing continuous improvement ideas submitted by employees.

Continuous Improvement Champion

• Become a champion of change, continuously improving and implementing ways to exceed department goals.
• Utilize quality management techniques for problem-solving, corrective action, and process decisions.
• Manage production, capacity, inventories, purchases, and create headcount within the cell.
• Manage the development and implementation of new product launches.
• Research, justify, procure, and implement new technology through Graco's capital justification process to maximize cell profitability.
• Identify the most critical tasks affecting customer experience and focus resources on optimizing these processes.
• Regularly analyze and refine workflows to eliminate non-essential activities and use data analytics to identify areas for improvement.

Quality Focus

• Achieve a year-over-year (Y/Y) 10% quality improvement goal with the aim of improving product quality.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement where employees are encouraged to suggest and implement quality enhancements.

Team Leadership and Financial Management

• Lead, mentor, manage, and staff a Manufacturing team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a culture of excellence.
• Drive team performance by setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and facilitating professional growth opportunities.
• Establish, manage, and be accountable for the annual Manufacturing budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with organizational strategic objectives.

What You Will Bring to Graco

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Operations, Engineering, or equivalent; MBA or Master's degree preferred.
• 5 years of experience in manufacturing or advanced degree, and 2 years business experience.
• Excellent leadership skills; 2 years of team leadership experience preferred.
• Knowledge or experience with manufacturing information systems (forecasting, MRP, SPC, labor, costing).
• Effective facilitation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to clearly articulate ideas and expectations.
• Strong leadership qualities, work ethic, commitment to excellence, and a positive attitude.
• Adaptability and openness to change.

Accelerators

• Machinist/assembly experience.
• Experience with Just-In-Time principles and implementation.
• Past budgeting/accounting experience, preferably ownership of own budget.