Automotive Plant GM - Lean Operations & Quality

RON SUNSHINE ASSOCIATES LLC; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Ron Sunshine Associates LLC in Lexington, KY seeks a Plant General Manager to lead a complex automotive manufacturing operation. You will oversee production, quality, safety, and continuous improvement to meet customer expectations and drive profitability.

The ideal candidate has hands-on leadership, proven plant P&L ownership, and deep experience with Lean manufacturing, APQP/PPAP, and cross-functional program launches in automotive settings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Proven experience leading a complex manufacturing plant or major operation.
• Track record of improvements in quality, cost, delivery, safety, productivity, profitability.
• Knowledge of automotive quality and launch methodologies: APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, problem-solving.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement expertise.
• Experience with new product launches in automotive.
• Strong plant-level financial management, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and P&L responsibility.
• Ability to lead and retain high-performing teams.
• Analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, leadership, organizational skills.
• Ability to delegate while maintaining accountability.
• High professionalism and integrity.
• Ability to operate in fast-paced automotive environment.
• Understanding of manufacturing quality, safety, delivery, productivity, cost systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for plant operations including production, quality, engineering, maintenance, materials, safety, delivery, and cost performance.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support objectives, customer requirements, and long-term growth.
• Ensure the plant meets quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and customer satisfaction objectives.
• Maintain ISO compliance and customer-specific quality systems.
• Drive a culture of quality, customer focus, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, standard work, waste reduction and operational excellence initiatives.
• Analyze processes and metrics to improve efficiency, productivity, quality, throughput, cost, and profitability.
• Establish KPIs and management systems to monitor performance.
• Develop and manage annual operating plan, budget, forecasts, and financial performance.
• Maintain accountability for plant P&L, cost control, labor efficiency, scrap, overtime, inventory.
• Ensure response to customer quality issues, warranty concerns, delivery issues, escalations.
• Provide leadership for new product and new program launches from launch to production.
• Ensure execution of automotive launch and quality processes (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, control plans).
• Collaborate with engineering, quality, sales, materials, and operations for launches and support.
• Maintain safe work environment and compliance with safety policies/regulations.
• Prepare for emergencies, supply disruptions, production interruptions.
• Lead, develop, retain employees; foster trust, accountability.
• Set performance expectations and hold leadership teams accountable.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching.
• Communicate effectively across all levels; foster open communication.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational, quality, customer, employee issues.
• Develop relationships with customers and suppliers.
• Promote a positive, performance-driven culture.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Problem-solving

Team leadership

P&L management

Quality systems

Financial management

Continuous improvement

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Ron Sunshine Associates LLC in Lexington, KY seeks a Plant General Manager to lead a complex automotive manufacturing operation. You will oversee production, quality, safety, and continuous improvement to meet customer expectations and drive profitability.

The ideal candidate has hands-on leadership, proven plant P&L ownership, and deep experience with Lean manufacturing, APQP/PPAP, and cross-functional program launches in automotive settings.