Department Manager, Molding - Shift 1

Summit Polymers; Elizabethtown (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Polymers in Elizabethtown, KY seeks a Department Manager for Molding to lead a 40-machine molding department and a team of mold techs, utilities and supervisors across shifts. You will drive on-time delivery and quality through daily production management and collaboration with downstream teams.

The role requires a college engineering degree, strong leadership, 5+ years in molding engineering, and 2+ years supervisory experience.

Qualifications

• College engineering degree.
• Five years experience as an engineer in molding.
• Two years supervisory experience in manufacturing.
• Strong leadership, team-building and decision-making abilities.
• Independent thinking with analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication across all levels.
• Hands-on knowledge of injection molding processes, molds, robotics and tooling.
• PLC knowledge preferred.
• Experience with Wittmann robots, Krauss Maffei and Van Dorn molding machines preferred.

Responsibilities

• Meets safety, productivity, machine OEE, scrap and delivery objectives.
• Manages staffing and machine loading.
• Ensures training of all employees and mentors supervisors.
• Fosters teamwork, motivation, and a culture of excellence across shifts.
• Upholds safety, 5S and industry standards.
• Maintains machines and auxiliary equipment.
• Collaborates with molding engineers, tooling and maintenance for continuous improvement.
• Collaborates with lean manufacturing on inventory and waste elimination.
• Supports new launches, process optimization, and equipment justification.
• Adheres to TS16949 standards and procedures.

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Department Manager, Molding

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

REPORTS TO

Manager, Manufacturing

SUMMARY

Manage a fast paced 5 day/ 24 hour, tier one, class A surface, automotive injection molding department with 40 injection molding machines and a team of mold techs, utilities, and supervisors. Three supervisors (one per shift) report to the department manager. The manager is responsible for daily production with on time delivery and quality to the downstream departments of paint and assembly.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Meets performance objectives for safety, productivity, machine operational availability, change over time, scrap, and delivery
• Manages proper staffing and machine loading
• Ensures proper training of all employees and mentors supervisors and other key personnel to maintain a competent workforce
• Fosters team cohesiveness, moral, and motivation and a culture of excellence by acting as a hands‑on accessible leader who facilitates collaboration and cooperation across all shifts
• Sets a proper safety example, encourages a safety mindset and awareness, ensures corporate and industry standard safety practices are followed, and ensures 5S (cleanliness) is maintained
• Ensures machines and auxiliary equipment are maintained
• Collaborates with the plant molding engineers, and tooling and maintenance departments on continuous improvement to reduce scrap, reduce cycle times, improve machine operational availability, and improve productivity
• Collaborates with the plant lean manufacturing team on inventory levels and lean manufacturing tools and practices with the focus of eliminating waste
• Supports new launches with samples, optimizing processes, end of arm tooling, internal packaging, and justifying new equipment
• Adherence to TS16949 standards and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• College engineering degree
• Five years experience as an engineer in a molding
• Two years supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment
• Outstanding leadership, team building, coaching and decision making abilities
• Independent thinking with strong analytical and problem skills is essential
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally both verbally and in writing at all levels in the organization
• Proven organizational and planning abilities that produce results through execution
• Firm, fair and consistent approach to company policy and employee managements
• High energy level and ability to lead and motivate others
• Current comprehensive technical and hands on knowledge of scientific injection molding process, molds, robotics and robotic programming, end of arm tooling, auxiliary equipment, and central material handling systems.
• PLC knowledge and understanding of specifications for infrastructure required to support a molding department (process and chilled water, electrical, compressed air, material handling system ) is preferred
• Experience with Wittmann robots, Krauss Maffei and Van Dorn molding machines is preferred

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Possesses the ability to gather and analyze information and make decisions from a limited number of choices.

• A minimum score of 50 on the Wonderlic Select Assessment (Traditional Score of 26 on the cognitive portion).

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

This position typically does not require any travel.

DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this job description is not intended to be an all‑inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor are they intended to be an all‑inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. Management may, at its discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Agreement to complete all post‑hire required training.