Line Operations Manager — Lean & Growth

YKK AP America Inc.; Macon (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

YKK AP America Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Department Lead to direct resources and drive performance against critical KPIs such as quality, safety, delivery, and productivity.

The role requires Lean manufacturing experience, cost management, and cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Finance, and Operations. You will coach frontline Supervisors, manage budgets, and promote a culture of continuous improvement and safety.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (Engineering, Operations, or Business Management a plus).
• Experienced in utilizing root-cause analysis, workflow balancing, and workplace organization techniques to maximize department performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, track, and visually report on daily, weekly, and monthly department KPIs (e.g. Efficiency, Scrap Rates, First-Pass Yield, and Downtime).
• Transition the floor from basic compliance to a continuous improvement mindset using Lean Manufacturing tools (e.g. Gemba walks and Root-Cause Analysis).
• Own the department’s annual operating budget. Monitor labor costs, variances, overhead, and scrap expenses to align with targets.
• Identify opportunities for automation or equipment upgrades with ROI analyses for CapEx requests.
• Manage plant personnel, determine work procedures, and coordinate schedules to meet production demands.

Skills

Root-cause analysis

Workflow balancing

Workplace organization

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

YKK AP America Inc. is seeking a Manufacturing Department Lead to direct resources and drive performance against critical KPIs such as quality, safety, delivery, and productivity.

The role requires Lean manufacturing experience, cost management, and cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Finance, and Operations. You will coach frontline Supervisors, manage budgets, and promote a culture of continuous improvement and safety.