Manufacturing Assistant Manager - 2nd Shift (2pm-1045pm)

Toyota Boshoku America; Hopkinsville (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Toyota Boshoku America is seeking an experienced Manufacturing Supervisor to oversee group leaders, team leaders, and shop floor staff across assigned areas. You will drive safety, quality, and productivity in support of TPS and TBWP.

The role requires strong leadership, problem solving, and the ability to manage budgets, KPI tracking, and continuous improvement initiatives through Kaizen and 5S. Travel up to 10% and flexibility in a fast-paced automotive environment are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field is required or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 6+ years of manufacturing experience, preferably automotive.
• 2+ years supervisory experience in manufacturing.
• Strong verbal and written communication in English.

Responsibilities

• Supervise group leaders, team leaders, and team members across assigned areas/shifts.
• Ensure safety, quality, efficiency, productivity, and cost targets are met.
• Lead continuous improvement using TPS principles and TB Way/BP practices.
• Coordinate and supervise production activities to meet customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain 5S, Kaizen, and standardized work.
• Monitor KPIs and drive corrective actions for performance gaps.

Skills

6+ years manufacturing experience

2+ years supervisory experience

Leadership

TPS knowledge

Problem solving

Quality control

Safety leadership

Kaizen

5S

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Essential Job Responsibilities

General Summary:

Supervise Manufacturing department group leaders, team leaders, and team members for assigned area(s)/shift (e.g., assembly, filter, injection molding, powertrain, stamping, urethane, welding, etc.) to ensure safety, quality, positive work environment, customer requirements, and manufacturing needs are met through the Toyota Production System (TPS) philosophy. Provide leadership and motivation to direct reports in manufacturing system that emphasizes safety, quality, customer satisfaction, accuracy, productivity, cost reduction, 5S, drive production preparation, efficiency, training, teamwork, and morale.

Essential Job Functions

• Coordinate and supervise all manufacturing activities and related functions for assigned area(s)/shift to meet customer requirements.
• Maintains knowledge and control over assigned areas/shift to ensure proper work schedules and material flow; proper use of manpower skills, equipment and facilities; proper application of methods and related matters.
• Ensure manufacturing operations are running effectively in the areas of safety, quality, efficiency/productivity, cost, and team member morale.
• Provide direction and motivation to group leaders focusing on safety, quality, efficiency, cost, and morale.
• Conduct daily manufacturing production area audits to ensure procedures for safety, quality, equipment, and training are being followed and all aspects of manufacturing are effective including correcting sub-standard conditions immediately.
• Lead development of Group Leaders in the consistent application of the TB Way and Toyota Boshoku Business Practices (TBBP).
• Implement short and long term corrective actions for manufacturing problems.
• Ensure all departmental procedures are compliant with quality and environmental management systems and programs.
• Monitor daily build sheets and analyze efficiency rates and downtime to ensure customer requirements are being met.
• Lead Manufacturing supervision for assigned areas/shift in utilizing TPS techniques.
• Learn, embrace, implement, and teach TPS techniques to Manufacturing team members.
• Coordinate and maintain standardization of processes/methods in pursuit of one-piece flow Just in Time (JIT) manufacturing.
• Lead identification and resolution of manufacturing problems in order to eliminate waste.
• Develop, lead, monitor, and participate in a Manufacturing continuous improvement system.
• Kaizen and develop processes that lower operating costs and increase efficiency.
• Implement, monitor, and maintain a clean, organized department through 5S activity.
• Support development and management of annual plan, budget, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), operating efficiency, and cost control.
• Ensure Manufacturing hoshin goals are met and kept on track.
• Assists Manufacturing Manager in developing, planning, and maintaining the budget including making adjustments to achieve targets.
• Assist in the review and planning of headcount monthly for labor cost control and production efficiency (PEFF).
• Review and track Manufacturing KPIs including leading problem solving for negative trends or goals not met.
• Collect, record, and analyze data on production, quality, scrap, rework, change over time, machine downtime, and direct and indirect labor.
• Assist with generation and report out of daily/weekly/monthly reports with targets.
• Participate in management discussions and planning sessions to help formulate cost reduction, product improvement, and problem solving activities, and support presentation of operational performance daily/weekly.
• Develop and maintain positive team member relations centered on mutual trust, dignity, respect, fairness, consistency, two-way communication, teamwork, and harmony.
• Provide direction and motivation to team members emphasizing safety & health, quality, efficiency, productivity, and cost reduction activity.
• Ensure further development of group leaders, team leaders, and team members through performance evaluation, development of training timetables, rotation planning, and versatility needs, feedback, coaching, corrective action, and cascade training. Update team member versatility matrix and schedule any needed training to close GAPS.
• Drive production preparation for new processes of new products (equipment and manufacturing process readiness) ,manage and control manufacturing production preparation schedules ,confirm and follow up on incorporation of launch-related issues (pre-SOP / mass production issues),design and review process flow (Material Flow) Optimize layout (material handling, flow lines, and space utilization), drive equipment handover and early countermeasures for initial production issues.

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, or related field required, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Experience

• Greater than 6 years of relevant work experience in a manufacturing environment required, preferably automotive.
• Greater than 2 years of leadership experience as supervisor in a manufacturing environment required.

Personal/Technical Skills

• Thorough understanding of company product, trade terminology, quality management and control systems and techniques, manufacturing processes including material controls, work flow, scheduling, Kanban, and equipment and machine operation.
• Working knowledge of automotive industry equipment and Toyota Production System.
• General understanding and practical work experience with manufacturing systems and processes.
• Practical experience applying Toyota Production System (TPS) principles in an automotive environment.
• Versed in statistical data entry and utilization of trend analysis.
• Advanced math skills.
• Strong leadership skills and ability.
• Excellent problem solving and people skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.
• Ability to effectively facilitate problem solving and resolution.
• Ability to work with a dynamic team and demanding customer(s).
• Excellent collaboration and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to read instruction manuals, blue prints, and specifications.
• Ability to plan, supervise, and perform functions of assigned areas.
• Ability to maintain on call flexibility to control abnormal conditions.
• Ability to be flexible in a constantly changing production environment.
• Ability to communicate and work well with others in a team environment.
• Ability to speak to groups of people and make presentations to executive groups.
• Ability to multi-task, handle diversity, and provide leadership through problem resolution.
• Must be able to work a fixed or rotating shift schedule, including daily or weekend overtime.
• Ability to adapt available skills and equipment to respond to unforeseen demands and/or problems.
• Ability to implement plans to control and maintain safety, quality, 5S, cost, and efficiency for assigned areas.
• Strong organization, time management, and planning skills and ability to manage multiple tasks with tight deadlines.
• Ability to teach group leaders, team leaders, and team members in basic fundamental skills and facilitate Job Instruction Training (TJI).
• Experience in production preparation

Language Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.

Computer/Software

• Solid working knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office and other computer-based applications (e.g., MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Lotus Notes/Outlook, Internet, etc.).
• Advanced MS Excel Skills: Formulas, Graphs, Pivot Tables

Work Environment/Conditions

Office: Open Office Environment, moderate noise level.

Plant: Various types of manufacturing environments.

• Standard automotive plant environment with moderate noise level.
• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as safety glasses, steel toe shoes, Kevlar sleeves, hearing protection, hard hat, etc. may be required in designated engineering, manufacturing, or industrial areas. Personal attire standards may apply.
• Involves moderate or occasional presence of some slightly disagreeable conditions, i.e., cold, dust, heat, odor, etc.

Travel: Must be willing to travel up to 10% of the time.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is required to talk, hear, and see (with visual acuity). Performance requires mental alertness and sustained attention to details and needs of the department in terms of workflow, efficiency of operation, machine adjustment, and team member output. Performance requires physical ability to inspect, adjust, and operate equipment. The team member must be capable of walking, sitting, and standing for extended periods of time throughout plant. Occasionally climbing or bending on, under, or near tooling and equipment. May be occasionally required to reach, grasp, and manipulate parts, materials, or equipment. May be occasionally required to lift up to 30 pounds.

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to identify the general nature and level of work performed by team members within this classification, as well as certain essential job functions. It is not intended, and should not be interpreted, as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of team members assigned to this job. To qualify for this job, however, a team member must be able to perform its essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Under no circumstances may this job description be construed as altering the at‑will nature of the employment relationship between TBA and any team member.

Benefits

Benefits include but are not limited to:

• Competitive Compensation
• Eligibility for certain incentives and bonuses (e.g. Production Hourly KPI Achievement Quarterly Incentive or Salaried/Office Hourly KPI Annual KPI Achievement Bonus)
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Affordable Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits
• 401k with Company Match
• Optional tax advantaged accounts, such as Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA)
• Additional elective benefits are available
• Equal Opportunity Employer