Manufacturing Operations Manager, Lean & CI Leader

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Training and advancement opportunities

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

YKK AP America Inc. in Georgia is seeking a Manufacturing Department Manager to oversee a team and ensure the department's resources are aligned with key performance goals in quality, safety, delivery, service and productivity.

You will develop and report KPIs, lead Lean improvements, collaborate with Industrial Engineering and Plant Finance, manage the budget, and coach frontline Supervisors to build a high-performing, safety-focused culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university preferred (Engineering, Operations, or Business Management is a plus): or a combination of experience, education, and training may be considered.
• 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 of the floor from basic compliance to a continuous improvement mindset using Lean Manufacturing tools (e.g. Gemba walks and Root-Cause Analysis).
• Partner with Industrial Engineering to optimize workflow, eliminate bottlenecks, establish and balance Line cycle times, and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Own the department’s annual operating budget. Monitor and manage labor costs, material variances, overhead, and scrap expenses to ensure alignment with plant financial targets.
• Partner with Plant Finance to conduct monthly variance analysis, forecasting future operational costs and adjusting labor/resource allocation based on fluctuating production volumes.
• Identify opportunities for automation or equipment upgrades; build financial justifications and ROI analyses for Capital Expenditure (CapEx) requests.
• Manage plant personnel, determine work procedures, and coordinate flexible schedules/workflows to meet fluctuating production demands.
• Design and execute cross-training matrices for line operators to reduce production vulnerabilities, increase employee skill sets, and create clear pathways for internal advancement.
• Transform safety from a compliance metric into a core value where every associate feels empowered to speak up.
• Conduct regular safety audits, job safety analyses (JSAs), and incident investigations. Implement immediate corrective actions to prevent ergonomic injuries, strains, or lacerations inherent to window assembly.
• Partner with Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) teams to ensure 100% compliance with OSHA and corporate environmental guidelines.
• Actively coach, mentor, and develop frontline Supervisors and Lead persons, equipping them with the leadership skills needed to manage and support their teams effectively.
• Support supervisors in structured daily huddles to cascade company updates, celebrate department wins, and address employee feedback directly.
• Build high-moral, supportive work culture rooted in fairness, transparency, and mutual respect.

Skills

Root-cause analysis

Workflow balancing

Workplace organization

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

YKK AP America Inc. in Georgia is seeking a Manufacturing Department Manager to oversee a team and ensure the department's resources are aligned with key performance goals in quality, safety, delivery, service and productivity.

You will develop and report KPIs, lead Lean improvements, collaborate with Industrial Engineering and Plant Finance, manage the budget, and coach frontline Supervisors to build a high-performing, safety-focused culture.