Molding Department Manager

Summit Polymers; Sturgis (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Polymers is seeking a Department Manager, Molding to lead a fast-paced automotive injection molding team. You will oversee 40 injection molding machines, a mold tech/utility/supervisor workforce, and three shift supervisors, ensuring daily production targets, on-time delivery, and downstream quality to paint and assembly.

You will drive safety, lean improvements, and training to maintain a competent, high-performing department.

Qualifications

• College engineering degree.
• Five years experience as an engineer in molding.
• Two years supervisory experience in manufacturing.
• Strong leadership, team-building, coaching and decision-making abilities.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Meets performance objectives for safety, productivity, machine OEE, change over time, scrap, and delivery.
• Manages proper staffing and machine loading.
• Ensures proper training of all employees and mentors supervisors.
• Fosters team cohesiveness and a culture of excellence across all shifts.
• Sets a safety example and ensures 5S cleanliness is maintained.
• Ensures machines and equipment are maintained.
• Collaborates with molding engineers and maintenance for continuous improvement.
• Collaborates with lean team on inventory and waste elimination.
• Supports new launches with samples and process optimization.
• Adherence to TS16949 standards and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Coaching

Decision making

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Education

College engineering degree

Five years molding engineering experience

Two years supervisory experience

Tools

Wittmann robots

Krauss Maffei

Van Dorn molding machines

PLC knowledge

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.