Operations Manager - Manufacturing

Summit Polymers, Inc.; Michigan; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Polymers, Inc. in Vicksburg, MI is hiring a Manager, Operations (Manufacturing) – Exempt to direct plant activities toward safety, quality, and delivery goals. You will manage the plant staff including department managers across Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Materials, and Maintenance.

You will collaborate with the General Manager on capacity planning, resource allocation, and continuous improvement initiatives while maintaining compliance with SLMS and KBPD processes.

Qualifications

• Ability to gather and synthesize information for decision making.
• Experience with cognitive/aptitude assessments and interpretation may be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Directs plant operations to meet safety, quality, cost and delivery objectives.
• Lead and develop plant staff including dept. managers in Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Materials, Maintenance.
• Ensure safe working environment with 5S, housekeeping, safety audits and emergency planning.
• Coordinate with GM on capacity planning, capital equipment, and facilities.
• Monitor adherence to SLMS practices and root cause problem solving (PPS).
• Support new product launches with cross-functional teams and KBPD alignment.
• Oversee talent development and succession planning for high-potential employees.
• Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and corporate standards.
• Maintain strong customer relations and provide resources to protect the facility.
• Engage with shifts on the shop floor and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Info synthesis

Wonderlic score awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in manufacturing or related field

7+ years manufacturing experience

Job description

Job Description

Location: P08 - Vicksburg, 115 S Leja Drive, Vicksburg, Michigan, United States of America

Posted Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Summit Polymers is a leading, global supplier of automotive interior systems including consoles, door panels, and instrument panels. With over 50 years serving the industry, we deliver engineering and product excellence to our customers, on time, in budget, with the latest innovations.

Join a Team Where You’ll Be Challenged And Valued.

A career with Summit Polymers means working with smart people in a culture that thrives on challenging, meaningful work. At Summit, we look for growth potential with every hire. We don’t just fill seats, we set people on career paths. We’re always on the lookout for smart people who are committed to continuous improvement, customer service and quality.

Job Title

Manager, Operations (Manufacturing) – Exempt

Reports To

General Manager

Summary

Directs, administers, and coordinates all the activities of the plant operations to achieve safety, quality, cost and delivery objectives. Manages the plant staff, including department managers responsible for Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Materials, Maintenance, and the plant Lean Manufacturing Engineer.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Meet manufacturing operation objectives, including key metrics related to:
• Safety
• Quality
• Cost
• Delivery
• Ensure plant has a safe working environment through:
• Employee awareness
• Proper 5S and housekeeping
• Layered safety audits and closure of safety related issues
• Effective Emergency Plan.
• Cooperates with the GM on Projects and plans plant resources including:
• Capital equipment
• Facilities
• Cooperates with the GM for capacity planning activities, including:
• Assessment and update of plant Sales Forecast
• Population of corporate molding, painting, and assembly capacity tools.
• Ensures plant manufacturing operations closely adhere to Summit Lean Manufacturing System (SLMS) practices. Key SLMS elements include:
• Root Cause Problem Solving (PPS)
• Ensure successful new product launch:
• Engage closely in the product development process
• Ensure plant prepares for successful launch of new products, following Knowledge Based Product Development (KBPD) and customer specific requirements.
• Ensure plant team engages in team-work with corporate engineering, sales, and materials functions throughout the entire development and launch cycle of new products.
• Promotes the utilization of root cause problem solving using Practical Problem Solving (PPS)
• Manages and provides leadership to plant staff managers
• Conducts daily staff meetings
• Clearly assigns responsibility for issues
• Requires departmental action plans
• Ensures Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology is utilized
• Cooperates with the GM to ensure plant compliance to SPI systems and procedures supporting:
• IATF 16949 Quality standard
• ISO 14001 Environmental standard
• Ensures plant adopts and complies with corporate standardization initiatives
• SLMS, Molding, Painting, Quality Systems, Maintenance Systems, Materials Systems, etc.
• Assists the GM in plant Talent Development initiative to train and develop high potential employees for growth within SPI
• As needed by the GM, understands and represents corporate management in matters of company philosophy, quality ethics, and personnel policies.
• Manages overall plant manufacturing/support personnel activities, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfers, and disciplinary actions.
• Assists the GM in managing plant customer relationships, including ensuring appropriate SPI to customer contact relationships are maintained.
• Works with the GM to provide necessary resources to protect and maintain the facility at all times.
• Ensures plant compliance to all local, state and federal government regulations and reporting requirements.
• Works with Human Resources to assure a positive, constructive working environment built on honesty, fairness, integrity, and respect. Provides a working atmosphere conducive to good industrial and community relations.
• Personally maintains plant floor focus, “go and see”, engage with all shifts
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years experience at a technical or management level. Knowledge of manufacturing processes and procedures, budgeting and costing, quality control procedures and human resource management techniques. 4‑year degree or 7‑years progressive experience in a manufacturing environment.

Skills and Abilities

• Possess ability to gather and synthesize information
• A minimum score of 50 on the Wonderlic Select Assessment (Traditional Score of 28 on the cognitive portion).

Travel Requirements

This position typically does require less than 5% 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.