Plant Manager

HSM (Hickory Springs Manufacturing) Company; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

401(k)

Paid Time Off

On-Site Medical Clinics

Teladoc

Professional Development

Discounts

Job summary

HSM is a privately held, multi-location manufacturer headquartered in Hickory, NC. We seek a Plant/Operations leader to oversee day-to-day manufacturing, including foam cutting, fabrication, packing, shipping, and supporting production activities.

You will develop plans to align plant performance with business goals, drive Lean, 5S, Kaizen and continuous improvement, monitor KPIs, and partner with Engineering on new launches and automation while maintaining a safety-first culture and ISO

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field or equivalent leadership experience.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership with operations, production, quality, safety, and staff development.
• Experience leading high-volume manufacturing in automotive, furniture, or similar sectors.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, and continuous improvement.
• Experience with production scheduling, capacity planning, inventory management, ERP/MRP, and metrics.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations including foam cutting, fabrication, kitting, packaging, shipping, and production support.
• Develop and execute plans aligning plant performance with business objectives and customer needs.
• Drive operational excellence using Lean, Kaizen, 5S, Visual Management and waste elimination.
• Optimize scheduling, labor, equipment, and material flow to increase throughput and efficiency.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to improve productivity, quality, and inventory accuracy.
• Collaborate with Engineering on new product launches, process improvements, and automation deployments.
• Champion safety and ensure OSHA and ISO/IATF readiness compliance.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

5S

Standard Work

Continuous Improvement

Production Scheduling

ERP/MRP

Labor Optimization

CNC Cutting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

CNC Machinery

Automation Equipment

Job description

Founded in 1944, HSM is athird generation, privately held company with a rich history of innovation and a commitment to our people. With 25 locations across the U.S. and corporate headquarters in Hickory, NC and Huntersville, NC, we specialize in manufacturing components for furniture, bedding, transportation, packaging, automotive, and healthcare industries. Our expertise also includes designing and building automated production machinery. HSM products from sofa springs to swimming pool noodles and bus seats, touch everyday life in countless ways.

At HSM, our success is built on our people. We foster a culture of teamwork, innovation, and shared success. If you’re looking for a meaningful place to grow and make an impact, we want to hear from you!

What You’ll Do

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations, including foam cutting, fabrication, kitting, packaging, shipping, and supporting production activities
• Develop and execute operating plans that align plant performance with business objectives and customer needs
• Drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Standard Work, Visual Management, 5S, and waste elimination
• Optimize production scheduling, labor utilization, equipment performance, and material flow to increase throughput and efficiency
• Establish and monitor KPIs to improve productivity, quality, inventory accuracy, and overall plant performance
• Partner with Engineering on new product launches, process improvements, equipment installations, and automation initiatives
• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company requirements
• Support ISO 9001 requirements while advancing automotive readiness through IATF 16949 and VDA 6.3 principles

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field highly preferred; equivalent education and progressive manufacturing leadership experience will also be considered
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with responsibility for operations, production, quality, safety, and employee development
• Previous Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or similar leadership experience strongly preferred
• Experience in transportation, automotive, engineered products, furniture, bedding, or another high-volume manufacturing environment preferred
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, and continuous improvement
• Experience with production scheduling, capacity planning, inventory management, labor optimization, ERP/MRP systems, and operational performance metrics
• Working knowledge of CNC cutting, fabrication, assembly, material flow, warehousing, and shipping operations
• Understanding of maintenance, capital equipment planning, automation, and manufacturing technology improvements

Why Join Us?

• Health & Wellness: Affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, including an innovative global healthcareoptionfor qualified participants.
• Retire: 401(k) with company match, fully vested from day one.
• Paid Time Off: Competitive PTO:104 hoursof Vacation +company paid holidays.
• On-Site Medical Clinics: Free for you and covered dependents.
• Teladoc: 24/7 access with no copay.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement,professional developmentassistanceandcareer growth opportunities.
• Discounts: Enjoy discounts with HSM partners, including Dollywood Parks & Resort, Verizon Wireless, and more.

EEOC

At HSM, we believe that our diversity creates a productive workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, affectionate or sexual orientation, genderidentityor expression, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated againston the basis ofdisability.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.