Plant Manager

Hayes Performance Systems; United States; On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Paid vacation

Employee events

Growth opportunities

Team environment

Job summary

Hayes Performance Systems in Mequon, WI, seeks a Plant Manager to lead our manufacturing operations and drive safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost improvements across the plant. You will set direction, develop leaders, and ensure strong performance on the production floor while collaborating with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and HR to execute priorities.

This hands-on role emphasizes Lean, 6S, waste reduction, and data-driven decision making to strengthen competitive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in Lean manufacturing or similar production environment.
• Experience leading manufacturing teams and delivering measurable operational results.
• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Experience managing production KPIs, budgets, labor, capacity, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills.
• Ability to lead through changing priorities while focusing on safety, quality, people, and business results.
• Bonus: CPIM, Six Sigma, Lean, or related certification.

Responsibilities

• Set the direction for plant operations with clear goals and measurable results.
• Build and develop a strong operations team through coaching and accountability.
• Maintain a visible, engaged presence on the production floor and foster relationships with employees at all levels.
• Lead manufacturing and assembly operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives.
• Champion Lean manufacturing, 6S, waste reduction, and continuous improvement across the operation.
• Use production data and KPIs to identify opportunities, remove barriers, and improve plant performance.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, HR, and others to solve problems and execute priorities.
• Optimize labor, capacity, inventory, and resources to meet customer demand and growth.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, quality, and company standards.
• Lead workforce planning, hiring, performance management, and talent development.

Skills

Plant leadership

Lean manufacturing

Operational excellence

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, or a related field

Job description

Mequon, WI | Department: Operations | Reports to: CEO/President

Build Your Career with Hayes Performance Systems:

Hayes Performance Systems is a global manufacturer of high-performance braking, suspension, and precision-engineered components. Since 1946, we've built a reputation for quality, innovation, and reliability while serving customers around the world.

In 2023, Hayes expanded through the acquisition of ACI Industries, strengthening our capabilities in precision machining and manufacturing and positioning us for continued growth.

As we continue to grow, we're looking for people who want to make an impact. At Hayes, you'll have the opportunity to solve real-world challenges, collaborate across teams, and contribute to products used in powersports, agriculture, construction, and industrial applications. We value accountability, continuous improvement, and taking pride in the work we do every day.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, and 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Employee events and recognition programs throughout the year
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• Collaborative and team-oriented work environment

What You Will Do:

Join Hayes Performance Systems as our Plant Manager and take a key leadership role in shaping the performance and continued growth of our Mequon manufacturing operations.

This is an opportunity for a hands-on manufacturing leader who enjoys building strong teams, improving how work gets done, and seeing the measurable impact of their decisions. You'll have the opportunity to strengthen operational processes, develop leaders across the plant, and drive meaningful improvements in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.

Working closely with leaders across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and HR, you'll help set the direction for the plant while staying connected to the people and processes that make it run every day.

How You Will Do It:

• Set the direction for plant operations, translating business priorities into clear goals and measurable results
• Build and develop a strong operations team through coaching, accountability, succession planning, and employee development
• Maintain a visible, engaged presence on the production floor and build strong relationships with employees at all levels
• Lead manufacturing and assembly operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives
• Champion Lean manufacturing, 6S, waste reduction, and continuous improvement across the operation
• Use production data and KPIs to identify opportunities, remove barriers, and improve plant performance
• Partner across Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, HR, and other functions to solve problems and execute business priorities
• Optimize labor, capacity, inventory, and operating resources to support customer demand and business growth
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, quality, and company standards
• Lead workforce planning, hiring, performance management, and talent development to strengthen long-term organizational capability

What We Look For:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, or a related field
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in Lean manufacturing or a similar production environment
• Demonstrated experience leading manufacturing teams and delivering measurable operational results
• Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence principles
• Experience managing production KPIs, budgets, labor, capacity, quality, delivery, and cost performance
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills
• Ability to lead through changing priorities while maintaining focus on safety, quality, people, and business results
• Bonus:
  • CPIM, Six Sigma, Lean, or related certification
  • Experience leading value-stream transformation or large-scale continuous improvement initiatives

Ready to Join Our Team?

If you're passionate about developing people, transforming operations, and building a high-performing manufacturing culture, we'd love to hear from you.