Plant Manager - Lean Manufacturing & Operations Lead

Midwest Hardwoods Inc; Park Falls (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Midwest Hardwoods Inc. seeks a Plant Manager to lead daily operations at the Park Falls, WI facility. This on-site role focuses on safe, efficient production, staff development, and cross-department coordination with maintenance, logistics, and accounting teams.

You will implement process improvements, manage budgets, track KPIs, and ensure compliance with policies and regulations while driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced hardwood manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in Plant Management and leadership of plant teams, with a focus on safety and performance.
• Strong skills in Plant Operations and Manufacturing Operations, ensuring efficient use of equipment, materials, and labor.
• Experience in Operations Management and Production Planning, including scheduling, capacity planning, and workflow optimization.
• Proficiency with manufacturing KPIs, continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma), and problem-solving in a production setting.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and decision-making skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments.
• Prior experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment; hardwood, lumber, or related industry experience is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in operations management, industrial engineering, business, or related field preferred, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Ability to work on-site in Park Falls, WI, and manage a hands-on, fast-paced operational environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily plant operations and ensure safe, efficient production.
• Manage production schedules and monitor workflow to meet targets.
• Lead plant staff; develop and coach teams across functions.
• Coordinate with maintenance, logistics, and accounting for seamless operations.
• Implement process improvements and drive cost control and resource planning.
• Track performance metrics and report on safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Address operational issues to minimize downtime and maximize uptime.

Skills

Plant management

Leadership

Operations management

Production planning

Lean Six Sigma

Problem-solving

Organization

Communication

Decision making

Education

Bachelors degree

Job description

Midwest Hardwoods Inc. seeks a Plant Manager to lead daily operations at the Park Falls, WI facility. This on-site role focuses on safe, efficient production, staff development, and cross-department coordination with maintenance, logistics, and accounting teams.

You will implement process improvements, manage budgets, track KPIs, and ensure compliance with policies and regulations while driving continuous improvement in a fast-paced hardwood manufacturing environment.