Plant Manager: Lean Operations & Continuous Improvement

Hickorync; Hickory (NC); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

On-site medical clinics

Teladoc

Tuition reimbursement

Partner discounts

Job summary

HSM is seeking a Plant Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing operations in a high-volume setting. You will develop strategies to align production with business goals and customer needs, while championing lean initiatives and safety standards.

You will drive improvements in scheduling, labor and equipment performance, and KPI achievement, partnering with Engineering on launches and automation, and ensuring ISO 9001 and automotive system readiness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education; progressive manufacturing leadership experience considered.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership across operations, quality, safety, and people development.
• Plant/Operations/Manufacturing Manager experience in high-volume environments.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work and continuous improvement.
• Experience with production scheduling, capacity planning, ERP/MRP, and performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations, including foam cutting, fabrication, kitting, packaging, shipping, and supporting production activities.
• Develop and execute operating plans aligning 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

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

5S

Standard Work

Visual Management

Waste elimination

Production scheduling

Capacity planning

ERP/MRP systems

Labor optimization

Automation initiatives

CNC cutting

Warehousing

Shipping operations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

HSM is seeking a Plant Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing operations in a high-volume setting. You will develop strategies to align production with business goals and customer needs, while championing lean initiatives and safety standards.

You will drive improvements in scheduling, labor and equipment performance, and KPI achievement, partnering with Engineering on launches and automation, and ensuring ISO 9001 and automotive system readiness.