Plant Operations Lead — Wood Manufacturing

QualServ Corporation; Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

QualServ Corporation believes every shift is an opportunity to optimize production and uphold the highest safety and quality standards in wood manufacturing.

The Assistant Plant Manager will lead daily operations, collaborate with the Plant Manager, supervise shift supervisors, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to sustain peak plant performance across safety, quality, throughput, and cost control.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Operations, Manufacturing Technology, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred.
• Experience: 5+ years in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, with at least 3 years supervising or managing multiple departments.
• Industry Focus: Direct experience in wood manufacturing, building materials, or heavy industrial production preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily plant operations across shifts and departments to hit production, yield, and safety milestones.
• Monitor real-time metrics (OEE, throughput, scrap, downtime, labor efficiency) and take corrective actions.
• Partner with Maintenance to optimize machine availability, schedule preventive maintenance, and minimize downtime.
• Coordinate material movement, inventory tracking, and usage variance with supply chain and staging teams to keep lines running.

Skills

Production planning

Root-cause analysis

Workflow optimization

Labor/yield management

Communication

Leadership & strategy

Technical aptitude

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s in Industrial Operations

Job description

QualServ Corporation believes every shift is an opportunity to optimize production and uphold the highest safety and quality standards in wood manufacturing.

The Assistant Plant Manager will lead daily operations, collaborate with the Plant Manager, supervise shift supervisors, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to sustain peak plant performance across safety, quality, throughput, and cost control.