Plant Operations Manager — Advanced Automotive Plastics

Torrey Holistics; Anderson (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Mergon is seeking an experienced operations leader to drive daily production management, scheduling, and continuous improvement in our automotive plastics manufacturing operations. This role oversees maintenance, tooling, engineering, and CI projects to scale systems and teams.

You will focus on safety, quality, delivery, and cost control while leading cross‑functional initiatives and managing budgets. A strong background in lean practices and process optimization is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or similar preferred.
• 5+ years of operations leadership in manufacturing; blow molding and/or injection molding experience, preferably in automotive.
• Record of success managing production, maintenance, engineering, tooling, and CI portfolios.
• Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen with measurable KPI improvements.
• Financial fluency: budgets, forecasting, and cost controls.
• Depth in preventive maintenance programs, equipment reliability, and capital projects.
• Leadership that develops people: coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
• Sharp analytics and root‑cause problem solving; clear communicator and collaborator.
• Mastery of manufacturing metrics, production planning, and operational performance management.

Responsibilities

• Set the operational rhythm: daily management of production and finite scheduling.
• Elevate reliability: strengthen preventive maintenance and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Advance process capability: partner with engineering and tooling to enhance manufacturability and yield.
• Drive CI culture: deploy Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen to eliminate waste and accelerate flow.
• Manage the numbers: own budgets and optimize labor, material, and maintenance spending.
• Lead cross‑functional initiatives that push innovation and align with strategic objectives.
• Ensure rigorous adherence to OSHA, EPA, and ISO expectations.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Production Planning

Scheduling

Budgeting

Asset Reliability

Cross-functional Leadership

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or similar

Tools

ERP system familiarity

Job description

Lead with PurposeIf championing sustainable manufacturing while shaping the next wave of automotive plastics excites you, you’ll feel at home at Mergon. We collaborate with leaders like Tesla, BMW, and Xerox, and we’re driven by curiosity, care, and continuous improvement.The ChallengeCan you orchestrate a blow molding operation so that safety is instinctive, quality is predictable, delivery is trusted, productivity is rising, and cost is controlled? In this role, you will direct production, scheduling, maintenance, tooling, engineering, and technical resources—building systems that scale and teams that thrive.How You’ll Make an ImpactSet the operational rhythm: daily management of production and finite scheduling.Elevate reliability: strengthen preventive maintenance and reduce unplanned downtime.Advance process capability: partner with engineering and tooling to enhance manufacturability and yield.Drive CI culture: deploy Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen to eliminate waste and accelerate flow.Manage the numbers: own budgets and optimize labor, material, and maintenance spending.Lead cross‑functional initiatives that push innovation and align with strategic objectives.Ensure rigorous adherence to OSHA, EPA, and ISO expectations.What You’ll Need to SucceedBachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or similar preferred.5+ years of operations leadership in manufacturing; blow molding and/or injection molding experience, preferably in automotive.Record of success managing production, maintenance, engineering, tooling, and CI portfolios.Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen with measurable KPI improvements.Financial fluency: budgets, forecasting, and cost controls.Depth in preventive maintenance programs, equipment reliability, and capital projects.Leadership that develops people: coaching, performance management, and succession planning.Sharp analytics and root‑cause problem solving; clear communicator and collaborator.Mastery of manufacturing metrics, production planning, and operational performance management.Your EdgePeople Leadership, Coaching & MentoringContinuous Improvement, Kaizen, Lean ManufacturingProduction Optimization & Operational Risk ManagementOperational Metrics & KPI ManagementProduction Planning & SchedulingWorkplace Safety & EHS ManagementHigh‑level Operations AnalysisBudgeting & Forecasting