Plastics Production Leader (Extrusion/Blow Molding)

The Judge Group; Springfield (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

The Judge Group seeks a Production Manager in Springfield, IL with deep experience in plastics extrusion or blow molding to lead daily manufacturing operations.

You will drive continuous improvement, reduce scrap, maximize uptime, and foster a safety-first culture across shifts. The role requires hands-on leadership, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration for operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of plastics manufacturing leadership in extrusion or blow molding.
• Experience leading change management and improving plant culture.
• Hands-on Lean, 5S, TPM, RCA experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Business Operations.
• Strong resin/process understanding, tooling, cycle times.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily production on extrusion and/or blow molding lines to hit output, profitability, on-time delivery, and quality.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, 5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma) to modernize processes and reduce waste.
• Mentor shift supervisors, technicians, and operators; set KPIs and drive accountability.
• Optimize plastics processing parameters and troubleshoot issues.
• Enforce safety and quality systems (OSHA, ISO, SQF, GMP) for a compliant environment.
• Partner with Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain to minimize downtime and manage scrap.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Continuous improvement

Team development

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

IQMS

SAP

Job description

The Judge Group seeks a Production Manager in Springfield, IL with deep experience in plastics extrusion or blow molding to lead daily manufacturing operations.

You will drive continuous improvement, reduce scrap, maximize uptime, and foster a safety-first culture across shifts. The role requires hands-on leadership, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration for operational excellence.