Plant Manager

Job Description

Position Summary

The Plant Manager is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the machine shop, ensuring production goals are met while maintaining quality, safety, and efficiency standards. This role requires a hands-on leader who can balance strategic thinking with shop-floor execution in a fast-paced, small-team environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all plant operations, including production, scheduling, quality control, maintenance, and shipping/receiving.
• Supervise, coach, and develop a team of machinists, operators, and support staff.
• Collaborate with leadership on production planning, resource allocation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure on-time delivery of customer orders while maintaining tight tolerances and quality standards.
• Implement and monitor KPIs related to productivity, quality, downtime, and safety.
• Enforce safety protocols and drive a culture of accountability and compliance.
• Manage raw material inventory, tooling, and equipment to support production needs.
• Oversee machine maintenance and repairs, working closely with vendors or technicians as needed.
• Drive lean manufacturing practices and process improvements to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
• Support quoting and project planning efforts as needed by providing production insights or timelines.

Qualifications

• Proven Track record of driving results/KPI’s as an operations leader
• Safety, quality, delivery OTD, cost (staff efficiency), and daily revenue
• Strong communicator and quick decision maker
• Articulate and support floor needs (labor and equipment)
• Has a “forest though the trees” vision (ie. Can plan 5 to 30 days in advance)
• Supports and implements process improvements
• Responsible for daily planning and activity of the SLP facility
• Experience with ERP systems, job scheduling, and shop-floor data tracking
• Proven ability to lead and motivate small teams in a production setting
• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a machine shop environment highly preferred
• Strong understanding of CNC machining, tooling, and blueprint reading
• Prior experience managing a small-to-mid-sized shop
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 or AS9100 quality systems