Plant Manager - Washington, North Carolina

Description

AAF International offers the most comprehensive clean air solutions available across the globe. Selling under the American Air Filter® and the AAF International® brand names, AAF International has been an industry pioneer since 1921 with manufacturing operations in 22 countries with over 6000 employees globally. Our products are the industry benchmarks for quality and performance. Our applications include commercial, industrial and residential solutions from the filters used in your home to the most critical cleanroom and power generation applications.

Position Objective:

The Plant Manager leads a multi-functional team ensuring production goals are met or exceeded and promoting safety and environmental compliance. The primary duties of this position include management responsibilities for all plant operations such as production, quality, safety and equipment maintenance. This position is also instrumental in driving our transition to a world-class Lean Manufacturing environment.

Key Accountabilities:

• Responsible for the implementation and continuous refinement of EHS practices and procedures to ensure the safety of employees and compliance with environmental/safety standards.
• Lead, direct, and control the day-to-day activities of a plant to achieve the short and medium-term financial and operating goals set by the overall organization business plan. Is responsible for maintenance, manufacturing, quality control, engineering, supply and logistics & distribution, and administration; with dotted line responsibility for accounting and human resources.
• Formulate and deliver plans that achieve operating objectives in safety, quality, on time delivery, cost reduction, new product integration, and equipment utilization at the plant level.
• Assume ownership for strategic initiatives and provide leadership to achieve and maintain operational, safety, and environmental performance.   
• Implement effective systems of control over capital, operating expenditures, manpower, wages and salaries. 
• Monitor overall plant performance for production and quality standards.
• Lead, motivate, and develop employees to achieve outstanding manufacturing performance results, while leveraging continuous improvement tools such as Lean manufacturing, improving individual skills, and enhancing teamwork. 
• Encourage innovation and employee input on potential improvements in all aspects of the plant operation.
• Provide personal direction in the resolution of current operating problems of a critical nature to maintain maximum continuity of production at desired quality, costs, and customer service levels.
• Facilitate standardized procedures / work instructions / visual factory and incorporate best practices methodology.
• Provide input to R&D on product performance as well as current and potential product opportunities.
• Manage local product engineering resources to deliver timely custom designed solutions and optimize standard costs.
• Establish relationships with the Sales organization to ensure voice of customer is included in the manufacturing process.
• Some travel may be required.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Position Requirements:

1. Completion of a college/university degree in Engineering or applicable technical discipline. MBA a plus;
2. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification or related education preferred;
3. Extensive (7-10 years') plant/general management experience in a manufacturing or re-manufacturing environment;
4. Experience working in industries with rigid technical, quality, safety, and product performance standards – e.g. pharmaceutical, aerospace, automotive safety, etc.;
5. Working knowledge of P&L, budgets and financial statements;
6. Past experience leading and managing a diverse group of functions, including operations / production, engineering, materials and distribution, maintenance and reliability, quality, human resources, environmental health and safety, and controller;
7. Comprehensive knowledge of Lean, optimization, and other process improvement processes.  Experience implementing Lean manufacturing;
8. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a diverse group of employees in a participative, employee empowerment culture;
9. Experience managing operating costs, capital and maintenance budgets;
10. Working knowledge of safety and environmental practices and regulations, including OSHA compliance, and a proven record of improving safety results;
11. Demonstrated leadership, influence and communications, coaching and training skills;
12. Ability to lead / implement transformational change within individuals and teams to reach safety, quality, delivery and cost improvement objectives;
13. ISO 9001, NQA-1 and AG-1 knowledge and maintenance preferred;
14. Excellent oral and written communication skills, with experience developing training materials;
15. Excellent computer skills—specifically with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and SAP;
16. Excellent organization and attention detail;
17. Ability to mentor, coach and train other employees and drive sustainable improvements.