Plant Manager - Columbia SC (Shakespeare)

SHAKESPEARE COMPANY LLC, a Jadex Inc. company, is a US-based manufacturer of both industrial and consumer products for a wide variety of industries and applications. 

Shakespeare® industrial products are tailored to the customer’s unique needs and include custom engineered nylon resins, performance monofilaments, and conductive fibers used as raw materials in finished goods ranging from automotive components to medical applications.  The company operates under the Shakespeare®, Rino-Tuff®, and Weed Warrior® brands in the lawn & garden category and is a major player in the mass merchant channel as the primary universal fit solution for trimmer line, heads, and accessories.  The brand is known worldwide within the marine electronics industry for marine radio antennas with a portfolio of connectivity solutions and accessories to help keep boaters connected and safe.  Maintaining communications is of utmost importance to military forces across the world and Shakespeare®’s line of military antenna products plays a critical role in achieving mission success.

Plant Manager - Columbia, SC

Primary Purpose of Position:

Reporting to the VP and General Manager, the Plant Manager is responsible for manufacturing activities across 4 distinct product lines: (1) Engineered Nylon Polymerization, (2) Performance Monofilament Extrusion, (3) Military Antenna Assembly, and (4) Lawn & Garden Consumer Packaging. The site location is Columbia, South Carolina.  The Plant Manager will drive operational excellence, and partner with other staff members to build a successful & unified organization.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Lead team of 3 Operations Managers and 75-100 hourly associates.  Plan, develop and implement strategies to meet time-based performance targets set in annual budgets.
• Maintain Safety Incidence Rate below 1.0.
• Measure, analyze and report weekly manufacturing KPI performance on safety, quality, OTD, cost, throughput, and waste. Identify opportunities and risks and direct changes/actions to achieve business goals to achieve “Low Cost Producer”.
• Promote a culture of accountability to ensure adherence to manufacturing processes and company policies.
• Plan, develop and implement lean initiatives and visual management programs to drive lower cost of operations across all product lines.
• Participate in Monthly Business Reviews and Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning meetings and otherwise contribute to the evaluation of operations and development of operational strategy with the executive team.
• Lead yearly budget initiatives that drive cost reduction, performance improvements, training needs, and capital investments,
• Measure, analyze and report weekly manufacturing performance.  Identify opportunities and risks and direct changes/actions to achieve business goals. 
• Oversee department cost center management, planning, systems, and controls.
• Direct the resolution of manufacturing problems to ensure customer satisfaction, minimum costs and prevent operational delays, without compromising safety.
• Manage, mentor and coach direct and indirect reports as appropriate to build a culture of accountability, brother’s keeper, integrity, and alignment with the division leadership.
• Work with other functional/departmental managers to understand the needs of operational development, and to ensure they are fully informed of operational objectives, purposes, opportunities, and risks.
• Determine responsibilities of assigned organization and staff positions, conduct performance reviews, and provide applicable feedback to employees.
• Partner with sales to understand customer expectations and resolve manufacturing quality deficiencies. 
• Establishes and maintains effective work relationships within the Plant, the Company, and the community; and maintains the professional competence, knowledge, and skill necessary for the satisfactory performance of all assigned responsibilities. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Division/Location/Product Specific Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

In addition to above the following are Division/Location/Product Specific Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Support activities of research and development to develop new and emerging products and transition to full scale production. 
• Provide guidance to the development of manufacturing processes, including personnel requirements, job hazard analysis, material needs, subcontract requirements, facility needs, tooling and equipment needs.
• Coordinate manufacturing activities with all other functions of the organization and suppliers to obtain optimum production and utilization of human resources, machines, and equipment.
• Contribute to divisional and corporate continuous improvement efforts as applicable.
• Conduct responsibilities in a manner that exemplified excellence in safety leadership.

Qualifications & Experience:

• BS Engineering or Related Field
• 15+ years’ experience in Plant Management
• 5-7 years in an Operational Manager role
• Strong technical background in shop floor operations and product flow
• Strong working knowledge on Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence

Specifics:

• Competitive salary and bonus structure
• Full benefits package
• 401K with match
• Strong vacation and corporate holiday policy