Operations Manager (Manufacturing) - Columbia, SC

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.

Operations Manager (Manufacturing) - Columbia, SC

Position Summary

Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Operations Manager is responsible for strategic leadership, overall direction, and support of the Lawn & Garden (L&G) and Extrusion departments. The Extrusion department manufactures performance monofilaments for end-use in wide range of applications, and the Lawn & Garden department packages trimmer line, heads, and accessories. This role proactively drives all aspects of the safety of associates, the quality of the product, and on time delivery expectations of the customer.

This position has the following full-time direct reports: 1 supervisor (with 4 leads and ~20 production associates as direct reports), 2 leads, and 4 production associates. The Extrusion department maintains steady headcount. The Lawn & Garden department is a seasonal business that sees flux in staffing levels (via agencies) to greater than 100 associates during the busy season (Nov - April).

The Operations Manager must have a passion for safety (everyone must go home the way they came to work), capacity to foster strong working relationships built upon trust and respect with direct reports, peers, and leaders, demonstrate the ability to motivate and train associates, and be viewed as a clear and creditable communicator and resource.

Essential Functions

• Coordinate activities to execute the production schedule and develop employee knowledge and skills. Establish a work environment characterized by mutual trust and respect, open and honest communications, teamwork and a passion for winning. Drive department performance to meet or exceed business goals.

• Manufacturing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will include safety, quality, material usage variance, labor variance, overhead spend (OVH), on time delivery (OTD), cost per unit, OEE, waste reduction and cost savings projects

• Build a strong accountable culture to achieve consistent positive results through a changing market. Mentor team for performance and career growth. Implement Leadership Standard Work (LSW) for daily work cadence

• Support plant safety initiatives. Work closely with the Safety Manager and be an active participant on the Safety Leadership Team. Ensure associates perform all functions of the job in a safe manner and promptly addresses any unsafe behaviors or conditions.

• Troubleshoot and perform root cause analysis to identify and resolve problems.

• Ensure inventory accuracy through proper transaction and reporting of raw materials, scrap and production of finished goods. Investigate discrepancies and assist in root cause analysis.

• Act as a leader for the continuous improvement of costs, housekeeping, safety, environmental compliance, and inventory within the department(s) consistent with overall plant goals. Continually drive improvements within the department that generate positive savings and contribute the profitability of the department.

Secondary Functions

• Lead the L&G/ Extrusion Operational Excellence team. Lead and set direction for project teams to identify process improvements and minimize machine downtime. Implement visual management where needed to improve performance.

• Participate in monthly business reviews with Sales and Supply Chain to discuss demand forecast, inventory management and operations planning

• Design, improve, and implement new equipment and processes (includes, establishing project scope, anticipated gains, required resources, timelines, etc.) Act as primary contact with external vendors when needed for project implementation.

• Use ERP System to close manufacturing orders within 24 hours of job order being completed and respond to material short/overage issues in a timely manner. Address labor variances as needed.

• Work with the maintenance group to continually improve machine reliability through scheduled preventive maintenance and eliminate downtime by ensuring root cause analysis take place on all failures.

Required Education / Experience:

• 5-8 years of related experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Operations Management or equivalent work experience.

• Six sigma black belt or lean experience along with successful 5S implementation experience is a plus

Required Competencies and Skills:

• Ability to effectively manage projects to drive continuous improvement

• Strong leadership, project management, and LEAN manufacturing skills.

• ERP System Experience, Epicor a plus

• Excellent computer skills utilizing Microsoft Office software. Ability to manipulate spreadsheets, and create presentations

• Strong leadership, teamwork, communication, and project management skills.

• Demand Flow/Lean experience is a plus

• Ability to effectively interact at all levels of the organization. Must be able to translate engineering principles into practice and lead operator level training.

• Decision-making, Initiating action, adaptability, tolerance for stress, flexibility

• Knowledge of machinery and facility maintenance is a plus.

Specifics:

• Competitive salary and bonus structure

• Full benefits package

• 401K with match

• Strong vacation and corporate holiday policy

Jadex Inc and its Businesses do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Other details

• Job Family Operations

• Pay Type Salary

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• Columbia, SC, USA