The Plant Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of a manufacturing facility producing needle-punched nonwoven products for automotive applications. This individual will drive operational excellence in safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and cost while developing a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

Essential Responsibilities

• Direct and manage all plant operations including production, maintenance, quality, warehousing, and shipping.
• Lead a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with all environmental, health, and safety regulations.
• Drive operational performance through KPI management and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and mentor plant leadership teams, supervisors, and production personnel.
• Improve manufacturing efficiency, equipment utilization, throughput, and overall profitability.
• Ensure compliance with automotive customer requirements and quality standards.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities related to quality, delivery, and operational issues.
• Manage plant budgets, labor planning, inventory control, and capital expenditure projects.
• Collaborate with engineering, supply chain, sales, and customer service teams to support business objectives.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and waste reduction initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience with increasing responsibility.
• Previous Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Production Manager, or Manufacturing Manager experience.
• Strong experience in needle punch nonwovens, textiles, engineered materials, or automotive interior products.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-shift manufacturing operations.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Needle punch, carding, cross-lapping, fiber blending, and finishing operations.
• Automotive acoustical insulation, trunk liners, carpet systems, headliners, and interior components.
• Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, TPM, and continuous improvement methodologies.