What are the responsibilities and job description for the Plant Manager position at FOC Acquisitions?
FOC Acquisition has two plant locations, Sterling, MA and Elbridge, NY, both manufacturing custom fiber optic lighting and sensing components for medical and industrial industries. Specializing in partnering with OEMs to design and manufacture fiber optic solutions for complex mission critical cabling and subassembly applications, FOC Acquisition's highly skilled team works together to bring the best quality product to our customers, and exceed their expectations throughout the engineering and manufacturing process. We are looking for a Plant Manager at our Elbridge, NY location. The ideal candidate will have experience managing day-to-day manufacturing operations, knowledge of quality standards and lean principles and have an aptitude towards technical engineering.
Job Summary
As the Plant Manager at FOC Acquisition’s Elbridge, NY site (Acrolite), you will play a critical role in overseeing our manufacturing operations and ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety and efficiency. You will lead a dedicated team and champion Kaizen principles to drive continuous improvement throughout the Organization.
Primary Responsibilities
Leadership and Team Management:
- Provide strong leadership and direction to a diverse team of engineering, production, and quality professionals.
- Foster a culture of Kaizen by championing Kaizen workshops and improvement initiatives.
- Develop operational and strategic initiatives to meet the Plant’s growth, EBITDA and Cash Conversion metrics as well as supporting the Innofiber Group initiatives and financial targets.
- Set clear expectations and performance objectives for the team and provide regular feedback.
- Provide support to FOC Acquisition’s group sites as needed to support the group’s initiatives.
- Manage daily production schedules ensuring on-time delivery of high-quality fiber optic assemblies.
- Optimize production processes, eliminating waste to improve product GM.
- Implement lean manufacturing principles, with a particular emphasis on Kaizen, to drive continuous improvement.
- Ensure standard work is implemented and maintained throughout the organization.
- Collaborate with and build the Quality Assurance team to maintain and enhance product quality.
- Implement quality control measures and ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards and maintain our ISO 9001 certification.
- Prioritize workplace safety and ensure all employees follow safety protocols.
- Collaborate with the Engineering team to ensure NPI process is used to successfully validate new product introduction successfully.
- Ensure new product development projects are completed on time to support FOC Acquisition’s YOY growth strategy.
- Collaborate with the Site Controller to achieve the annual budget objectives, identify and implement cost-saving opportunities.
- Implement cost-effective strategies while maintaining high product quality.
- Analyze variances and take necessary corrective actions.
- Collaborate with the supply chain to optimize inventory levels and ensure timely availability of materials.
- Monitor supplier performance and address any issues that may impact production.
- Lead Kaizen workshops and initiatives to drive continuous improvement in processes, productivity, and quality.
- Train and mentor team members on Kaizen principles and encourage a culture of innovation.
- Work with the Controller and Accounting teams to prepare monthly reports on key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial results and provide insights for decision-making.
- Analyze production data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
- Develop subject matter expertise in Acrolite’s critical manufacturing processes and equipment.
o Draw tower equipment and programming and the requirements of drawing glass
o Micro optic designs
o Mono-coil manufacturing.
- Lead knowledge-sharing initiatives and support the rollout of new technologies and processes across the group.
Qualifications
- At least 5 years of proven experience in manufacturing operations, preferably in a managerial role.
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality standards, and lean principles.
- Excellent leadership and team management skills.
- Proficiency in using relevant software and systems for production planning, inventory management, and reporting.
- Ability to implement and influence Kaizen principles to drive continuous improvement