What are the responsibilities and job description for the Plant Manager position at Winnebago Industries Inc?
Are you a passionate leader energized by driving continuous improvement? Winnebago Motorhome is seeking a Plant Manager to join our team based in Forest City, IA. The Plant Manager leads overall operations of a soft goods manufacturing facility (cut-and-sew, upholstery, foam, and textile assembly). This expert-level role owns safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people (SQDCP) performance, deploying lean manufacturing systems (5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, Kaizen) and ensuring compliance with relevant standards (RVIA, OSHA, NFPA 1192, ANSI methods as applicable). Responsibilities include strategic planning, capacity and labor management, production scheduling, quality systems oversight, supplier and materials coordination, cross-department alignment, and talent development to achieve world-class operational results.
Day to Day of the Role:
- Own plant SQDCP performance; establish and drive KPIs and tiered daily management (Safety, OEE, FPY, on-time delivery, productivity, scrap, rework, etc).
- Lead daily Tier 1-3 process, Gemba walks, huddles, and visual management; drive corrective actions and sustainment.
- Implement and sustain lean systems: 5S, Standard Work, Kanban/pull systems, value stream mapping, line balancing, takt-time alignment, TPM. (Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt Preferred but not required)
- Ensure compliance with industry and regulatory requirements: Industry and lean best practices, RVIA, OSHA, EHS, NFPA 1192, and ANSI methods as applicable.
- Oversee master scheduling, capacity planning, labor planning, and materials flow to meet demand with optimal lead time and cost.
- Champion quality: PFMEA/Control Plans, incoming/in-process/final inspection, root cause analysis (8D, DMAIC), containment, and standardization.
- Optimize cutting, kitting, sewing, upholstery, and final assembly workflows; reduce WIP, increase throughput, and minimize waste.
- Manage budget, P&L elements, cost reduction, and productivity projects; implement make/buy and outsourcing strategies as needed.
- Build and mentor high-performing supervisors and hourly teams; certify skills; conduct performance reviews; drive cross-training and succession planning.
- Partner with Engineering on DFM/DFA; manage ECNs, prototypes, and ramp-to-rate.
- Own, develop, and mentor best practices for inventory and processes.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain on supplier performance, material availability, and packaging standards.
- Enforce safety culture: risk assessments (JSA), ergonomics, PPE, incident investigations, and compliance training.
- Lead continuous improvement events (Kaizen) and audits; maintain document control and training records.
- Coordinate with Customer Service/Program Management for priorities, promise dates, and escalations; communicate status and recovery plans.
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
- Associate’s degree with significant relevant experience will also be considered.
- 10 years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations.
- 7–10 years of people management experience, including leading teams through change.
- Moderate to in-depth knowledge of Tools, Machines, or Equipment Required (Mechanical and digital measuring and inspection tools, tape, calipers, tension gauges, fabric weight/yardage tools, color/finish checks).
- ERP (D365) or similar modern Operations and Finance manufacturing software
- Basic office systems for analytics, drawings/specs, and work instructions.
- Practical understanding and ability to perform with Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, NX & Team Center (or similar engineering software)