Who Are We?

We build products and relationships that last a lifetime! No really, that’s what we do. We are a successful family business with a long-term record of steady growth, and we are determined to accelerate our trajectory. Our diverse team members who speak 22 languages are passionate about their company and their co-workers. Check out our website at www.strong-hold.com.

Our factory incorporates many components of TPS, yet we have a long way to go on our Lean journey. Ultimately, we seek a culture driven by continuous improvement, one that recognizes the need to increase the capabilities of our operators and supervisors and to recognize them for making their jobs easier and growing as people. From establishing a rhythm for Kaizen to creating standardized work to adding additional value streams, the relative simplicity of our manufacturing process makes our factory a dream for TPS practitioners. Beyond improving human processes, we have plans to make substantial investments in automation. We have a lot to do to improve manufacturing to remain competitive, and we seek someone who gets as excited about it as we do.

We Are Not:

Fancy-as manufacturers we believe practical, clean facilities are required to make quality products and retain the best team.

High Tech - we incorporate technology into our products and processes where appropriate, but it doesn’t drive us.

Transactional- we have long term relationships with our team members and most valuable customers.

Satisfied- we celebrate achievement, then set our sights on new goals.

What we’re looking for:

You will get our immediate attention if you’ve successfully managed a plant that runs the Toyota Production System, preferably steel manufacturing or automotive. You have been a plant manager in a plant with at least 250 employees or led a large department in a large facility of at least 500 employees.

Job Responsibilities/Duties

Lean Implementation

● Proven record of driving manufacturing organizations to implement Lean.

● Designed mixed-model value streams, implemented the vision and executed daily to maintain it.

● Took a facility from batch to one-piece flow.

● Regularly quotes Taiichi Ohno and has applied his principles to reduce waste.

● Used Paul Akers 2 Second Lean approach to jump start team engagement in Lean.

● Led high level kaizen blitz activities and smaller work-process level improvements which ultimately resulted in lower inventory levels and faster throughput.

● Built a process to develop the skills of new operators and cross train long term ones.

A Lean Leader

● Create an independent vision for the production organization and inspire his/her team to help achieve it.

● Someone who wants to win, always needs to know the score, and lives by performance-based metrics.

● Puts safety first; is proud of improving safety in her/her current assignment and can do it again.

● A builder of strong organizational culture centered around team member development and engagement.

● A coach, a facilitator, someone who is humble enough to value input from the team.

Detail-oriented manager

● Manages all manufacturing functions to include production, scheduling, quality, shipping and receiving.

● Understands that achieving production goals is only relevant if one understands the key drivers of performance.

● Owns the schedule and develops junior team members into proficient schedulers.

● Manages labor precisely by using KPIs and electronic rosters; moves resources efficiently to match the sales forecast.

● Tracks machine up time and works with operators, maintenance, and machine manufacturers to improve it.

● Develops and maintains systems and people to measure and improve quality.

● Owns inventory, job costing and the impact on product family cost.

● Willing and able to implement processes on the floor and in the ERP to improve inventory accuracy and generate useful cost data for decision making.

● Uses financial statements and analysis thereof to improve manufacturing operations.

● Provides subordinates with regular, actionable, and timely feedback.

● Experience creating cross-training programs.

● Experience developing young operators into successful managers.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

● 7 years of Plant Manager or related leadership experience.

● Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or business discipline with a master’s degree preferred.

● Military experience is a plus.

● Proven record of driving manufacturing organizations to implement Lean.

● Knows the difference between leadership and management… and the importance of each.

● Computer savvy. You’re the guy who either drives Excel at meetings or gets frustrated at the guy who does.

● Lots of patience and high emotional intelligence.

● The ability and desire to work with people who will challenge you.

Next Steps: We’re going to do our best to make sure you’re a good fit before we waste your time with a face-to-face interview. Yep, that means some online assessments and remote interviewing tools. Sound familiar? Then why haven’t you applied yet?