Plant Manager

Plant Manager

AAF International offers the most comprehensive clean air solutions available across the globe. Selling under the American Air Filter and the AAF International brand names, AAF International has been an industry pioneer since 1921 with manufacturing operations in 22 countries with over 6000 employees globally. Our products are the industry benchmarks for quality and performance. Our applications include commercial, industrial and residential solutions from the filters used in your home to the most critical cleanroom and power generation applications.

We are a member of the Daikin Group, the world's largest air conditioning provider with $30 billion in revenue and over 75,000 employees worldwide. Founded in 1924, Daikin has grown into a diversified industrial manufacturing company offering solutions in clean, air, air conditioning, refrigeration, chemicals, oil hydraulics, defense systems and electronics.

Our culture of continuous improvement, safety, and world class operations is driven by our people-centered management philosophy. This philosophy is built around mutual selection: that while AAF seeks top talent people to join and deliver on our team, we also want each team member to receive job satisfaction, growth & development, and continued happiness in being a long-term member of the AAF family. This is fueled by our belief in treating our people, our supply partners, our customers and our environment with the trust and respect we each require, and our passion to give back to our community for our success.

AAF International is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veteran. We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, uniform servicemember status, age, disability or any other legally recognized protected personal characteristics.

Position Objective

The Plant Manager leads a multi-functional team ensuring production goals are met or exceeded, and promoting safety and environmental compliance. The primary duties of this position include management responsibilities for all plant operations such as production, quality, safety and equipment maintenance. This position is also instrumental in driving our transition to a world-class Lean Manufacturing environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Responsible for the implementation and continuous refinement of EHS practices and procedures to ensure the safety of employees and compliance with environmental/safety standards.
• Lead, direct, and control the day-to-day activities of a plant to achieve the short and medium-term financial and operating goals set by the overall organization business plan. May be responsible for maintenance, manufacturing, quality control, engineering, supply and logistics, distribution, accounting and administration.
• Formulate operating objectives in cost reduction, quality improvement, new product integration and equipment utilization at the plant level.
• Assume ownership for strategic initiatives and provide leadership to achieve and maintain operational, safety, and environmental performance.
• Implement effective systems of control over capital, operating expenditures, manpower, wages and salaries.
• Monitor overall plant performance for production and quality standards.
• Lead, motivate, and develop employees to achieve outstanding manufacturing performance results, while leveraging continuous improvement tools such as Lean manufacturing, improving individual skills, and enhancing teamwork.
• Encourage innovation and employee input on potential improvements in all aspects of the plant operation.
• Provide personal direction in the resolution of current operating problems of a critical nature, in order to maintain maximum continuity of production at desired quality, costs, and customer service levels.
• Facilitate standardized procedures / work instructions / visual factory and incorporate best practices methodology.
• Provide input to R&D on product performance as well as current and potential product opportunities.
• Manage local product engineering resources to deliver timely custom designed solutions and optimize standard costs.
• Establish relationships with the Sales organization to ensure voice of customer is included in the manufacturing process.
• Some travel may be required.

Position Requirements

1. Completion of a college/university degree in Engineering or applicable technical discipline. MBA a plus;
2. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification or related education preferred;
3. Extensive (7-10 years) plant/general management experience in a manufacturing or re-manufacturing environment;
4. Experience working in industries with rigid technical, quality, safety, and product performance standards e.g. pharmaceutical, aerospace, automotive safety, etc.;
5. Working knowledge of P&L, budgets and financial statements;
6. Past experience leading and managing a diverse group of functions, including operations/production, engineering, materials and distribution, maintenance and reliability, quality, human resources, environmental health and safety, and controller.
7. Comprehensive knowledge of Lean, optimization, and other process improvement processes. Experience implementing Lean manufacturing;
8. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a diverse group of employees in a participative, employee empowerment culture;
9. Experience managing operating costs, capital and maintenance budgets;
10. Working knowledge of safety and environmental practices and regulations, including OSHA compliance, and a proven record of improving safety results;
11. Experience working with unions desired or required depending on location of the plant;
12. Demonstrated leadership, influence and communications, coaching and training skills.