ASSISTANT PLANT MANAGER

Align Production Systems•Decatur, IL

10h•$80,000 - $90,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Plant Manager is a plant-floor leadership role that supports and reinforces the Plant Manager’s directives and production priorities. The role directly leads metals production, with responsibility for output, quality, and daily execution across welding, laser cutting, machining, and paint release. It also oversees the remainder of plant operations through the Assembly Team Lead, providing visibility and authority across major production areas. The position owns budget and purchase order authority for sheet metal used in production, within approval limits set by the Plant Manager. The Assistant Plant Manager leads daily production meetings, floor walks, and end-of-shift protocols; coordinates scheduling and resources across metals and assembly; and works with Engineering, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Quality to resolve production needs. The role verifies finished-part quality, manages nonconformances and corrective actions, enforces safety standards, supports OSHA readiness, and maintains ERP and time-tracking compliance. The Assistant Plant Manager directly leads the metals production team and the Assembly Team Lead, and assumes authority over all production, safety, and quality when the Plant Manager is offsite.

Requirements

At least 7 years of experience in metal fabrication or heavy equipment manufacturing.
At least 3 years of experience leading a production team.
Strong print-reading skills.
Working knowledge of weld quality standards.
Familiarity with laser cutting, machining, and welding processes.
Proven ability to coach employees, hold people accountable, and handle performance management, discipline, and hiring.
Experience with an ERP or production tracking system and comfort supporting ERP processes.
High school diploma or equivalent required.

Nice To Haves

Technical degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Support and execute the Plant Manager’s directives across daily plant operations.
Lead metals production, owning output, quality, and daily execution across welding, laser cutting, machining, and paint release.
Lead the daily production cadence, including morning meetings, floor walks, and end-of-shift protocols.
Oversee assembly production goals in partnership with the Assembly Team Lead, providing guidance and coaching.
Coordinate scheduling and resource allocation across metals and assembly to keep jobs on track.
Verify finished parts conform to engineering prints and specifications through visual audits and team inspection practices.
Ensure welds are cleaned of spatter, burrs, and sharp edges before paint; partner with Quality to confirm welds and release only conforming parts to the paint line.
Complete visual quality checks of equipment before it leaves the table for paint.
Document and communicate nonconformances, coordinate rework, and maintain records of production issues and quality escapes.
Drive root-cause analysis and corrective action on quality issues, using engineering logs for traceability when appropriate.
Enforce safety protocols, PPE use, and shop-floor standards across metals and assembly.
Investigate incidents and near misses with HR and the Plant Manager, lead safety training and toolbox talks, and help maintain OSHA readiness.
Own sheet-metal budget and purchase order authority within approval limits set by the Plant Manager.
Monitor and audit time tracking and rework on timecards and in Acumatica.
Support, implement, and train employees on ERP processes, serve as the plant-floor technical expert for ERP adherence, and hold the team accountable.
Partner with Engineering on print questions, design clarifications, and engineering changes affecting production.
Work with Supply Chain and Purchasing on material availability, lead times, and sheet-metal ordering.
Work with Quality to resolve equipment and process issues affecting output.
Escalate matters requiring the Plant Manager’s decision-making authority, manage daily production direction, and act on the Plant Manager’s behalf on production-floor matters as directed.
Lead the metals production team and the Assembly Team Lead; conduct performance and merit reviews, implement merit decisions, document discipline, and participate in hiring and termination with HR and the Plant Manager.
Assume authority over all production, safety, and quality when the Plant Manager is offsite.