Manufacturing Assistant Manager

Toyota Boshoku America•Jackson, TN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manufacturing Assistant Manager leads manufacturing department group leaders, team leaders, and team members for assigned areas and shifts. The role ensures that safety, quality, customer requirements, and manufacturing needs are met through the Toyota Production System (TPS) philosophy. It provides leadership and motivation in a manufacturing system focused on safety, quality, customer satisfaction, accuracy, productivity, cost reduction, housekeeping, efficiency, training, teamwork, and morale. The position oversees manufacturing operations, audits production areas, applies TPS techniques, coordinates standardized processes and one-piece flow in a Just in Time production system, and leads continuous improvement and waste-reduction activities. It supports annual planning, budgeting, KPI tracking, cost control, and operational reporting, and assists the Production Manager with budget and headcount planning. The role also develops positive team member relations and supports employee development through evaluation, training plans, coaching, feedback, corrective action, and cascade training. The position works in both an open-office setting and manufacturing plant environments, with moderate noise and occasional exposure to conditions such as cold, dust, heat, or odors. Travel of up to 10% is required. The role may require PPE in designated areas and physical activity including walking, standing, inspecting and operating equipment, occasional climbing or bending, and occasional lifting up to 30 pounds.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least 6 years of relevant work experience in a manufacturing environment.
At least 2 years of functional leadership experience as a supervisor in a manufacturing environment.
Thorough understanding of company products, trade terminology, quality management and control systems and techniques, manufacturing processes, material controls, workflow, scheduling, kanban, and equipment and machine operation.
Working knowledge of automotive industry equipment and production systems.
General understanding and practical work experience with manufacturing systems and processes.
Practical experience applying Toyota Production System (TPS) principles in an automotive environment.
Experience with statistical data entry and trend analysis.
Advanced math skills.
Strong leadership skills and ability.
Excellent problem-solving and people skills; ability to facilitate problem solving and resolution effectively.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, multicultural environment, with a dynamic team and demanding customers.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills in English.
Ability to read instruction manuals, blueprints, and specifications.
Ability to plan, supervise, and perform functions in assigned areas.
Ability to work a fixed or rotating shift schedule, including daily or weekend overtime.
Ability to adapt available skills and equipment to unforeseen demands or problems.
Ability to implement plans to control and maintain safety, quality, 5S, cost, and efficiency for assigned areas.
Strong organization, time-management, and planning skills, including the ability to manage multiple tasks with tight deadlines.
Ability to teach basic fundamental skills to group leaders, team leaders, and team members and facilitate Job Instruction Training (JIT).
Solid working knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office and other computer-based applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Lotus Notes/Outlook, and the Internet.
Ability to speak to groups and make presentations to executive groups.
Ability to multitask, handle diversity, and provide leadership through problem resolution.
Ability to remain physically and mentally alert and sustain attention to department workflow, operational efficiency, machine adjustment, and team member output.
Ability to inspect, adjust, and operate equipment; walk, sit, and stand for extended periods; occasionally climb or bend near tooling and equipment; occasionally reach, grasp, and manipulate parts, materials, or equipment; and occasionally lift up to 30 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing experience in the automotive industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage manufacturing activities and related functions for assigned areas and shifts to meet customer requirements.
Ensure manufacturing operations are effective in safety, quality, efficiency, productivity, cost, and team member morale.
Direct and motivate group leaders, focusing on safety, quality, efficiency, cost, and morale.
Conduct daily manufacturing production-area audits covering safety, quality, equipment, training, procedures, and operational effectiveness; correct substandard conditions.
Develop group leaders in the consistent application of the TB Way and Toyota Boshoku Business Practices (TBBP).
Implement short- and long-term corrective actions for manufacturing problems.
Ensure departmental procedures comply with quality and environmental management systems and programs.
Monitor daily build sheets and analyze efficiency rates and downtime to ensure customer requirements are met.
Learn, implement, and teach TPS techniques to manufacturing team members.
Coordinate and maintain standardized processes and methods and one-piece flow in the Just in Time production system.
Lead identification of manufacturing problems and elimination of waste.
Develop, lead, monitor, and participate in manufacturing continuous-improvement activities.
Use Kaizen to develop processes that reduce operating costs and increase efficiency.
Implement, monitor, and maintain a clean and organized department through 5S activities.
Support development and management of the annual plan, budget, KPIs, operating efficiency, and cost control.
Ensure manufacturing hoshin goals are met and remain on track.
Assist the Production Manager with developing, planning, and maintaining the budget, including adjustments to achieve targets.
Assist with monthly headcount review and planning for labor-cost control and production efficiency (PEFF).
Review and track manufacturing KPIs and lead problem solving for negative trends or unmet goals.
Assist with generating and reporting weekly and monthly reports against targets.
Participate in management discussions and planning sessions concerning cost reduction, product improvement, and problem solving; support daily and weekly operational-performance presentations.
Develop and maintain positive team member relations centered on trust, dignity, respect, fairness, consistency, two-way communication, teamwork, and harmony.
Motivate team members and emphasize quality, efficiency, productivity, cost reduction, safety and health, and morale.
Develop group leaders, team leaders, and team members through performance evaluations, training plans, feedback, coaching, corrective action, and cascade training.
Update team member training matrices and schedule needed training.
Maintain on-call flexibility to control abnormal conditions and adapt skills and equipment to unforeseen demands or problems.
Travel up to 10% of the time.