Operations Manager

Howmet Aerospace • Whitehall, MI

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Howmet Engine Products, a division of Howmet Aerospace, is seeking an experienced leader for a manufacturing leadership role at its Whitehall Casting Plant 1/3 in Whitehall, Michigan. The posting refers to the role as Manufacturing Manager. The manager provides day-to-day leadership and direction to manufacturing shop-floor teams, promotes manufacturing excellence, and supports customer satisfaction. The role focuses on improving plant performance in quality, productivity, cycle time, delivery, and cash flow.

The manager leads safety, production, continuous-improvement, lean manufacturing, and plant performance initiatives. The role includes developing employees and team leaders, overseeing applicable department budgets, supporting planning and execution, improving product flow, and working with plant leadership, engineering, customers, and other company teams. This posting is intended to establish a pipeline of qualified talent for anticipated future business needs; applicants may be considered for current or future opportunities as needs evolve.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED and at least 7 years of manufacturing experience, including 5 years in leadership; alternatively, 3 years in leadership with at least 1 year of Howmet leadership experience as a leader of other leaders in operations in a castings plant.
• Willingness to relocate to other company locations to support future career development opportunities and business requirements.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility will be verified at hire, and visa sponsorship is unavailable.
• Must be able to lawfully obtain access to export-controlled items.
• Leadership capabilities including empowering talent, flexibility, organization and time management, business-minded decision-making, interpretation and synthesis of information, rigor, team orientation, relationship-building, ingenuity, and professional conduct.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree.
• Experience in the investment casting industry.
• Strong leadership skills that foster an engaged employee environment.
• Ability to drive improvement using lean manufacturing principles, total quality practices, and Six Sigma.
• Strong technical understanding of manufacturing processes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, interpersonal, organizational, and negotiation skills.
• Strong financial literacy.
• Experience with tooling, molds, and dies in investment casting, injection molding, or stamping industries.

Responsibilities

• Follow safety regulations and department-specific safety requirements, promote a clean and safe work environment, address safety issues or non-compliances immediately, and promote Injury Free Event reporting.
• Monitor and improve manufacturing performance, including OEE, production value added by department, shipment targets, profit and revenue, and delivery performance.
• Improve manufacturing planning, execution, and shop-floor discipline.
• Lead Plant ABS, lean manufacturing, safety, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Identify and remove non-value-added waste; improve product flow and methods to reduce labor content.
• Develop and train team leaders, cell facilitators, supervisors, and manufacturing support personnel.
• Manage applicable department budgets.
• Maintain good communication and relations with Howmet customers.
• Develop budgets, strategic plans, team goals, and objectives with the plant manager and staff, aligned with business-unit objectives, and communicate them throughout the organization.
• Contribute to other location-specific and corporate teams.
• Conduct capacity analysis to drive standard work and ensure standards are accurate.
• Drive cost reductions to improve profitability.
• Use lean manufacturing tools to reduce work in process and cycle time.
• Communicate relevant information to staff, customers, and management.
• Apply constraint-management and OEE techniques to exploit constraints and improve OEE.
• Consult with engineering personnel about process modifications to improve production and product quality.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage, including FSA and HSA account options.
• Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) retirement savings plans with employer matching funds and a separate employer retirement contribution.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Paid parental leave and adoption assistance programs.
• Life insurance and disability coverage plans.
• Optional auto, home, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance coverage plans.
• Tuition Assistance Program and ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED