Plant Manager

Chicago Tube And Iron Company•Romeoville, IL

6d•$90,000 - $110,000

About The Position

Chicago Tube & Iron (CTI) is seeking an experienced Fabrication Plant Manager to lead fabrication operations and drive operational excellence in safety, quality, productivity, and customer delivery. The role oversees metal fabrication processes and production performance, while developing a strong, accountable workforce and advancing continuous improvement. The Plant Manager leads daily operations, production planning, equipment utilization, safety and quality systems, process improvement, and workforce development. This leader monitors operational results, sets expectations, addresses challenges, and communicates progress to senior leadership. The position works closely with Engineering, Quality, Sales, Maintenance, Human Resources, and other departments to support customer needs and business growth.

Requirements

Proven leadership experience in a metal fabrication, manufacturing, or engineered products environment.
Strong working knowledge of welding, laser cutting, bending/forming, machining, and related fabrication processes.
Experience managing production schedules, labor efficiency, operational costs, and equipment performance.
Demonstrated success implementing Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and process optimization initiatives.
Familiarity with ISO quality systems, manufacturing safety requirements, and root cause corrective action processes.
Experience leading supervisors and production employees, including coaching, performance management, and workforce development.
Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across departments and leadership levels.
Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a union manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily fabrication operations, including welding, laser cutting, bending, forming, machining, and secondary manufacturing processes.
Direct production schedules, staffing, workflow, and equipment utilization to meet customer commitments.
Identify and eliminate production bottlenecks to improve throughput, efficiency, and on-time delivery.
Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Sales, and other departments to support new products, customer requirements, and business growth.
Build and maintain a safety-first culture across all shifts and ensure compliance with company safety standards, manufacturing procedures, and applicable regulations.
Maintain product quality standards, including customer specifications, inspection requirements, and ISO quality systems.
Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions to reduce defects, scrap, and rework.
Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, labor efficiency, machine performance, and profitability.
Apply Lean manufacturing principles, 5S, and structured problem-solving techniques to improve operational performance.
Partner with Maintenance to minimize equipment downtime and improve preventive maintenance practices.
Evaluate new equipment, automation, and process improvements to support future capacity and growth.
Lead, coach, and develop Production Supervisors, Team Leads, and fabrication employees.
Foster accountability, communication, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Partner with Human Resources on recruiting, training, performance management, employee relations, and workforce planning.
Promote employee development, cross-training, and succession planning.
Monitor production performance, labor productivity, overtime, operating expenses, equipment utilization, and inventory accuracy.
Establish performance expectations and goals and hold teams accountable for results.
Track and report operational metrics, including safety, quality, on-time delivery, labor efficiency, and production costs.
Develop solutions to operational challenges and communicate progress to senior leadership.