Plant Manager

Wakefield Thermal•Town of Hixon, WI

4h•Onsite

About The Position

Wakefield Thermal, part of The Heico Companies, is a global leader in innovative thermal management solutions. With over four decades of experience, Wakefield Thermal designs, manufactures, and sells products that remove excess heat from electronic components. The company is committed to safety, quality, on-time delivery, and exceptional customer experience, striving for industry leadership through technological advancements and supply chain excellence. This role is crucial in directing and managing daily plant operations to achieve these goals.

Requirements

BA/BS business or operations management preferred, advanced degree highly desirable
15+ years progressive management/leadership experience in an extrusion environment
Strong understanding of extrusion processes, tooling, and materials
Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement tools
Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and production planning (Dynamics AX) a plus
Proficient use of MS Office, Exceptional Excel skills

Responsibilities

Champion a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with OSHA and environmental regulations.
Lead incident investigations and implement preventative measures.
Maintain compliance with all regulatory, company, and industry standards.
Champion HEICO EH&S initiatives and training programs.
Direct and manage daily plant operations, including extrusion, fabrication, secondary processes, maintenance, quality, and logistics.
Ensure production schedules are met while optimizing throughput, yield, and efficiency.
Monitor essential KPIs (OTD, scrap, equipment downtime, labor efficiency) and implement corrective actions.
Ensure products meet customer specifications and quality standards.
Collaborate with Quality team on root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions.
Drive continuous improvement in scrap reduction and process capability.
Develop and manage plant budget, including labor, materials, and overhead costs.
Identify cost-saving opportunities and improve operational efficiency.
Support capital planning, including equipment upgrades and expansion projects.
Be an active participant in the annual strategic planning process and drive the business towards those goals and objectives.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of leaders and individual contributors.
Foster a culture of safety, accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
Oversee hiring, training, performance management, and succession planning.
Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar initiatives.
Optimize extrusion processes (temperature control, die design, material flow, etc.).
Implement best practices to improve productivity and reduce waste.
Partner with Sales and plant leadership team to ensure customer satisfaction.
Participate in customer visits, audits, and technical discussions.
Ensure on-time delivery and responsiveness to customer needs.
Work with other business unit leaders within TSS on cross functional projects/initiatives.