Plant Manager

Re:Build Manufacturing • Kalamazoo, MI

13d • Onsite

About The Position

Re:Build Harness Solutions is seeking an experienced manufacturing leader to lead wire harness operations at its Kalamazoo, Michigan facility. The Plant Manager is accountable for daily manufacturing operations and for building safe, reliable systems that deliver on quality, cost, delivery, and customer commitments. This hands-on, metrics-driven role uses measures such as OEE, first-pass yield, cycle time, labor efficiency, safety, and on-time delivery to guide operational decisions and improvement.

The role will help develop a digitally integrated wire harness operation, including its processes, technology, and workforce capabilities. The Plant Manager leads production and continuous improvement, partners with Engineering, develops teams, owns plant safety and quality compliance, and manages financial drivers, capital investments, and capacity planning. The position also supports customer requirements, quoting, business reviews, and strategic growth initiatives.

Requirements

• 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience, including 5+ years in plant or production management leading teams of 20 or more.
• Direct experience in wire harness, cable assembly, or electro-mechanical manufacturing.
• Experience scaling low-volume, high-mix operations and improving quality, cost, and delivery.
• Strong knowledge of wire cutting, stripping, crimping, soldering, assembly, testing, and wire harness workmanship standards.
• Hands-on experience with wire processing equipment such as Komax, Schleuniger, or equivalent systems.
• Knowledge of IPC/WHMA-A-620 and familiarity with ITAR-controlled manufacturing environments.
• Strong Lean manufacturing and structured problem-solving experience, including 5S, standard work, visual management, A3, or 8D.
• Experience with ERP/MES systems, production metrics, capacity planning, scheduling, and manufacturing flow.
• Demonstrated ability to build teams, coach employees, and lead through growth or operational transformation.
• Ability to work onsite in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and travel up to 10%.

Nice To Haves

• IPC/WHMA-A-620 Certified IPC Specialist or Trainer.
• AS9100 or ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• OSHA certification.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily manufacturing operations, with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and customer priorities.
• Drive production performance using KPIs including OEE, first-pass yield, on-time delivery, cycle time, and labor efficiency.
• Optimize wire harness processes, including cutting, stripping, crimping, soldering, assembly, testing, and inspection.
• Implement wire processing equipment, automated systems, smartBuild formboards, tooling, and digital manufacturing technologies.
• Lead Lean continuous improvement efforts to reduce waste, improve quality, and increase production efficiency.
• Partner with Engineering on manufacturability, capacity, production requirements, and process improvements.
• Build and develop a high-performing team of supervisors, engineers, technicians, and production operators.
• Own plant safety, quality, and compliance, including applicable IPC/WHMA-A-620, AS9100, ISO 13485, and ITAR requirements.
• Lead root cause analysis, corrective actions, quality audits, inspection, and testing activities.
• Manage key plant financial drivers, capital equipment investments, manufacturing costs, and capacity planning.
• Support customer requirements, quoting, business reviews, and strategic growth initiatives.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Retirement benefits.
• Paid time off.
• Other benefits as part of a comprehensive benefits package.
• Potential eligibility for annual incentive compensation and/or long-term incentives, subject to Company plans.
• Employee ownership and participation in the financial rewards of company success.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed