Plant Manager - Polymers

THE OPPORTUNITY - PLANT MANAGER MORRISVILLE, PA

The Plant Manager role is responsible for directing and managing all plant operations with overall responsibilities for production, maintenance, quality and other production-related activities. Ensures safe operations and adherence to regulatory requirements. Analyzes production metrics and makes recommendations for improvements and solutions to issues that are identified. Oversees staffing and development of all production supervisors and staff. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Through process management, data analysis, goal setting and clear communication, lead and motivate employees to operate safe and efficiently to insure that production is timely, well within quality and cost control objectives.

THE COMPANY

Founded in 1941, the Company is an innovative manufacturer of specialty polymers, including color and additive masterbatches and performance compounds (the “AMC” division) and engineered compounds (the “AEC” division). Our business is built around delivering performance, solutions, and trust through close collaboration with customers seeking to optimize their polymer products. All of our products are backed by complete technical support that ensures quality, reliability, and value. Americhem operates 10 manufacturing plants, employs 1100+ people worldwide and maintains sales offices throughout the world. The Company has acquired and successfully integrated five businesses (three domestic, two international) since 2010, broadening its capabilities and global reach. Central research and development facilities and headquarters are located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Americhem has enjoyed financial success through 80 years of continuous growth and profitability and is poised for continued rapid growth and top-tier profitability through a solid foundation of people, products, and a strong financial stability.

Americhem’s core strength is collaborating with our customers as the global, trusted advisor to shape the future through innovative and sustainable polymer solutions. Our premium brands help solve the most unique challenges, including material wear, color degradation, heat/cold resistance, and antimicrobial properties. The enhanced range of industries we serve gives us the potential to realize new opportunities through cross-market innovation.

Position Requirement/Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Manufacturing, Engineering, or related field required

Advanced degree of relevance a plus

Experience: 10+ years of experience in manufacturing management, production operations, or laboratory management

Skills: Solid budget planning and scheduling skills

Excellent analytic skills required

Lean manufacturing

Good verbal and written communication skills

Strong leadership, team building, coaching, development, motivation and management skills

Ability to motivate people, assess and develop employee skills

Industry experience and understanding of:

• compounding of Masterbatch and Thermoplastics
• dispersion process technologies
• extrusion and or other plastic melt processes
• mixing/blending processes
• pigments used in plastics
• functional additives used in plastics
• material feeding/metering technologies

Essential Duties: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The duties listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

• Direct and manage plant operations for production, maintenance, quality, and shipping and receiving
• Ensure progressive safety behaviors are executed; accidents and near misses of any level of severity are thoroughly investigated and countermeasures implemented
• Accomplish market leading product availability by reducing target lead times and effectively building strategic inventory
• Focus on attaining throughput objectives which provide operational scale to support future business growth
• Champion and drive a continuous improvement culture throughout to maximize competitiveness and financial returns
• Assess, plan, recommend and implement approved capital improvement projects that deliver ROI and improve output
• Manage production operations to meet all quality standards for products produced
• Prepare standard costs and budgets for assigned operations
• Partner with Sales, Engineering, HR and Finance functions to enhance operational capabilities
• Develop technical skills and business savvy across core leadership team and foster a collaborative environment to prepare the next generation of leaders
• Develop high potential talent existing within the plant performance relative to key performance indicators
• Hold staff meetings with direct and second level reports to guarantee effective communication
• Coordinate plant activities with departmental managers to insure the total manufacturing objectives are accomplished in a timely and cost effective manner
• Develop and control profits, plans, and budget
• Implement cost effective systems of control over capital, operating expenditures, manpower, wages and salaries
• Establish and monitor overall plant performance for production and quality standards
• Control and minimize labor overtime, premium freight and repair expenses
• Maintain existing plant facilities and equipment; replace, or make adjustments to plant facilities and equipment when necessary
• Provide leadership and training to accomplish the company goals and objectives
• Implement and maintain preventative maintenance programs
• Incorporate shop floor organization and plant cleanliness among plant personnel
• Provides direction, development and leadership to production supervisor
• Champions and provides direction for Work Force Development (WFD) strategy, and is accountable to ensure training in all functional areas is carried out with fidelity to align with ISO/IATF certification standards, utilizing the established Work Force Develop Tools, as well as setting the necessary KPIs and objectives to achieve the needed training outcomes

Leadership Qualities/Attributes

• Exceptional organizational skills to include multi-tasking, planning, and time management
• Possesses a bias for action and operates with the appropriate sense of urgency
• Customer centric. Knows how to balance customer service with the realities of manufacturing
• Ability to adjust to ever-changing priorities
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, relationship-building, and conflict management skills
• Results driven
• Capacity to own projects from inception to completion
• Exceptional problem-solving skills
• Courage & Innovation – Bravely innovate without boundaries. Generate and embrace new ideas. Drive cutting-edge solutions. Foster creativity for exponential growth
• Agility & Performance – Simplify to accelerate business results. Anticipate, adapt to and lead changes. Focus on the right things and act. Perform in ways that exceed expectations.
• Inclusivity & Collaboration – Respect and leverage all aspects of diversity. Make decisions with an inclusive, global view. Collaborate to amplify customer value. Communicate to drive meaningful outcomes.
• Integrity & Accountability – Operate with highest ethical standards. Be who you are, build trusted relationships. Act with transparency and positive intent. Live up to commitments and own the results.

Additional Position Responsibilities

• Effectively communicates across all levels of the organization to meet weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual goals and deadlines;
• Effectively communicates company policies and procedures;
• Improves job knowledge by attending training and keeping relevant knowledge and skills current;
• Demonstrates organizational skills by working independently and with a team and by effectively delegating workload and responsibilities;
• Contributes to organization success by meeting team and company goals; and
• Follows all quality system and safety protocols by safely operating equipment, wearing proper protective equipment (PPE), completing safety training, keeping work areas clean and organized, and contributing to established safety goals.

Safety Compliance

• The safety of our employees takes precedence over all other initiatives and considerations. All employees are required to comply with established safety protocols as outlined in our policies, procedures, and corporate communications. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, Americhem expanded its safety policies and procedures to include travel restrictions, temperature testing, and rigorous sanitation practices, as well as social distancing and face covering protocols. This experience has taught us that safety practices are evolutionary in nature and will continue to change. All employees are responsible for complying with the most current safety practices as communicated by the Company.