Director of Manufacturing

Summary

Directs, coordinates, and exercises functional authority for planning, organization, control, integration, and completion of manufacturing projects focused on automotive body-in-white (BIW) welding/joining and assembly tooling systems within area of assigned responsibility by performing the following duties personally or through Plant Management and other resources. Makes recommendations to the Vice President of Operations in the formulation of overall corporate objectives, policies, and plans.

Drives operational excellence through quality initiatives to optimize production efficiency and support EV/automation integration trends in the automotive sector.

• Directs the development of departmental budgets and plans required to ensure effective operation of Manufacturing Departments and associated plants, incorporating data analytics for forecasting and cost optimization.
• Studies production schedules and estimates/forecast work hours and subcontractor requirements for completion of job assignment. Prioritizes BIW tooling projects to align with customer timelines for welding and assembly systems.
• Oversees day-to-day operations as the Director of Manufacturing, addressing internal issues, customer concerns, and supply chain disruptions relative to Manufacturing tooling & production operations in an automotive automation integration environment.
• Supervises the overall planning of manufacturing to meet customer requirements and to insure maximum utilization of personnel and facilities. Drives adherence to quality policies and procedures. Leads cross-functional teams in implementing process improvements using Lean tools to reduce waste and enhance BIW assembly throughput.
• Sees that operating departmental activities are carried out at minimum cost and following established policies and procedures.
• Sees that all products are manufactured to designs meeting customer specifications and quality requirements. Ensures compliance with customer build standards for automotive quality management, in addition to ISO guidelines.
• Provides direction and supervision of Manufacturing Department’s activities.
• Suggests changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency of shop, department, or work crew, and maintain a safe working environment for all employees in Plant Operations. Incorporates Industry 4.0 technologies (e.g., IoT for real-time monitoring) to drive efficiency and sustainability in BIW production.
• Sees that products are shipped in accordance with schedules prepared by the Project Managers. Manages post-production logistics to ensure on-time delivery of tooling systems, collaborating with supply chain teams.
• Provides proper departmental staffing within guidelines established by VP of Operations & associated project plans, staff’s plants according to meet project budget requirements and deliveries.
• Sees that supplier development and management meets timing and operational needs. Provides feedback to project management & purchasing for improvements or future sourcing considerations. Fosters supplier partnerships for BIW components, emphasizing just-in-time delivery and cost reduction.
• Directly or through direct reports:
  • Conducts weekly tool build/integration production meeting.
  • Coordinates and Directs UTEC’s:
    • Material Tracking and Flow Process
    • Manufacturing Quality Gates Process
    • Continuous Improvement Request Process
  • Ensures that the Company is following ISO guidelines and maintains certification.
  • Understands and follows safety & environmental regulations and identifies safety/environmental concerns. Promotes zero-incident culture through OSHA compliance and safety initiatives.
  • Adheres to the Quality System and participates in continuous improvement.

Directs three to six subordinate managers and supervisors who supervise a total of 20 employees in the Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, and Maintenance departments. Additional labor is provided through subcontract companies. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of this unit. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s…