Plant Manager - Corrugated Sheet Plant

Plant Manager•Corrugated Sheet Plant Confidential Los Angeles, CA Job Details Full-time $150,000•$175,000 a year 1 day ago Benefits Health savings account Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Flexible spending account Paid time off Employee assistance program Vision insurance 401(k) matching Life insurance Retirement plan Qualifications Defect resolution root cause analysis Packing MRP Manufacturing facility Key Performance Indicators Leading team collaboration initiatives Management reporting Productivity software Materials handling Factory experience Cross-functional team management Process management Managing paper production or printing teams Cross-functional communication Failure analysis Full Job Description Plant Manager•

Corrugated Sheet Plant Reports To:

General Manager Department:

Operations / Manufacturing Position Summary The Plant Manager is responsible for leading all day-to-day manufacturing operations within a high-volume corrugated sheet plant. This role oversees converting operations, production execution, labor utilization, quality performance, safety compliance, equipment coordination, inventory flow, shipping readiness, employee training and development, staffing, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Plant Manager will partner closely with Operations, Scheduling, Customer Service, Sales, Maintenance, Quality, Shipping, and Supply Chain teams to ensure customer orders are produced safely, efficiently, accurately, and on time. This position requires a hands-on manufacturing leader with strong corrugated converting experience, operational discipline, and the ability to drive accountability and performance across the production floor. Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership Lead daily manufacturing operations across converting, die cutting, flexo folder gluing, specialty converting, packing, staging, material handling, and shipping support functions. Execute the production schedule to achieve customer due dates, throughput targets, quality standards, and cost objectives. Maintain a strong presence on the production floor to ensure alignment, urgency, communication, and execution. Coordinate labor, equipment, materials, and machine capacity to support operational priorities. Establish a culture focused on safety, accountability, teamwork, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. Drive plant performance through daily management systems, KPI tracking, production meetings, and floor-level follow-through. Converting Operations Provide leadership across corrugated converting equipment and processes including: Flexo Folder Gluers (FFG) Rotary Die Cutters (RDC) Flatbed Die Cutters Specialty converting operations Hand assembly and fulfillment Bundling, gluing, taping, palletizing, and packing Ensure all jobs meet customer specifications, print standards, tooling requirements, board grades, dimensions, and packaging instructions. Partner with Scheduling and Customer Service to balance machine efficiency with customer delivery expectations. Improve machine uptime, throughput, setup reduction, waste performance, and overall operational flow. Support process improvements related to print quality, die cut quality, folding, gluing, stacking, and material handling. Sheet Supply & Material Flow Coordinate with Scheduling, Purchasing, Customer Service, and suppliers to ensure sheet availability supports production demands. Monitor incoming sheet quality, inventory accuracy, WIP levels, and job staging readiness. Resolve issues involving shortages, damaged sheets, incorrect board grades, size discrepancies, late deliveries, or supplier quality concerns. Improve organization and flow of raw materials, WIP lanes, finished goods staging, and shipping areas. Reduce double handling, unnecessary movement, congestion, and production inefficiencies. Safety & Compliance Promote and enforce a safety-first culture throughout the facility. Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, lockout/tagout procedures, machine guarding standards, forklift safety, PPE requirements, and safe work practices. Lead safety meetings, audits, incident investigations, corrective actions, and follow-up activities. Hold supervisors and employees accountable for safe behaviors, housekeeping standards, and operational discipline. Partner with EHS and leadership teams to reduce risk and improve overall safety performance. Enforce all regulatory agencies guidelines, policies, and procedures. Follow all regulatory laws and regulations. Quality Management Ensure products are manufactured to customer specifications and internal quality standards. Partner with Quality and Customer Service teams to resolve defects, customer complaints, rework, remakes, and returns. Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions related to: Print defects Die cut issues Glue failures Board defects Mixed loads Count discrepancies Shipping errors Reinforce first-article inspections, process controls, specification verification, and operator ownership of quality. Ensure tooling, plates, inks, specifications, and work instructions are accurate and available before production. Enforce Good Manufacturing Practices. Labor Management & Team Development Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, leads, operators, material handlers, packers, and support personnel. Set clear expectations for productivity, attendance, safety, quality, housekeeping, and teamwork. Support hiring, onboarding, training, cross-training, and succession planning initiatives. Build bench strength through employee development and leadership coaching. Address performance issues promptly and professionally in partnership with Human Resources and senior leadership. Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, communication, and continuous learning. Maintenance & Equipment Reliability Partner with Maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime. Support preventive maintenance planning while balancing production priorities. Ensure operators properly report and document equipment issues. Participate in downtime analysis and corrective action planning related to mechanical, electrical, tooling, print, feed, folding, gluing, and stacking systems. Support initiatives that improve machine performance, uptime, and operational efficiency. Continuous Improvement Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on: Safety performance Waste reduction Labor efficiency Throughput improvement Setup reduction Material flow optimization Inventory accuracy Operational consistency Utilize KPIs, visual management, root cause analysis, standard work, and process audits to drive performance. Support Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and operational excellence initiatives. Identify opportunities to simplify workflows, improve layout efficiency, and increase plant capacity. Planning, Scheduling & Customer Support Collaborate with Scheduling, Sales, Customer Service, and Shipping teams to support customer commitments and on-time delivery. Help prioritize production schedules based on capacity, lead times, customer urgency, and operational constraints. Resolve issues related to late materials, equipment downtime, quality holds, or schedule conflicts. Ensure production teams understand customer priorities, hot jobs, and shipment requirements. Improve communication and alignment between manufacturing and front-end business functions. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) The Plant Manager will be expected to drive measurable improvements in: Safety performance and incident reduction Schedule adherence On-time delivery Machine uptime and throughput Labor efficiency Setup reduction Waste and scrap reduction Inventory accuracy WIP management Quality performance and customer complaints Rework and remake reduction Shipping accuracy Housekeeping and 5S standards Employee engagement, retention, and attendance Required Qualifications 5+ years of manufacturing operations leadership experience 3+ years of leadership experience within corrugated packaging, converting, printing, or related manufacturing environments Strong understanding of corrugated sheet plant operations, converting workflows, labor planning, quality systems, and manufacturing KPIs Proven ability to lead supervisors, machine operators, and cross-functional manufacturing teams Strong problem-solving, organizational, and root cause analysis skills Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment Strong communication and leadership skills across operations and support departments Experience with ERP/MRP systems, production reporting tools, and Microsoft Office Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, customer service, and operational excellence Preferred Qualifications Corrugated sheet plant experience strongly preferred Experience with: Flexo Folder Gluers Rotary Die Cutters Flatbed Die Cutters Specialty converting equipment Experience managing: Purchased sheets Board grades Tooling, dies, inks, and printing plates Customer specifications and packaging requirements Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or 5S experience Multi-shift manufacturing leadership experience Experience implementing KPI-driven management systems and visual factory concepts Leadership Expectations The Plant Manager must be a visible, hands-on leader who actively drives execution on the production floor. Success in this role requires strong operational leadership, accountability, communication, and the ability to build alignment across departments.

The successful candidate will:

Lead with urgency, professionalism, and accountability Make data-driven operational decisions Build trust and credibility with employees and leadership Communicate clearly and consistently Address issues directly and constructively Follow through on commitments and corrective actions Balance customer expectations with operational efficiency Develop employees and future leaders Maintain high standards for safety, quality, housekeeping, and performance Work Environment This position operates primarily within a corrugated sheet plant manufacturing environment. This role requires frequent walking, standing, and active engagement on the production floor. The Plant Manager must be comfortable working around industrial converting equipment, forklifts, material handling systems, noise, dust, heat, and fast-paced manufacturing activity. Flexibility is required to support multiple shifts, weekend operations, urgent production issues, equipment downtime, customer escalations, and special projects as needed.

Pay:

$150,000.00•$175,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person