Plant Manager Job Purpose:

Now is a great time to join Nopak, a leader in fluid power located in the Greater Milwaukee Area. As our privately held business undertakes a significant growth initiative, we are looking for a hands-on manufacturing leader to run our shop floor as Plant Manager. This role reports to the Director of Finance & Operations and is a key member of the manufacturing leadership team. This is a floor job. The Plant Manager is expected to spend 90% or more of the day in the shop — at the machines, with the machinists, in front of the schedule board — not behind a desk. You will own the daily execution of Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost across machining, welding, assembly, test, and paint. The ideal candidate came up through a CNC machine shop and never lost the instinct for it. You can read a print, look at a setup and know it is costing you twenty minutes a cycle, question a tooling choice, and tell the difference between a capacity problem and a scheduling problem. You are equally comfortable coaching a first-year machinist and holding a twenty-year veteran to a standard. You will lead two direct reports: the Manufacturing Engineering Manager, who owns CNC programming, tooling, and fixture design; and the Shop Supervisor, who runs the 26-person direct labor workforce across machining, welding, assembly, and paint. Quality is led by the Engineering Manager, and scheduling and purchasing are led by the Planning Manager, so partnership across those functions is essential. Nopak is a high-mix, low-volume environment where no two weeks look alike, and the plant runs on the judgment of the person leading it. We pride ourselves on helping energetic, ambitious employees thrive in our entrepreneurial and fast-paced culture. If you are looking for the opportunity to make a lasting impact on a growing manufacturer, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities:

Floor Leadership & Daily Execution Own daily execution of Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost across all manufacturing operations — machining, welding, assembly, test, and paint. Spend the workday on the production floor driving production; this role is not desk-based. Lead structured SQDC huddles and daily KPI review cadences on the floor; escalate what needs escalating and resolve what does not. Own and manage manufacturing KPIs including labor productivity, on-time delivery, scrap and rework rates, and schedule attainment; take corrective action promptly when targets are missed. Directly oversee the Shop Supervisor and hold them accountable for daily manpower deployment, shift execution, and direct labor performance across 26 employees. Work daily with the Planning Manager and scheduling staff to sequence work, resolve conflicts, and protect promised delivery dates. Identify capacity constraints and bottlenecks before they become late orders, and bring options rather than problems. Sustain accountability to plant processes, standard work, and shop floor data accuracy in the ERP system. Flex schedule as needed to provide off-shift and weekend coverage during critical production periods. Maintain facility and grounds in a safe, organized, and productive condition. Manufacturing Engineering & CNC Operations Oversee the Manufacturing Engineering Manager and the CNC programming team; hold them accountable for program quality, tooling strategy, fixture design, and setup efficiency. Drive setup reduction initiatives across CNC milling and turning operations, targeting non-value-added time and machine utilization. Evaluate and improve machining practices, tooling applications, and fixturing solutions to increase throughput and reduce cost per part. Ensure CNC programming standards, G-code/M-code practices, and CAD/CAM workflows (Mastercam, SolidWorks, or equivalent) are documented and consistently applied. Own preventive maintenance execution and machine condition; escalate reliability issues before they cost a shipment. Stay current on emerging machining technology and identify opportunities to improve capability, reduce cycle time, and expand Nopak's manufacturing capacity. People Leadership & Development Build and sustain a culture of ownership on the shop floor — hire well, set clear standards, give direct feedback, and address performance issues promptly. Develop and execute the machinist training and cross-training program; build the bench Nopak needs to grow. Manage daily payroll data accuracy, discipline processes, performance reviews, and employee development plans for all direct and indirect reports. Develop and implement programs to recognize and reward high-performance employees. Represent the floor in leadership discussions on capacity, staffing, and manufacturability. Quality on the Floor Own execution of quality standards, inspection discipline, and work instruction compliance on the shop floor. Partner with the Engineering Manager and the Quality function on root cause analysis and corrective action for quality escapes, ensuring systemic fixes rather than reactive patches. Drive reduction in scrap, rework, and customer returns through operator training, setup verification, and in-process checks. Ensure the manufacturing team is fluent in the quality standards and inspection requirements that apply to their work. Safety & Compliance Champion a culture of safety across all shifts; administer the safety program in partnership with HR and the safety committee. Lead 5S audit corrective actions and maintain housekeeping standards across all manufacturing areas. Ensure all employees operate in compliance with OSHA standards and Nopak safety protocols. Conduct or oversee safety training, incident investigations, and corrective action plans. Cost & Continuous Improvement Partner with the Director of Finance & Operations on labor efficiency, job variances, material usage, and scrap; explain the drivers behind the numbers and own the corrective actions. Supply accurate routings, cycle times, and shop floor data to support standard costing and quoting. Lead continuous improvement activity on the floor — kaizen events, layout changes, and process standardization — and sustain the gains. An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum 2 years' experience leading manufacturing operations with direct accountability for production, quality, and safety outcomes. Minimum 3 years' experience supervising or managing others in a manufacturing environment. Extensive hands-on experience in a CNC machine shop environment with deep working knowledge of CNC milling and CNC turning operations. Strong working knowledge of CNC programming concepts (G-code/M-code), tooling strategy, fixture design, and setup reduction — sufficient to evaluate, coach, and hold the manufacturing engineering team accountable. Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and specifications. Demonstrated experience driving floor-level accountability for labor productivity, on-time delivery, and quality KPIs in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment. Proven track record of implementing setup reduction, tooling improvements, and machining efficiency gains. Demonstrated ability to develop, track, and present manufacturing KPIs. Working knowledge of ERP systems and shop floor data (Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central experience a plus). Willingness and preference to spend the workday on the production floor rather than in an office. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to give direct feedback and hold people accountable without losing them. Experience leading a direct labor workforce of 20+ employees.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Operations Management, or equivalent experience earned on the floor. Background as a machinist, CNC programmer, or manufacturing engineer with progression into operations leadership. Experience in fluid power, hydraulics, or pneumatics. Hands-on experience with CAD/CAM software such as Mastercam, SolidWorks, or equivalent. Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Kaizen methodologies. Familiarity with ISO or equivalent quality standards. Experience with welding, assembly, test, and paint operations. Experience with preventive maintenance programs and machine reliability. Experience building a machinist training, cross-training, or apprenticeship program.

Physical and Mental Demands:

This position is based on the manufacturing floor and is expected to be there 90% or more of the workday. The employee is required to stand and walk for the majority of the shift and is frequently required to talk and/or hear and to use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee must occasionally lift 10-50 pounds while moving product, tooling, or small packages. The employee will work in and around operating machinery in an environment that includes noise, coolant, metal chips, and variable temperature. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Safety glasses, hearing protection, and steel-toe shoes are required while in manufacturing areas. Periodic off-shift, weekend, or evening work is expected.

Pay:

$85,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Health savings account Paid time off Referral program Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person