Align Production Systems

Plant Manager

Seeking a people-and process-centric Plant Manager to drive excellence within our rapidly growing, privately held, engineered-to-order and custom manufacturing operation!

 

About Align Product Systems

For 50+ years, Align Production Systems (“Align”) has partnered with Fortune 100 customers across the automotive, aerospace, heavy construction, and electrical industries to design and produce custom solutions that move heavy loads throughout a diverse base of manufacturing and plant facilities. Serving as a design and production partner from cradle to grave, Align’s team closely supports clients engaged within its custom manufacturing processes from concepting to engineering to project management, manufacturing and post-sale support.

With design innovation, manufacturing quality and concierge customer service being core to its team’s DNA, Align has grown and evolved into more advanced movement systems, featuring omnidirectional wheel-based transport solutions and sophisticated controls technology. Align’s joint venture with Hedin, a family-owned Swedish OEM pf battery powered tuggers, transporters and automated guide vehicles adds a global perspective and expands its base of turntables, lifts and tilts (Align) and its aircaster equipment technology (Airfloat). Learn more about us and our brands at www.alignproductionsystems.com.

Serving as a key member of the leadership team and reporting to Align’s President, the Plant Manager will lead a talented team across two facilities, including a 65,000 square foot production operation in Decatur, Illinois. The Plant Manager will play a critical role in developing in-house manufacturing capabilities, building a people-centric culture, ensuring quality and control and leading Align’s commitment to innovation, lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.

 

Your role as Plant Manager

• SERVE AS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL SENIOR LEADER – Align is seeking a leader with a people-centric mindset, an owner’s mentality, and a broad base of manufacturing and operational experiences help take its current capabilities to the next level. You will serve as a cross-functional partner to sales, engineering, and finance to drive change and enable profitable and sustainable growth. You will lead by example with the highest ethical standards, integrity, compassion, and enthusiasm.
• EMPOWER A HIGH-PERFORMING PRODUCTION TEAM – Provide oversight to production leaders and approximately 20+ indirect team members at Align’s Decatur facility. Lead, mentor and motivate team members, providing oversight for all aspects of manufacturing operations. Ensure training and development plans are actively utilized to ensure employee career growth and a high level of employee engagement. Foster a culture that promotes teamwork, communication, accountability, and talent development to drive a workforce for the future.
• LEAD LEAN & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES –With an eye to the future, observe and assess all aspects of the manufacturing process including production planning, scheduling, inventory management and work processes. Identify opportunities for process improvements, automation, and efficiency enhancements, adhering to lean principles. Implement methodologies to drive continuous improvement initiatives, eliminate waste and optimize use of time, materials, and talent.
• OVERSEE SAFETY, QUALITY, FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE – Drive best practices and policies to foster a culture of safety awareness and comply with all relevant regulations, industry standards and safety guidelines. Ensure quality control measures are met or exceeded to uphold product excellence and customer satisfaction. Oversee all campus facility needs and maintenance of machinery and equipment through use of a preventative maintenance initiatives.

 

Is this a match for you?

• You have gained 8-10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing leadership roles, including a minimum of 5+ years team management experience. Ideal candidates bring capital equipment and/or heavy industrial know-how.
• You bring strong people leadership skills with a healthy dose of emotional intelligence. Ability to inspire and motivate, manage conflict, and foster a healthy organizational culture rooted in collaboration and high expectations is a must-have.
• Your experience includes knowledge and demonstrated success in a highly configured, high custom, low-volume/high-mix, and/or job shop manufacturing environment. Familiarity with mechanical and electrical controls engineering, steel and heavy metal fabrication, and assembly of hydraulic and pneumatic components a plus!
• You bring familiarity with lean manufacturing strategies with demonstrated participation in continuous improvement initiatives.
• You are well-versed in proactively communicating in a transparent manner with internal and external stakeholders. You confidently interact at all levels and react with diplomacy and tact. You bring experience communicating a vision and a road map with patience and clarity to a wide range of stakeholders.
• You are willing to serve as a hands-on leader with the ability and desire to flex between strategic and tactical priorities required. Superior project management skills and a proactive mindset is required. 
• You are savvy with technology, including Microsoft Office Suite, and various ERP systems. Four-year college degree is required. MBA or advanced degree a plus.

 

Why join us?

• MAKE A VISIBLE IMPACT – We are seeking a leader who will develop and execute a transformation roadmap that supports Align’s strategic goals and objectives. Partner closely with cross-functional leadership to drive process optimization and adoption of best practices. Spearhead change management strategies to communicate effectively across the company and ensure successful implementation of transformation initiatives.
• WE ARE COMMITTED TO FURTHERING OUR LEAN JOURNEY – Align is dedicated to an intentional lean journey. This role will be critical in challenging the status quo and further establishing and enhancing our capabilities and creation of processes. Our lean journey will promote department collaboration and encourage everyone to work together to solve challenges, resulting in an engaged and innovative team.
• COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION PACKAGE – Align offers a competitive base salary, bonus and comprehensive benefits plan, including medical, dental, vision, and life; PTO and holidays; a matching 401k plan and an employee tuition plan.

 

Work location & travel 

Align is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with a plant facility located in Decatur, Illinois. This role will require an onsite presence at the plant facility located in Decatur, Illinois. Travel to the St. Louis office once a quarter is required. Relocation assistance available and relo will be required upon hire.

 

Ready to apply?

Take the next step and share your resume with Occhio Search. For questions and or to make a referral, contact angie@occhiosearch.com. All resumes, referrals and general inquiries will be held strictly confidential. Align asks that all questions, referrals, and applications be directed to its retained search consultant at Occhio Search. No direct inquiries with Align, please.

Align is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome differences in form of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, geography, socioeconomic status, age, politics, religion, philosophy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and veteran status. All applicants who share this goal are encouraged to apply and we look forward to hearing from you!