Manufacturing Manager

Howmet Aerospace Engines division seeks an experienced and dynamic leader to join our team in Dover, New Jersey! Howmet Dover Casting is a world-class supplier of complex, investment-cast turbine airfoils and other components for the aircraft engine and industrial gas turbine industries.

The Manufacturing Manager is critical to driving manufacturing excellence, continuous improvement, and delivering operational results. This role is responsible for ensuring the achievement of key performance indicators such as quality, productivity, cycle time, delivery, and cash flow, while also maintaining customer satisfaction. In addition, this position is accountable for leading and coaching hourly employees and manufacturing support staff, focusing on fostering a culture of operational excellence and lean practices to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.

Job Roles:

Leadership in Operational Excellence

• Lead and drive continuous improvement initiatives in the plant through lean manufacturing principles such as Kaizen, 5S, and value stream mapping to eliminate waste and optimize processes.
• Use lean tools to reduce work-in-progress (WIP), cycle time, and operational bottlenecks, contributing to the improvement of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Implement and champion initiatives to improve product flow and eliminate constraints, ensuring effective resource utilization and smoother operations.
• Lead the development and implementation of standard operating procedures aimed at achieving operational excellence and process optimization.
• Ensure the team’s focus on cost reduction and quality improvement, while maintaining high standards of customer satisfaction.

Accountability Across the Organization

• Foster a culture of accountability at all levels of the organization, ensuring that every employee takes responsibility for their actions, outputs, and contributions to the team’s success.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold team members, including direct reports, accountable for meeting organizational goals and objectives.
• Implement transparent and objective tracking systems to monitor progress on key metrics and goals, ensuring that individuals and teams are aligned with plant and company objectives.
• Ensure a proactive approach to identifying and addressing performance gaps, and lead efforts to implement corrective actions in a timely manner.
• Champion an environment where employees take ownership of their work, making data-driven decisions to optimize productivity and process outcomes.

Team Leadership and Talent Empowerment

• Identify and remove obstacles to productivity at both individual and systemic levels, ensuring all employees are equipped with the necessary tools and training to perform.
• Develop and mentor talent through cross-training initiatives, ensuring a flexible and high-performing team aligned with business goals.
• Foster a collaborative culture with an emphasis on open communication and a continuous learning mindset.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and feedback sessions to assess individual and team progress, and identify areas for improvement and development.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain a strong line of communication across all levels of the organization, ensuring transparency and alignment between management, production teams, and support staff.
• Develop and execute clear and concise action plans based on data analysis, customer feedback, and operational insights.
• Act as a liaison between different departments (e.g., engineering, procurement, maintenance) to ensure smooth coordination of production activities and resource management.
• Communicate operational metrics and results regularly to upper management, ensuring data-driven decision-making and alignment with business objectives.

Continuous Improvement and Performance Metrics

• Ensure key performance indicators such as TRR (Total Recordable Rate), LU (Labor Utilization), OEE, and variable cost per hour are forecasted, monitored, and continuously improved.
• Drive data-driven decision-making by analyzing production data, interpreting trends, and providing actionable insights to improve efficiency and minimize downtime.
• Actively participate in audits, using the feedback to refine processes and maintain continuous improvement efforts.

Operational and Strategic Planning

• Collaborate with the plant manager and staff to develop budgets, strategic plans, and team goals that align with organizational objectives.
• Ensure that labor and equipment needs are accurately forecasted based on long-term production forecasts, helping to optimize resource allocation and plant performance.
• Make timely decisions based on business needs and production priorities, balancing short-term adjustments with long-term strategic goals.

Safety and Quality Assurance

• Lead safety initiatives and compliance with safety regulations, ensuring a culture of safety within the manufacturing environment.
• Develop and enforce processes designed to reduce waste and improve product quality while maintaining or improving production timelines.
• Continuously improve the safety standards and work practices in the plant by engaging the team in proactive problem-solving.

Job Specifications:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and data analysis tools.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization, fostering open and transparent dialogues that support collaborative problem-solving and decision-making.
• Must be able to lead and inspire a team in a fast-paced, results-driven environment, ensuring that all employees are aligned with the plant’s operational goals and quality standards.
• Flexible work hours may be required, including occasional nights and weekends.

Anticipated Pay Range: $120k-$150k per year. *Pay rates within this range are determined based on various factors including experience, education, certifications, etc.

This posting is intended to establish a pipeline of qualified talent for anticipated future business needs. Applicants may be considered for current or future opportunities as business needs evolve.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in a manufacturing environment with increasing responsibility, including supervisory experience.
• Must be willing to relocate to other company locations to support future career development opportunities and business requirements.
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant’s ability to lawfully obtain access to such items

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives, including participation in Kaizen projects highly desired.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred.
• Experience in Material Resource Planning (MRP) and Six Sigma methodologies.
• A minimum of eight (8) years’ experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.