Director of Operations Engineering- Hybrid

If you are looking to be part of a company focused on making our roads and communities safer, join our team of talented individuals.

Benefits

• Bonus Plan
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation and Personal Time
• Four Weeks of Paid Parental Leave with no waiting period
• 401K Plan with Employer Match (fully vested on day one)
• Company-Funded Short-Term Disability
• Health, Vision, and Dental insurance
• Quarterly Company Events and Lunches
• Opportunity to join the Fun or Safety Committee and have a say in TAPCO happenings

Responsibilities

• Industrial Engineering Leadership
  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of Industrial Engineers and Manufacturing Engineers.
  • Establish departmental goals, priorities, and project portfolios aligned with business objectives.
  • Create a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Manage engineering resources and project prioritization to maximize operational impact.
• Productivity and Throughput Improvement
  • Identify and eliminate manufacturing bottlenecks that constrain throughput and revenue growth.
  • Lead initiatives to improve labor productivity, equipment utilization, and workflow efficiency.
  • Develop and maintain labor standards, routing structures, and production time estimates.
  • Analyze production performance and implement corrective actions to improve efficiency.
  • Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives including waste elimination, flow improvement, visual management, and standard work.
• Capacity Planning and Operational Strategy
  • Develop manufacturing capacity models and labor forecasting tools.
  • Partner with Operations and Planning to understand future demand requirements and capacity constraints.
  • Evaluate make-versus-buy opportunities, staffing requirements, and capital investment needs.
  • Support strategic growth planning through facility, equipment, and labor capacity assessments.
• Process Improvement and Manufacturing Optimization
  • Lead value stream mapping and process analysis efforts.
  • Improve material flow throughout manufacturing and warehouse operations.
  • Optimize facility layouts, work cell design, point-of-use inventory, and workplace organization.
  • Develop scalable production processes capable of supporting increasing product complexity and demand.
• Data Analytics and Performance Management
  • Develop operational dashboards and performance reporting systems.
  • Analyze ERP, manufacturing, labor, and warehouse data to identify trends and opportunities.
  • Establish operational KPIs and ensure performance visibility throughout the organization.
  • Provide recommendations to senior leadership based on quantitative analysis.
• Automation and Technology Implementation
  • Identify and evaluate automation opportunities appropriate for a high-mix, low-volume environment.
  • Develop business cases and ROI analyses for automation, equipment, and technology investments.
  • Lead implementation of manufacturing technologies and process improvements.
  • Support digital transformation initiatives involving ERP, MES, scheduling, and operational analytics systems.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Manufacturing, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Customer Service to resolve operational challenges.
  • Support new product introduction activities to ensure manufacturability and operational readiness.
  • Participate in S&OP, capacity planning, and strategic operations reviews.
  • Drive alignment between engineering improvements and operational objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, or related technical field
• Master's degree preferred
• 8+ years of industrial engineering, manufacturing engineering, or operations improvement experience
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing engineering or continuous improvement teams
• Experience in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment required
• Proven success leading productivity, throughput, and operational improvement initiatives
• Lean Process design such as Toyota Production System or Demand Flow Technology experience
• Experience supporting ERP-driven manufacturing environments

Skills

• Industrial engineering principles and methods
• Labor standards development and time studies
• Capacity planning and production modeling
• Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies
• Value Stream Mapping
• Facility and material flow design
• Data analytics and operational reporting
• ERP systems and manufacturing data analysis
• Advanced Excel, Power BI, SQL, or similar analytical tools preferred
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive organizational change
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Project management and prioritization capabilities
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution

About Us

At TAPCO, our mission is to enhance transportation and personal safety in our communities through innovative solutions and products. We are driven to save lives!