General Manager

About Komponents

We are a leading Midwest manufacturer of custom case goods, furniture and components to customers in the hospitality, retail, senior living and medical fields. We combine high-tech production methods with Midwestern craftsmanship and innovation. At Komponents, the quality is in the details.

Core Values

• Learn – We continuously seek knowledge to drive innovation and improvement.
• Innovate – We develop creative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our industry.
• Integrity – We operate with honesty and transparency in all our endeavors.
• Collaborate – We work together, valuing diverse perspectives to achieve common goals.

Position Summary

The General Manager (GM) provides day-to-day leadership and operational oversight for a cabinetry company, ensuring safe, profitable, and high-quality delivery from sales/design through production. This role is accountable for team performance, customer experience, financial results, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is an outstanding leader with a proven ability to drive transformative change—improving systems, developing people, and scaling operational excellence while protecting craftsmanship and company culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the business: Set clear priorities and operating rhythms (daily/weekly/monthly) that align sales, design, and production to deliver on commitments.
• Operational execution: Own on-time delivery, quality, safety, and productivity across the shop and field; remove bottlenecks and ensure smooth handoffs between functions.
• Production management: Oversee scheduling, capacity planning, shop workflow, and labor allocation; ensure drawings, cut lists, machine programs, and bills of material are accurate and released on time.
• Quality & craftsmanship: Establish and enforce quality standards, inspection points, and corrective actions; reduce rework, warranty issues, and jobsite punch lists.
• Customer experience: Ensure strong communication and issue resolution; partner with sales/project management to set expectations, manage change orders, and protect margins.
• Financial performance: Manage P&L results, job costing discipline, pricing/margin adherence, cash flow awareness, and expense control; deliver regular reporting and forecasts to ownership.
• People leadership: Hire, coach, and develop supervisors and team members; build accountability, teamwork, and a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
• Transformative change: Lead process improvement initiatives (e.g., standard work, 5S, lean flow, visual management, KPI dashboards) and implement scalable systems for growth.
• Systems & Improve estimating-to-production data integrity (ERP/MRP, project tracking, inventory control, CAD/CAM, scheduling tools); standardize documentation and version control.
• Vendor & material management: Strengthen supplier relationships; improve purchasing, lead times, material availability, and inventory accuracy to support reliable production.
• Safety & compliance: Ensure compliance with OSHA and applicable regulations; maintain training, incident investigation, and corrective actions; promote a proactive safety culture.
• Facility & equipment: Maintain shop equipment readiness (e.g., CNC, edgebanders, dust collection, finishing systems); plan preventative maintenance and capital improvements.
• Strategic support: Contribute to growth strategy, market positioning, and capacity expansion; provide recommendations on product offerings, lead time policy, and service model.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in cabinetry, millwork, woodworking manufacturing, or closely related custom fabrication environment (with responsibility for operations, production, or general management).
• Working knowledge of the product lifecycle: estimating/sales, design & engineering (CAD), material procurement, production (cut/edge/assemble/finish), delivery, and installation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, set expectations, and drive accountability in a hands-on environment.
• Strong understanding of job costing, gross margin drivers, and operational levers that impact profitability (labor, material yield, rework, throughput, schedule adherence).
• Experience implementing process improvements and/or leading change initiatives (systems, workflow, quality, safety, or organizational structure).
• Ability to read and interpret shop drawings and specifications; strong attention to detail and quality standards.
• Proficiency with common business tools (Excel/Google Sheets, email, scheduling/project tracking); ability to learn and optimize ERP/MRP and CAD/CAM-related workflows.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally to job sites as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years in cabinetry/millwork with experience scaling a small operation (growth, new facility, second shift, new product lines).
• Experience with lean manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, value stream mapping, or similar continuous improvement frameworks.
• Familiarity with CNC programming/workflow integration and/or production planning tools.
• Background partnering with designers, builders, and homeowners on custom projects with complex requirements and tight deadlines.
• Experience developing compensation plans, incentive programs, or performance-based KPIs in a production environment.
• Bachelor's degree in business, operations, engineering, construction management, or equivalent experience.

Leadership & Change Competencies

• Outstanding leader: Builds trust quickly, communicates clearly, and sets a high standard for behavior, safety, and quality.
• Operational ownership: Takes responsibility for outcomes; uses data and observation to diagnose issues and drive solutions.
• People developer: Coaches supervisors and team members; provides direct feedback; creates growth paths and succession plans.
• Change leader: Plans and executes change in a structured way—aligning stakeholders, managing resistance, and sustaining adoption.
• Customer-first mindset: Balances responsiveness with disciplined scope control and margin protection.
• Continuous improvement: Establishes standard work, measures performance, and runs problem-solving routines that reduce variability and rework.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Creates strong handoffs between sales, design, shop, and install; resolves conflict and clarifies decision rights.
• Business acumen: Understands how lead times, capacity, pricing, and mix drive financial results; makes tradeoffs accordingly.
• Integrity & accountability: Models ethical decision-making and follows through on commitments.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in both office and shop environments; occasional jobsite visits are required.
• Must be able to move safely through a production facility and job sites, including uneven surfaces and areas with active equipment.
• Ability to lift up to 25–50 lbs occasionally (tools, samples, materials), with reasonable accommodation as applicable.
• May require extended hours during peak workload periods, critical installations, or operational transitions.