Plant Manager

About Us

Founded in 1944, HSM is a third-generation, privately held company with 25 locations across the U.S. and corporate headquarters in Hickory, NC and Huntersville, NC. We specialize in manufacturing components for furniture, bedding, transportation, packaging, automotive, and healthcare industries, as well as designing and building automated production machinery. Our products—from sofa springs to swimming pool noodles and bus seats—touch everyday life in countless ways. We foster a culture of teamwork, innovation, and shared success.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations, including foam cutting, fabrication, kitting, packaging, shipping, and supporting production activities
• Develop and execute operating plans that align plant performance with business objectives and customer needs
• Drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Standard Work, Visual Management, 5S, and waste elimination
• Optimize production scheduling, labor utilization, equipment performance, and material flow to increase throughput and efficiency
• Establish and monitor KPIs to improve productivity, quality, inventory accuracy, and overall plant performance
• Partner with Engineering on new product launches, process improvements, equipment installations, and automation initiatives
• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company requirements
• Support ISO 9001 requirements while advancing automotive readiness through IATF 16949 and VDA 6.3 principles

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field highly preferred; equivalent education and progressive manufacturing leadership experience will also be considered
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with responsibility for operations, production, quality, safety, and employee development
• Previous Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or similar leadership experience strongly preferred
• Experience in transportation, automotive, engineered products, furniture, bedding, or another high-volume manufacturing environment preferred
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, and continuous improvement
• Experience with production scheduling, capacity planning, inventory management, labor optimization, ERP/MRP systems, and operational performance metrics
• Working knowledge of CNC cutting, fabrication, assembly, material flow, warehousing, and shipping operations
• Understanding of maintenance, capital equipment planning, automation, and manufacturing technology improvements

Benefits

• Affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance plans, including an innovative global healthcare option for qualified participants
• 401(k) with company match, fully vested from day one
• Competitive PTO: 104 hours of Vacation + company paid holidays
• On-Site Medical Clinics: Free for you and covered dependents
• Teladoc: 24/7 access with no copay
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development assistance
• Discounts with HSM partners, including Dollywood Parks & Resort and Verizon Wireless