Plant SupervisorTwin Screw Thermoplastic Compounding

Position Summary

XPM Plastics Compounding is seeking an experienced, hands-on Plant Manager to lead all manufacturing operations within our custom thermoplastic compounding facility. This position is responsible for the safe, efficient, and profitable operation of the plant while maintaining the highest standards of quality, customer service, and continuous improvement.

Essential Responsibilities

• Direct all daily manufacturing operations, including production, maintenance, quality, warehouse, shipping, receiving, and scheduling.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while meeting quality, cost, and delivery objectives.
• Maximize equipment utilization and overall plant efficiency.
• Monitor production metrics, downtime, scrap, labor efficiency, and throughput.
• Develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility.
• Provide technical leadership for twin screw extrusion operations.
• Optimize extrusion processes for productivity, quality, and cost.
• Troubleshoot processing issues involving polymers, additives, fillers, color concentrates, feeding systems, pelletizing, and downstream equipment.
• Develop and maintain process documentation, machine setup parameters, and standard operating procedures.
• Lead scale-up of new formulations from development through commercial production.
• Work closely with engineering and customers to develop manufacturable processing solutions.
• Ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and quality standards.
• Support ISO 9001 and other applicable quality systems.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Drive waste reduction, process optimization, and productivity improvements.
• Foster a strong culture of workplace safety.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and all environmental requirements.
• Lead safety meetings, incident investigations, and corrective actions.
• Maintain clean, organized, and efficient manufacturing operations.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop production personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Promote teamwork, communication, and employee engagement.
• Work collaboratively with Sales, Engineering, Quality, Purchasing, Customer Service, and Executive Leadership.
• Manage plant operating budgets and labor utilization.
• Control manufacturing costs while maintaining product quality.
• Support capital equipment planning and implementation.
• Develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and report plant performance to executive management.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of hands-on twin screw thermoplastic compounding experience.
• Minimum 5 years of manufacturing leadership or plant management experience.
• Demonstrated experience operating and troubleshooting co-rotating twin screw extruders.
• Strong knowledge of thermoplastics, polymer additives, fillers, reinforcements, color concentrates, and engineered compounds.
• Experience with gravimetric feeding systems, pelletizing systems, dryers, blenders, material handling, and downstream processing.
• Ability to optimize screw designs, process conditions, and production efficiencies.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing metrics and Lean Manufacturing principles.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and ERP/MRP systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Polymer Science, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• Experience with highly engineered thermoplastic compounds.
• Knowledge of medical, automotive, consumer, industrial, or specialty polymer markets.
• Experience with color matching and formulation development.
• Working knowledge of laboratory testing and material characterization.

Compensation

$70,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year