Senior Manager, Manufacturing Operations
GE Appliances, a Haier company · Louisville, KY · 2 wk ago
ManagementFull-time
Position
Senior Manager, Manufacturing Operations
About the Role
Lead Manufacturing Operations
Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership for a manufacturing area, driving performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and culture.
- Develop and execute annual operational plans aligned with plant and business objectives.
- Lead, coach, and support both salaried and hourly team members to achieve operational goals.
- Monitor production performance, identify opportunities, and drive rapid issue resolution through structured problem-solving.
- Ensure adherence to Lean manufacturing principles, standardized work, and escalation processes.
- Manage departmental metrics, budgets, and operational reporting.
- Establish a disciplined operating rhythm through daily performance reviews and leadership engagement.
- Drive consistency, stability, and compliance through robust standardized work practices.
- Coach leaders and team members on training effectiveness, job instruction methods, and operational excellence.
- Champion Continuous Improvement
- Embed the Appliance Production System and continuous improvement mindset into daily operations.
- Lead efforts to identify inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and improve productivity.
- Facilitate root cause analysis and implement sustainable corrective actions.
- Partner with cross-functional teams, including Lean resources, to resolve operational challenges.
- Drive Kaizen events and ensure improvement actions are sustained over time.
- Lead issue management processes, assigning ownership and ensuring timely closure.
- Optimize workflow and labor utilization through tools such as Yamazumi charts and line balancing techniques.
- Develop and Inspire Teams
- Lead and develop a cross-functional manufacturing organization focused on engagement, accountability, and results.
- Set clear expectations and provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and development opportunities.
- Partner with Human Resources on performance management, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.
- Address employee relations matters with consistency, professionalism, and fairness.
- Recruit, allocate, and develop talent to support operational needs.
- Mentor emerging leaders and build organizational capability for the future.
- Drive Quality Excellence
- Ensure products are manufactured to specification and meet customer expectations.
- Maintain compliance with Manufacturing Control Plans and quality standards.
- Monitor quality performance metrics and drive rapid resolution of defects.
- Partner with Engineering and Quality teams to implement preventive actions and improve product performance.
- Lead scrap reduction initiatives and drive sustainable quality improvements.
- Improve key performance indicators including First Pass Yield, Overall Yield, and Service Call Rate.
- Foster a World-Class Safety Culture
- Own safety performance and results for the manufacturing area.
- Promote a proactive safety culture through audits, observations, training, and employee engagement.
- Ensure compliance with all safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
- Lead accident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation.
- Drive closure of safety action items resulting from incidents, near misses, and ergonomic assessments.
- Champion a culture where safety is embedded in every aspect of daily operations.
Qualifications
- 7+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, supplier management, or project implementation environments.
- Strong operational leadership experience with demonstrated success driving results through people and process improvements.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and delivering measurable business outcomes.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field.
- Graduate of a Supply Chain Development Program (SCDP) or similar leadership development program.
- Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, DMAIC, Kaizen, Workout, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
- Led Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification.
- Excellent communication, coaching, and leadership skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Demonstrated success leading change, improving operational performance, and developing high-performing teams.
Culture
Our Culture