Director of Manufacturing

We are located in Stratford, CT (USA).  This position is 100% on-site. 

DESCRIPTION

Provide strategic and tactical leadership to Manufacturing Operations to drive overall performance goals to maximize business growth, profitability and return on investment. Responsible for overall strategy and efficient daily operations with the primary accountability for performance results in quality, delivery, efficiency, customer service, safety and employee engagement.

Maintain a customer focus and meet or exceed customer expectations. Optimize factory and individual departmental efficiencies.  Continuously identify and implement new and improved methods that positively impact the business. Act and lead as change manager by coaching, mentoring and training direct reports to be change leaders. Collaborate with other functional areas to develop and drive cross-functional improvement initiatives. Plan the use of the facility, equipment and personnel to meet current and future manufacturing requirements. Develop budgets and guidelines, plant layout, improvement activities and capital projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage total direct labor resources to ensure all customer delivery requirements are met and business efficiency targets are met.
• Manage OTD goals for   all business units and ensure OTD% is met and lead times are at market competitive levels. Add focus on customer, quality. 
• Manage efficiency goals, for all business units, and ensure targets are met or exceeded.
• Analyze and correct (if required) monthly direct labor headcount levels - based on backlog levels, OTD requirements, efficiency targets and booking forecasts. 
• Analyze and provide monthly shipping forecast based on backlog goals and booking forecasts. Analyze and provide ongoing reviews during each month of how we will perform to forecast.
• Actively update and enforce all company policy and procedures through all Manufacturing Supervisors. Quality, safety, training, work instructions
• Proactively review and analyze progress to OTD, efficiency and quality goals for all business units. Coach, mentor, train and implement standard methods in order to meet/exceed customer and business expectations.
• Actively identify and/or participate in manufacturing and cross functional business improvement activities using lean and six sigma tools. Implement standardized reports and metrics across all business units.
• Communicate often and effectively. Create an overall atmosphere with Production Cell Managers and direct labor personnel for open honest and constant communication and feedback.
• Coach, mentor, train and develop Production Cell Managers so that they are acting in a proactive and standardized method to continuously improve results including OTD, quality, efficiencies, costs, customer satisfaction employee relations, safety and communication. Continuously improve speed, quality and overall sense of urgency.
• Work closely with all union members and union leadership and communicate often.  Seek to resolve issues in a professional, timely and constructive manner within the framework of overall company objectives and labor contracts.
• Regularly evaluate Production Cell Managers performance.  Select, train, promote, coach, mentor and recommend employment of persons in any position within Manufacturing without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
• Manage departmental budgets to plan/forecast levels. Review and analyze monthly

REQUIREMENTS

• BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Technology or Business required.  
• Ten or more years’ experience in a complex high volume, high mix manufacturing environment.  
• Excellent human relations and leadership skills and experience managing employees.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships and constructively resolve conflicts. 
• Excellent communication, follow through, interpersonal skills.
• Strong presentation, problem solving and analytical skills.
• Takes responsibility for actions and results.
• Works with sense of urgency to meet needs of customers.
• Uses feedback from others to continuously improve performance and relationships.

Ashcroft Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

EOE AA M/F/Veteran/Disability

Please note:  The position requires U.S. Citizen, Permanent Legal Resident or
granted Asylee/Refugee status under the Immigration and Nationality Act.