Job Description:
Plant Manager Job Description
New Factory Launch and Steel Products Production
Position
Plant Manager
Location
Texas
Focus
New factory launch
Production
Steel products and roll forming
Operating model
Lean Manufacturing
Language
Bilingual, EnglishChinese speaking preferred
Position SummaryThe Plant Manager will lead the launch and ongoing operation of a new steel products factory in Texas, with an emphasis on roll forming. This leader will build the plant team, establish safe and reliable production, and ramp capacity to meet customer requirements. Lean Manufacturing principles will drive daily decisions, employee engagement, and continuous improvement across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people development.
Key ResponsibilitiesNew Factory Launch- Own the integrated factory launch plan, including milestones, staffing, capital spending, operational readiness, and risk mitigation.
- Coordinate facility readiness, equipment installation, commissioning, and production trials with engineering, contractors, and equipment suppliers.
- Establish plant layouts, material flow, production controls, work instructions, and training before production begins.
- Lead readiness reviews and capacity validation; resolve launch issues and transition the factory from startup to stable production.
Steel Production and Roll Forming- Direct daily steel products production, with responsibility for roll forming throughput, quality, schedule attainment, and conversion cost.
- Work with engineering and quality to control coil specifications, tooling alignment, line setup, dimensional tolerances, cut length, and surface condition.
- Improve material yield, reduce scrap and changeover time, and eliminate recurring defects and equipment losses.
- Align production schedules, steel coil inventory, maintenance, and shipping with customer demand; establish preventive maintenance and critical spare parts plans.
Lean Manufacturing and Daily Management- Make Lean Manufacturing the daily operating system through tiered accountability meetings, visual performance boards, gemba walks, and leader standard work.
- Review safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people metrics each day; assign countermeasures, owners, and due dates and verify sustained results.
- Apply 5S, standard work, value stream mapping, flow and pull systems, mistake proofing, and quick changeover methods where appropriate.
- Coach employees in structured root cause problem solving and kaizen; build a culture in which teams identify waste and improve their own processes.
Safety People and Business Leadership- Set clear safety expectations and ensure effective training, machine guarding, hazardous energy control, and safe coil handling practices.
- Lead production, maintenance, quality, materials, and supporting teams; recruit and develop supervisors and establish clear performance expectations.
- Own plant budgets, labor planning, operating expenses, and capital priorities; use operating data to improve productivity and cost performance.
- Partner with HR, finance, engineering, supply chain, and suppliers to remove constraints and maintain effective communication throughout launch and ongoing operations.
Required Qualifications- Demonstrated manufacturing leadership experience with accountability for plant or major production operations, people, budgets, and performance.
- Experience launching a new factory or leading a major manufacturing startup, including commissioning, workforce readiness, and production ramp-up.
- Strong steel products manufacturing experience, including practical knowledge of roll forming equipment, tooling, process controls, and troubleshooting.
- Proven ability to apply Lean Manufacturing principles through daily management and deliver sustained improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams, interpret production and financial data, and communicate clearly with employees and business leaders.
- Minimum 10 years in Plant Leadership role with P&L responsibility
- Posses or ability to get Chinese VISA
- International travel required
Preferred Qualifications- Chinese speaking ability is preferred to support communication with Chinese-speaking equipment suppliers and technical partners.
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience; Lean or Six Sigma training.
Work Location
This position is based onsite at the factory in Texas and requires active leadership on the production floor during launch and ongoing operations.
