BSG From the Boardroom

• Director of Manufacturing Operations
• Reporting to the General Manager
• Location: Massachusetts

BSG has commenced an executive search for a Director of Manufacturing Operations for our client, a global technology company with strong roots in R&D and optoelectronics, located in Massachusetts that serves clients worldwide. Reporting to the General Manager, the Director of Manufacturing Operations is a high-profile leader directing all manufacturing activities, requiring a focus on human assets, inventory planning, quality, and on-time delivery.

Opportunity Overview

Chief OPERATING Officer

THE COMPANY

Our client is internationally recognized as a major innovator in optoelectronics, with production and R&D carried out on 9 sites, in Europe and North America and over 1,500 employees.

THE POSITION

The Director of Manufacturing Operations is a high-profile leader directing all manufacturing activities; requires a focus on human asset, inventory planning, quality, and on-time delivery. Leading all activities in support of profitable growth and development of the company’s world-class operations. The role will be on-site at the Massachusetts location and report directly to the General Manager.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, coach and motivate manufacturing staff in support of driving to achieve company performance goals.
• Continue to develop the Company’s World Class Manufacturing System (focus on on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, no-low returns).
• Ensure availability of inventory and human assets against orders and customer delivery dates; supervise all manufacturing procedures; interact with Quality Control.
• Manage workflow and cross-training.
• Launch materials (new and/or existing) into production line; manage inventory and workflow.
• Generate and maintain reports using Corporate MRP System (SAGE).
• Supervise Supply Chain functions including Supply Chain Manager and incoming inspection in addition to Manufacturing Floor Operators.
• Supervisory responsibilities for Maintenance and facility Maintenance functions including oversight of Maintenance Manager.
• Contribute, as member of company’s Leadership Team, and actively participate in various aspects of company’s goals (quarterly goals, annual plans, strategic goal setting) including participation in regular Leadership meetings.
• Actively involved in execution of tactical and strategic decisions.
• Promote and encourage understanding and use of the ISO 9001 based Quality Management System.

Qualifications

• 10 years’ experience in manufacturing plant environment, high-tech, robotics automation preferred.
• 5 years’ experience with plant operations management.
• Experience or knowledge with imaging technology or electro-optical technologies is a plus.
• Lean, Six Sigma, TQM (Total Quality Management) background.
• Experience with time motion studies, shopfloor data collection, planning, safety, project management, and effective communication strategies.
• Experience with SAGE.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical), Math, Physics, or related field.
• MBA preferred.
• Prior experience working with international headquartered company is a plus.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS

• Drive efficiency optimizations.
• Assess labor and sync with bill and materials.
• Implement barcoding system for labor tracking.
• Achieve real cost of each product by SKU.
• Supply Chain improvements including automation of kanban’s, planning, and dispatch.
• Automate labor tracking.
• Install new manufacturing line for night vision.
• Build hiring plan for new manufacturing line.
• Improve cross-training/upskill training processes.
• Ensure successful upgrade of SAGE ERP on shopfloor and Supply Chain.

LOCATION

• Massachusetts

Ideal Candidate Profile

A summary of key competencies required to be successful include the following:

Functional Experience

• Experienced operations leadership with previous successful endeavors in high-tech manufacturing, imaging technology, or electro-optical manufacturing.
• Experienced leader and manager manufacturing operations and multi-functional departments.
• Experienced leader and manager of multi-line, multi-shift manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of supply chain, warehouse, shipping of products is helpful.
• Strategic project management – demonstrated experience creating and driving growth initiatives.
• Expertise with driving business growth, efficiencies, and increase market share.

Industry Experience

• Electro-optical, imaging technology, high-tech manufacturing.
• Analytical instrumentation, Defense, Medical, Nuclear Instrumentation, Security & Surveillance.
• Understanding of TWM, Lean/Six Sigma manufacturing processes.
• Understanding of Robotics Automation.
• Experience with Shopfloor Data Collection.
• Experience with Time Motion Studies.
• Overall Operational leadership.

Corporate Stage

• Must have Private company manufacturing experience in career history.
• Single plant is manufacturing $25M/year (revenue from their products).
• Managed a team of 10+.
• Total plant size 50-200 employees.
• $25M - $75M company revenue experience.

Management and Leadership Experience

• Develop the team and across capabilities by coaching, identifying areas for growth, celebrating successes, managing promotion process, keeping an open dialogue with the team, identifying training opportunities.
• Establish and grow relationships across capabilities.
• Demonstrate mature leadership and empathy in difficult team situations – a player/coach who leads by example.
• 10 years’ experience in manufacturing plant environment, high-tech, robotics automation preferred.
• 5 years’ experience with plant operations management.

GENERAL COMPETENCIES

Finally, this individual should have as many as possible of the traits required to succeed in this leadership position:

• High levels of intelligence, analytical strength, and conceptual ability.
• Strong presentation and team management skills.
• The ability, and willingness, to set and communicate demanding standards for professional staff and to hold people accountable for their performance; at the same time, sensitivity to, and insight into individuals’ capabilities and development needs, and the combination of firmness and likability that all good leaders possess.
• Decisiveness, when necessary, coupled with a willingness to seek input and build consensus as much as possible.
• Unquestioned honesty and integrity; also, loyalty to colleagues and to the organization, and the ability to inspire loyalty. This person should have the ability to identify and focus on the Company’s best interests, rather than the agenda of any individual or group within the firm.
• A very high level of energy and commitment, combined with enthusiasm and a positive attitude.
• Excellent writing and speaking skills; this individual must be able to communicate complex ideas and information clearly and concisely.
• Outstanding planning and organization skills.
• Good strategic instincts and long-term vision; the ability to address both big-picture issues and detailed, day-to-day management concerns.
• In general, the business and personal skills, and the absolute commitment required to make a major contribution to The Company during the coming years.
• Attention to detail required to deliver consistently accurate data, information, and reporting on time and on budget.
• A sense of ownership, not just of his or her own work, or that of their department, but a sense of ownership for the company.
• Work ethic required to do what it takes to get the job done, and invest the time required to deliver on key responsibilities in a timely fashion.

Compensation

Compensation is competitive with the position’s requirements. In a performance-based environment, this will include base salary, bonus/commission structure based on individual and corporate qualitative and quantitative strategic KPIs, and performance stock option plan.

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