Time Manufacturing Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

VantagePoint Alliance (VPA) is seeking a Plant Manager – Lean Manufacturing & ERP Transformation to lead all day-to-day manufacturing operations while driving operational excellence throughout the facility.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this leader will be responsible for plant performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Productivity, and Continuous Improvement while leading the organization through the implementation of the Global Shop Solutions (GSS) ERP system.

This position requires a proven manufacturing leader who combines strong operational execution with Lean Manufacturing expertise, change management, and the ability to successfully guide employees through digital transformation.

The successful candidate will serve as the operational quarterback for the GSS implementation, working closely with executive leadership, department supervisors, and the GSS implementation team to modernize plant operations and position the organization for long-term growth.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Leadership

• Provide overall leadership for daily manufacturing operations.
• Lead production supervisors and manufacturing personnel to consistently achieve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives.
• Establish clear performance expectations while developing accountability throughout the organization.
• Foster a culture centered on safety, operational excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain compliance with OSHA regulations and company safety policies.
• Develop supervisors through coaching, mentoring, and leadership development.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining product quality and customer commitments.

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives throughout the facility.
• Conduct value stream mapping and process analysis to identify opportunities for increased throughput and reduced waste.
• Identify production bottlenecks, rework, excessive downtime, and inefficiencies.
• Lead Kaizen events focused on setup reduction, workflow optimization, scheduling improvements, and labor efficiency.
• Develop and maintain standardized work instructions and visual management systems.
• Perform time studies and validate labor standards.
• Improve inventory management practices and support Just-in-Time manufacturing principles.
• Analyze maintenance trends and implement corrective actions to improve equipment reliability.
• Establish KPI-driven daily management systems and lead weekly Operational Pulse meetings with supervisors.

ERP Implementation & Digital Transformation

• Serve as the operational leader for the implementation of the Global Shop Solutions (GSS) ERP platform.
• Partner with the GSS implementation team to successfully deploy the ERP system throughout manufacturing operations.
• Lead organizational change management and promote employee adoption of new technologies and processes.
• Coordinate ERP training for supervisors and production personnel.
• Validate bills of material, routings, labor reporting, inventory transactions, scheduling logic, and production data prior to implementation.
• Transition manufacturing operations from paper-based documentation to standardized digital workflows.
• Support implementation of shop floor technologies including barcode scanning, tablets, digital workstations, and electronic production reporting.
• Ensure ERP data integrity to improve scheduling accuracy, inventory control, labor reporting, and operational decision-making.

Operational Performance & Business Metrics

Develop and monitor key performance indicators including:

• Safety
• Quality
• On-Time Delivery
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Throughput
• Labor Efficiency
• Inventory Accuracy
• Scrap & Rework Reduction
• Downtime
• Cost Performance

Provide regular operational updates to executive leadership and collaborate with finance on labor productivity, inventory valuation, and manufacturing cost improvements.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing experience
• Minimum 3 years leading manufacturing operations as a Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or similar leadership role
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives with measurable operational improvements
• Experience leading manufacturing teams through organizational change
• Hands-on experience implementing or supporting manufacturing ERP systems
• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and team development skills
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to build accountability while creating a positive, team-oriented culture
• Must be authorized to work in the United States

Preferred

• Experience implementing Global Shop Solutions (GSS) ERP
• Experience implementing comparable manufacturing ERP systems (Epicor, Plex, Infor, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.)
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or related field
• Lean Manufacturing certification and/or Six Sigma certification
• Military leadership experience in manufacturing, logistics, maintenance, or operations

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 12–18 months, the successful Plant Manager will:

• Improve plant efficiency and throughput
• Strengthen operational accountability across all departments
• Successfully lead the implementation and adoption of the GSS ERP platform
• Improve production visibility through real-time operational data
• Reduce waste, downtime, and production bottlenecks
• Enhance inventory accuracy and scheduling effectiveness
• Build a culture focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, direct hire opportunity offering a competitive compensation package that includes:

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based bonus opportunity
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Company-paid life insurance
• Short-term disability coverage
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays

About This Opportunity

VantagePoint Alliance (VPA) is conducting this confidential search. Qualified candidates who are passionate about manufacturing leadership, Lean transformation, and operational excellence are encouraged to apply.