iHire
Ashton North LLC has partnered with iHire to reach top talent for their opening below. Check it out and apply today!
Manufacturing Engineering / Operational Excellence Manager – Furniture Manufacturing
Location: Clayton, NC (On-Site)
Full-Time | Direct Hire
Compensation: $130,000 – $160,000
Ashton North is currently seeking a Manufacturing Engineering / Operational Excellence Manager for a leading furniture manufacturer located near Raleigh/Durham, NC. This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for someone with deep manufacturing experience—furniture and upholstery background highly preferred.
This company specializes in contract furniture and uses LEAN Manufacturing principles to navigate a high-mix, low-volume production model. Employee engagement, continuous improvement, and quality assurance are cornerstones of their success, and this role will drive all three.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team focused on cost reduction, lean implementation, and operational excellence
Develop and implement plant-wide LEAN initiatives and quality control systems
Oversee the maintenance department, vendor contractors, and PM activities for production machinery
Manage plant engineering changes, launch readiness, BOMs, routings, and work cell layouts
Collaborate with product design teams to ensure new product introductions are “production friendly”
Provide leadership in reviewing product designs to meet cost and efficiency targets
Maintain and improve manufacturing QA processes in alignment with ISO 9001 / ISO 14000
Evaluate staffing needs, support recruitment, and drive performance management within the department
Coordinate supplier development with Purchasing and Design Engineering teams
Foster employee development and succession planning in partnership with HR
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
10+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in furniture or durable goods
3+ years of leadership or management experience
Proven success with LEAN Manufacturing and Quality Assurance methodologies
Working knowledge of: powder painting, wood finishing, welding, automation, PFMEA, GD&T, PPAP, APQP
Proficiency with AutoCAD and SolidWorks
Excellent communication, time management, and problem-solving skills
P.Eng designation or eligibility strongly preferred
Ability to travel as needed (domestic and international)
What This Role Offers
Competitive base salary ($130K–$160K)
Excellent health benefits
401(k) with company match
High-impact leadership role with career advancement potential
Stable and exciting work environment within a growing organization
Employment Type: Full Time
Salary: $130,000 - $160,000 Annual
Bonus/Commission: Yes
Seniority level Seniority level Mid-Senior level
Employment type Employment type Full-time
Job function Job function Supply Chain, Engineering, and Manufacturing
Industries Industrial Machinery Manufacturing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at iHire by 2x
Get notified about new Manufacturing Engineer jobs in Clayton, NC .
Mechanical Design Engineer Fall Internship Lead Mechanical Engineer – Project Management & Design Mechanical Design Engineer Fall Internship Mechanical Engineer – Protection and Automation Panels Mechanical Engineer / Designer : Life Sciences - Cary, NC Req 24732 Cary, NC $82,900.00-$125,000.00 2 weeks ago
Wake County, NC $73,096.00-$100,000.00 2 weeks ago
MES Engineer – GMP Manufacturing Digital Systems [Direct Hire] Manufacturing Engineer - Six Sigma, CAD, Process Improvement Raleigh, NC $85,000.00-$131,000.00 4 days ago
Mechanical PM – Facility Projects, Revit, AutoCAD Supplier Quality Engineer - Lithium-ion Battery Manufacturing Senior Engineer – MES & Manufacturing Systems [Direct Hire] Project Engineer High Purity Process Piping Process Engineer 3 - Cell Culture & FATs Process Engineer 3 - Cell Culture & FATs Cary, NC $85,000.00-$111,800.00 1 week ago
Senior Manufacturing Systems Engineer (Automation) We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr