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MAT Friction

Plant Manager

MAT Friction, Gastonia, North Carolina, United States, 28054

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Company Description

If you're looking for a special place to build or grow your career, you've found it. Whether you're an experienced professional, a recent graduate, or somewhere in between, MAT Holdings is where you can apply your skills, learn new ones, and make a real impact. With more than 14,000 employees across 12 countries and over 40 locations worldwide, MAT offers exciting opportunities in engineering, marketing, sales, supply chain, operations, HR, finance, and more. Headquartered in Long Grove, IL, our global footprint includes 2.1 million square feet of U.S. distribution and manufacturing space and 40+ factories across three continents. At MAT, we don’t just make things happen—we ensure it happens with excellence. From engineering and logistics to marketing and customer service, we maintain consistent expertise across the entire supply chain.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance after 60 days of employment

Paid Time Off (PTO), including paid vacation, sick days, and paid holidays

401k Retirement Plan + Company Match

Career Advancement Program, training and development

Wellness programs, including fitness reimbursements and mental health support

Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Voluntary Life / AD&D, Employer Provided Life/AD&D

and more

Job Description The Plant Manager is responsible for keeping production on schedule and ensuring raw materials are efficiently converted into chain link fencing, horse & field fence, and barbed wire. The role requires a hands‑on leader who works closely with production crews, solves problems quickly, and keeps operations running smoothly. The Plant Manager collaborates with the site Operations Manager to ensure raw material storage, finished goods, and space constraints are transparent and within thresholds. Continuous communication with teams about quality metrics and integrating feedback into operational practices is essential for achieving ongoing improvements.

Principle Responsibilities Operations

Supervise daily production to meet order schedules, quality standards, and safety requirements

Supervise hourly personnel to ensure appropriate staffing of the facility

Drive a safety and quality‑focused production business while maintaining high OEE

Manage onsite functional teams of repairs and maintenance, tool and die, production, warehouse, quality, and other supporting personnel

Work side by side with operators to troubleshoot issues

Report, document, and plan production performance, continuous improvement activities, action plans, strategic plans, and employee utilization

Propose, justify, and implement capital expenditures to sustain, grow, or improve the current operation

Coordinate cross‑training and knowledge sharing with the sister plant in Vietnam

Build solutions for operational challenges at the site

Assist the VP/GM with special projects such as M&A operation reviews and establishing new production lines

Supervise traffic personnel to ensure product ships on time in full (OTIF)

Collaborate with purchasing to ensure a competitive cost structure on services and materials

Oversee quality personnel to ensure incoming raw material meets MAT standards

Meet customer on-time, on-invoice (OTIF) requirements

Ensure the factory operates at the budgeted cost level and make adjustments as needed

People

Set daily production priorities and communicate clearly with crews

Train and coach operators to meet safety, quality, and performance expectations

Promote accountability, teamwork, and a safe work environment

Develop and empower employees to grow into more significant roles and responsibilities, including succession planning via the Next Level program

Communicate plant performance and results to the team; use visual communications on the plant floor

Assist in the recruitment and retention of personnel at the facility

Ensure all employees adhere to corporate policies, procedures, and guidelines, taking corrective action as required

Quality

Track output, downtime, and scrap, taking action to improve efficiency

Monitor material usage daily to prevent shortages

Coordinate deliveries with suppliers and resolve late or damaged shipments

Work with warehouse/receiving to confirm counts and quality of incoming materials

Drive cost savings through yield improvements and scrap reduction

Financial

Responsible for the overall profit and loss results at an operating level for the plant

Evaluate the financial implications of changes to achieve maximum profitability

Keep Bill of Materials (BOMs) accurate and updated as products or processes change

Forecast raw material needs based on sales orders, inventory levels, and seasonality

Order wire, steel, and coatings to maintain proper stock without overbuying

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university, or sufficient years of experience

Ten (6–10) or more years in a manufacturing environment

Lean thinker with demonstrated passion and experience implementing and working in a Lean environment

Proven ability to develop a culture of safety and 5S

Proven leadership that drives success through daily task management and accountability

Demonstrated success in leadership development and effective succession planning

Working knowledge of SAP is a plus

Experience working in a TS 16949 facility

Competencies

Safety First Perspective

Quality Focused

Lean Thinker

Team Development

Driven by Results

The posted salary range for this position is $105,000 to $140,000 annually. Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications.

Additional Information All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. This is a full‑time, direct‑hire position.

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Management and Manufacturing

Consumer Goods

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