Operations Manager
Position Summary The Operations Manager is accountable for the safe, compliant and profitable execution of Dixon Hard Chrome's aerospace special-processing operation. This leader owns daily production execution, planning and schedule attainment, capacity and constraint management, labor productivity, WIP flow, on-time delivery, first-pass yield and supervisor development. The role requires an experienced manufacturing leader who can enter a high-mix, low-volume aerospace job shop and immediately establish disciplined operating cadence while partnering closely with Quality, Engineering, Planning, Sales and Customer Service. Essential Responsibilities · Lead daily operations across hard chrome plating, cadmium plating, electroless nickel, chemical conversion/coating processes, passivation, cleaning/blasting, masking, bake operations, NDT support, inspection interface, shipping/receiving and other assigned finishing operations. · Own production planning execution: convert the master schedule into daily priorities, communicate targets to supervisors and technicians, identify at-risk orders early, establish recovery plans and prevent avoidable customer surprises. · Establish finite-capacity thinking by work center; understand tank capacity, rack/load configuration, rectifier limitations, masking labor, ovens, NDT, inspection, staffing and other constraints that govern throughput. · Drive on-time delivery, schedule adherence, throughput, WIP reduction, queue-time reduction and lead-time improvement. · Ensure direct labor is accurately captured to the correct ERP work order/operation and use actual labor to improve productivity, job costing and future estimating standards. · Lead supervisors through daily tier/alignment meetings, visual management, standard work, escalation and accountability for commitments. · Partner with Quality to maintain compliance with Nadcap Chemical Processing and NDT requirements (Magnetic Particle and Liquid Penetrant), customer specifications, approved routings and controlled work instructions. · Support AS9100 implementation by strengthening operational controls, risk-based thinking, configuration/document discipline, competence, traceability, product safety and objective evidence. · Never trade compliance for delivery. Stop and escalate work when specifications, planning, technique sheets, process parameters or acceptance requirements are unclear. · Drive first-pass yield and reduce rework/scrap through structured problem solving, root cause analysis and corrective action. · Ensure plating tanks, rectifiers, agitation, filtration, ovens, tooling, racks, masking materials and production equipment are capable, maintained and available to support the plan. · Partner with Process Engineering on process capability, technique sheets, master routings, new-product introduction, process validation and elimination of tribal knowledge. · Own labor utilization, overtime discipline, staffing plans, cross-training, succession planning and development of front-line supervisors. · Promote Lean manufacturing, 5S, visual management, standard work, bottleneck management and continuous improvement. · Support customer recovery plans and provide credible operational status, risks and completion dates for strategic aerospace customers. · Monitor operational KPIs and use ERP/Power BI/Excel or comparable systems to make data-driven decisions. · Maintain strong EHS discipline in a chemical-processing environment, including hazardous-material handling, PPE, housekeeping, wastewater/environmental requirements and applicable OSHA/EPA controls. · Participate in capital planning and justify investments based on capacity, quality, safety, labor efficiency, risk and return. Required Qualifications · 5+ years of progressive manufacturing/operations experience, including significant leadership responsibility in aerospace, defense, precision manufacturing or regulated special processing. · Direct experience in aerospace metal finishing, electroplating, chemical processing or a closely related special-process environment is strongly required; hard chrome plating experience is highly preferred. · Demonstrated ability to lead supervisors and hourly technical personnel in a high-mix job-shop environment. · Working knowledge of Nadcap special-process expectations and aerospace quality-system discipline; experience supporting Nadcap audits. · Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, capacity, bottlenecks, labor utilization, WIP control and on-time delivery. · Experience with ERP/MRP systems and disciplined shop-floor labor/data capture. · Demonstrated Lean/continuous-improvement and structured problem-solving capability. · Ability to read technical drawings, customer purchase orders, routings and manufacturing specifications. · Strong financial acumen regarding labor cost, overtime, rework, scrap, job costing, gross margin and capital justification. · Strong leadership, communication, coaching, conflict-resolution and customer-facing skills. Preferred Qualifications · Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Business or related discipline; substantial directly relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree. · AS9100 implementation or certified-environment experience. · Nadcap Chemical Processing and/or Nadcap NDT audit experience. · Lean Six Sigma certification or formal Lean leadership training. · Experience with FAA Repair Station or other highly regulated aerospace environments. Key Performance Indicators · On-Time Delivery / Past-Due Reduction · Schedule Attainment and Daily Plan Execution · First-Pass Yield / Rework / Scrap · Direct-Labor Capture and Labor Efficiency · WIP and Manufacturing Lead Time · Overtime and Operating Cost Control · Nadcap / AS9100 Operational Compliance · Supervisor Development and Cross-Training · Safety / Environmental Performance · Customer Recovery and Escalation Performance Leadership / Working Expectations This is a hands-on, floor-visible position. The successful candidate is expected to lead with urgency, technical credibility, accountability, disciplined follow-through, and a strong commitment to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and continuous improvement. Pay: $100,000.00 - $135,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) Health insurance Paid time off Work Location: In person
Наблюдалась 2026-09-14, впервые 2026-09-02, источник — Indeed.