Plant Manager - Sterling Engineering, Inc.
Davenport, IA 52761
About the Job
Position Title: Plant Manager
Location: Davenport, IA 52761 (Relocation Package or Sign-On Bonus is available)
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Must Have: Railcar or Tankcar experience
This position is responsible for planning, scheduling, and overseeing all operations at the repair shop to ensure high-quality tank car repairs at minimal cost. The role requires adherence to the company’s standard operating procedures and compliance with all AAR, DOT, and FRA standards, aiming to repair customer cars as efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively as possible.
Job Requirements:
- Develop and coach personnel in key areas such as lean production (eliminating waste, 5S, point of use material, visual controls, shadow boards, process flow maps), safety (procedure reviews, accident investigations, fostering a safety culture), quality (training and execution of policies and procedures), and profitability (reducing costs, maximizing revenue).
- Plan and manage labor resources, including hiring and firing, wage rate administration, and the company's absenteeism policy. If applicable, handle negotiations with union officials and grievance issues.
- Oversee inventory and materials management, including training personnel in lean material techniques like 2-bin and Kanban systems.
- Conducted monthly cycle counts and approved inventory adjustments, managing inventory costs and turnover rates.
- Oversee inspection, write-up, and quality assurance functions to ensure that railcars are inspected and repaired per applicable regulations and at the highest quality standards.
- Promote a safety culture within the facility, ensuring employees can stop work if unsafe conditions are identified and that safety is given equal priority to production.
- Implement and train employees in line with the company’s safety, industrial hygiene, and environmental policies; enforce compliance with published work rules.
- Manage costs by preparing an annual budget based on forecasted workloads and reviewing actual costs against budgeted costs. Explain any significant variances between actual and budgeted costs and submit monthly operating reports.
- Participate in planning modifications to plant operations to meet future needs, including selecting and training necessary manpower, assisting in developing facilities and equipment, and implementing new work procedures.
Qualifications:
- A college degree with 3–5 years of relevant managerial experience is required.
- Extensive rail car repair experience, including supervisory responsibilities, may be substituted for a college degree.
- Ability to interpret drawings, understand equipment such as boilers and compressors and effectively interact with personnel at all levels within and outside the company.
Source : Sterling Engineering, Inc.
