Job Description

About us

LAEPPLE Automotive is a leading supplier in the automotive industry, specializing in high-quality components and systems for body components manufacturing. Our innovative technologies and efficient production processes set benchmarks in the industry. We are seeking a results-oriented Plant Manager responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and continuous improvement of our Detroit manufacturing facility. This role ensures safe, high-quality, and cost-effective production while meeting customer delivery, quality and launch requirements in a just-in-time environment. The Plant Manager drives operational excellence, develops high-performing teams, and maintains strong customer and supplier relationships aligned with automotive OEM expectations.

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Direct all plant operations including production, maintenance, quality, materials, engineering and logistics.
• Ensures achievement of SQDC (safety, quality, delivery, cost) targets and KPIs.
• Lead daily management, capacity planning, and constraint removal to meet customer schedules and launch timing.
• Oversee Class A surface quality standards for exterior body panels and cosmetic components.
• Ensure robust quality systems and corrective action discipline.
• Lead customer interface for plant performance, audits, and escalation management.
• Drive zero-defect mindset.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing and waste elimination initiatives.
• Improve OEE, throughput, scrap, rework, and changeover performance.
• Lead structured problem solving and kaizen culture across all departments.
• Optimize labor productivity and plant layout.
• Own plant P&L performance including labor, material, and conversion cost.
• Develop and manage annual operating budgets and capital plans.
• Dliver cost reduction and margin improvement initiatives.
• Support quoting, program launches, and capacity investments.
• Build and lead a high-performance leadership team.
• Drive employee engagement, accountability, and performance management.
• Ensure effective workforce planning, training, and succession development.
• Maintain positive employee relations.
• Ensure a zero-incident safety culture.
• Maintain compliance with ISO/IATF, OSHA/MIOSHA, safety, environmental, regulatory requirements, and department/company policies and procedures.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related field required.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years automotive manufacturing experience, including 5+ years in plant or operations leadership.
• Experience in a Tier I automotive manufacturing environment, with OEM customer interface.
• Working knowledge and experience with Class A surface or exterior body component manufacturing (stamping, paint, assembly, etc.).
• Launch and program management experience in JIT/JIS environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong leadership and organizational development capability.
• Deep knowledge of automotive quality systems and standards.
• Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement expertise.
• Finance acumen and P&L management.
• Customer-facing communication and negotiation skills.
• Data-driven decision making and problem solving.

Work Environment

• Manufacturing plant environment with regular presence on production floor.
• Requires flexibility to support multi-shift operations and customer demands typical of an automotive OEM supplier.

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