Value Stream Manager – Fabrication (Lean Manufacturing)

Value Stream Manager – Fabrication

📍 Location: Eagle, Wisconsin (Onsite)
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
📈 Seniority Level: Mid-Senior
🕒 Experience Required: 5–7+ years
🎓 Education: Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent experience)
✈️ Travel: Occasional
🌎 Visa Sponsorship: Not available

🚀 Overview

A leading manufacturing organization is seeking a Value Stream Manager – Fabrication to lead end-to-end operations within a key production value stream.

This role is responsible for driving safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance, while embedding lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement across fabrication operations.

🔧 Key Responsibilities

Operations Leadership

• Lead daily operations within the value stream to achieve performance targets across:

  • Safety

  • Quality

  • Delivery

  • Cost

• Drive execution of daily, monthly, and annual production goals

• Ensure a culture of accountability and operational excellence

Lean & Continuous Improvement

• Implement lean methodologies including:

  • Flow optimization

  • Pull systems (Kanban)

  • Standardized work

• Apply structured problem-solving methods (PDCA, root cause analysis)

• Build a culture focused on “stop to fix” quality mindset

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team

• Manage performance, succession planning, and talent development

• Foster a positive, engaged, and collaborative team environment

Process Optimization

• Improve production flow and reduce:

  • Lead times

  • Inventory levels

  • Operating costs

• Develop and execute short and long-term improvement plans

• Ensure cross-training and workforce flexibility

Visual Management & Metrics

• Implement visual management systems to surface issues quickly

• Drive KPI performance across:

  • People

  • Safety

  • Quality

  • Delivery

  • Cost

• Ensure consistent execution through leader standard work

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Lead operational readiness and execution for new product launches

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth integration

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with:

  • Engineering

  • Supply Chain

  • Quality

  • Operations leadership

• Share best practices and drive alignment across the facility

✅ Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in:

  • Engineering

  • Business

  • Supply Chain

  • Or related field (or equivalent experience)

• 5+ years of experience in:

  • Operations leadership or lean manufacturing environments

⭐ Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in sheet metal fabrication, including:

  • Cutting

  • Punching

  • Forming

  • Welding

  • Painting

• Hands-on experience with:

  • Lean principles and implementation

  • Flow, Kanban, and PFEP (Plan for Every Part)

• ERP system experience (e.g., SAP)

• Lean / Operations / Supply Chain certifications

🧠 Key Skills

• Strong leadership and team development capability

• Deep understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement

• Problem-solving expertise (5 Why, Fishbone, RCA)

• Ability to drive cultural change and employee engagement

• Strong analytical and performance management skills

🎯 Ideal Candidate

• Proven manufacturing leader with a cost, quality, and efficiency mindset

• Strong people leader who can motivate and engage shop floor teams

• Hands-on experience in metal fabrication environments (laser, turret, press brake, welding, robotics)

• Comfortable operating in high-mix, low-volume production environments

• Experience driving operational transformation and scaling production capabilities

💡 What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary and full benefits package

• Modern manufacturing environment with strong investment in growth

• Opportunity to lead a critical value stream with high visibility

• Strong culture of teamwork, innovation, and continuous improvement

Manufacturing Operations Manager | $106K–$150K | Consumer Products | Sanford, ME

Manufacturing Operations Manager

Location: Sanford, Maine
Job ID: 167229
Employment Type: Full-Time

💵 Compensation:

• Base Salary: $106,000 – $150,000/year

• Bonus Eligible: No

• Commission: No

• Overtime Eligible: No

🎁 Benefits:

• Full benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401k, etc.)

• Relocation assistance available for the ideal candidate

• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays

• Career development and advancement support

• Opportunities for continuous improvement training (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)

Lead. Innovate. Transform.

Are you a manufacturing leader ready to take the next step in your career? This exciting opportunity offers the chance to drive operational excellence, lead high-performing teams, and influence end-to-end production strategies at a dynamic consumer products facility in Sanford, Maine.

You’ll oversee production, warehouse, and finishing operations while fostering a safety-first, quality-driven, and continuous improvement culture. Bring your passion for innovation, people leadership, and efficiency—and make a measurable impact on global supply chain performance.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

🔧 Operations Leadership

• Oversee daily operations across production, making, finishing, and warehouse areas

• Lead supervisory teams and technicians to meet KPIs around quality, safety, and efficiency

• Drive a culture of accountability, performance, and collaboration

• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and EH&S to maximize productivity

• Champion Factory Performance & Reliability (FP&R) standards including People Capability, Visual Workplace, and Continuous Improvement

• Act as a visible, hands-on leader during audits, SOP reviews, and daily operations

• Build contingency plans to ensure business continuity during disruptions

💰 Financial Oversight

• Co-own plant financial performance with site leadership

• Drive savings initiatives through labor cost optimization and FTG (Fund-the-Growth) programs

• Analyze variances in materials, labor, and output to improve financial forecasting

• Optimize inventory, capital expenditures, and operating expenses to improve cash flow

• Monitor and revise site KPIs to align with evolving business goals

👥 People & Culture

• Execute labor strategies that promote employee relations, retention, and engagement

• Build and mentor a high-performing workforce, empowering both salaried and hourly teams

• Develop internal talent pipelines while fostering a culture of recognition and inclusion

✅ Quality, Compliance & Process Excellence

• Ensure all production activities align with GMP, FDA, and safety standards

• Own decisions regarding out-of-spec raw materials, WIP, and finished goods

• Guarantee team proficiency with SOPs for lot tracking, release procedures, code dating, and traceability

• Lead implementation of corrective/preventive actions for non-conformances

• Ensure validated cleaning, sanitization, and changeover procedures are followed

• Facilitate successful technology transfers for new products and processes

⚙️ Process & Equipment Optimization

• Set annual site goals for process capability; monitor and report on monthly progress

• Ensure process control tolerances, calibration routines, and SOP accuracy

• Identify and resolve equipment constraints in partnership with technical teams

• Oversee preventive maintenance and ensure team training on cleaning and batch procedures

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related discipline (required)

• 8+ years of progressive leadership in manufacturing operations

• Strong background in GMP, FDA/regulated environments, and ISO/OSHA standards

• Solid understanding of Quality systems and manufacturing audits

• Advanced proficiency with digital tools (e.g., Google Suite, Data Studio)

• Experience leading cross-functional teams and navigating matrixed environments

Preferred Qualifications

• SAP, WMS, and plant floor systems experience

• Certified or experienced in Lean Six Sigma or continuous improvement methodology

• Proven ability to manage ambiguity and multiple initiatives simultaneously

• Strong communicator with excellent coaching and feedback capabilities

• Project management skills with experience leading complex initiatives

Additional Details

• Seniority Level: Mid-Senior

• Management Experience: Not required, but leadership experience essential

• Travel: Occasional

• Visa Sponsorship: Not available

• Security Clearance: Not required

• Relocation Assistance: Yes, for the ideal candidate

Take Charge of Change

This role is built for a strategic, hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced, quality-first environment. If you're ready to elevate your impact, drive performance, and shape the future of manufacturing—this is your opportunity.