Operations Manager

Operations Manager – Tenneco, Frankfort Indiana

Position Overview

The Operations Manager will lead daily manufacturing operations for automotive sealing products, ensuring production efficiency, quality assurance, workforce management, safety compliance, and continuous improvement. This role oversees end‑to‑end operational performance—including production planning, materials flow, equipment reliability, and cost control—to support customer requirements in the automotive sector.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Operations

• Oversee daily production of automotive sealing products (rubber, polymer, or metal components).
• Ensure production targets for output, scrap, efficiency, and on‑time delivery are consistently met.
• Implement and monitor KPIs across the plant: OEE, cycle time, yield, downtime, labor utilization, etc.
• Manage scheduling, capacity planning, and workflow optimization.

Quality & Compliance

• Work closely with Quality Engineering to maintain IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 compliance.
• Lead root-cause investigation (8D, 5‑Why, Fishbone) for internal and customer issues.
• Support PPAP, FMEA, control plans, and validation processes for new and existing products.

Leadership & Workforce Management

• Supervise production supervisors, technicians, and hourly team members.
• Drive a high-performance culture through coaching, feedback, and accountability.
• Ensure staffing levels, training, and skill‑development plans match production needs.

Safety & Environmental

• Enforce OSHA and company safety standards; champion a zero‑incident culture.
• Conduct audits, support corrective actions, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

Cost, Inventory & Efficiency

• Manage budgets, track operational costs, and support cost‑reduction initiatives.
• Improve materials flow, WIP management, and inventory accuracy.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Maintenance to minimize downtime and delays.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives (5S, Kaizen, SMED, TPM).
• Drive automation, process optimization, and waste‑reduction projects.
• Champion digital tools for production tracking and reporting.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering on tooling, new product launches, and process improvements.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, and HR to ensure smooth operations.
• Support customer audits, visits, and technical reviews as needed.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or related field.
• 5–10 years manufacturing experience, preferably in automotive or rubber/polymer sealing products.
• Proven leadership experience managing multi‑shift operations.
• Strong understanding of Lean, Six Sigma, and standardized work methodologies.
• Experience working in an IATF 16949–regulated environment.

Preferred

• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher).
• Experience with injection molding, extrusion, compression molding, or rubber processing.
• ERP/MRP system experience (SAP, Oracle, Plex, etc.).
• Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.