Manufacturing Operations Manager

WHO IS LOTUS PET FOOD Lotus Pet Food began in 2001 in southern CA by three entrepreneurial retailers who had grown up in the pet industry. In 2003 Lotus Pet Food hit the shelves and was an immediate success. This was because of the quality of the fresh and wholesome ingredients and the great natural flavor that comes from baking. In 2011 We built our own micro-cannery from the ground up to make all canned food for dogs and cats right here in California. And we use many of the same quality cuts of meat, poultry, fish and select fruits and vegetables that you would find in your own food at home. In 2019 we introduced our frozen raw foods which has made us a micro-raw-ery. Today Lotus is the only company with a full line of baked pet foods for dogs and cats. We are also the only company to make shredded meat cat stews in the USA. Lotus is sold throughout the United States in independent pet supply stores. We are also sold internationally in Japan, China, South Korea and Canada. GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Lotus Manufacturing Operations Manager is responsible for general supervision of all phases of plant operations including production, quality control, equipment maintenance, procurement, receiving and shipping. Responsibilities also include recruiting, hiring, training personnel, facility/physical plant up-keep and capital improvements. In addition, the Manufacturing Operations Manager will be responsible for annual budget planning and execution. The Manufacturing Operations Manager will work closely with the production team to increase productivity and profitability within the manufacturing operation of Lotus. This person must be trained and have at least 10 years of experience including best practices in both managerial and production platforms. Pet food and canning experience is preferred. JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Provide leadership for the successful day-to-day operation of the facility. Work closely with quality personnel to review product consistency while monitoring scrap rates to determine trends and areas of improvement. Work with maintenance manager to fully utilize FIIX CMMS daily and develop preventive maintenance practices to prevent down time. Create and manage maintenance department by FIIX dashboards Write and review established production schedules with production planner for all manufacturing departments to insure established inventory levels are met to maintain a 98% fill rate and lead time of 4 to 6 weeks while operating at the highest efficiency as possible. Perform and manage batch closing tasks in MRP to insure accurate production materials are used Review and approve all batch records Ensure all both record keeping and physical compliance is met with all international national, state and local government agencies. This is includes but not limited to the following: USDA APHIS; FDA; CDPH; water discharge; fire department; LA County Department of Health Coordinate the hiring and the training of all manufacturing personnel both permanent and temporary. Monitor operation expenses and research ways to reduce cost while maintaining product quality. Work closely with production team to ensure all members of the manufacturing team are aware of safety policies to provide a safe workplace. Maintain and support a superior safety and housekeeping program, including all timely communication initiative. Execute and improve Master Sanitation Program to ensure food safety Maintain appropriate inventory levels of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods and control flow of production to achieve a 98% fill rate and on time shipments of 4 to 6 weeks. Accounting for available capital and cash flow. Work with Production Planner to manage inventory levels to insure turnover of 8 to 12 turns. Optimize Freight Out Expense to 3% of sales while meeting service goal of a 4-to-6-week lead time. Insure order accuracy with a manual picking process and minimize order shorts and overs Create and execute weekly cycle count schedule to insure accurate inventory with inventory adjustments not to exceed 0.25% Develop and execute the plant manufacturing budgets. Analyze workforce requirements and manage labor to maintain labor variance of $0 Write job descriptions for all team members that state clear and measurable goals Write evaluation score cards for upload into Kronos for all team members. Conduct performance appraisals and provide coaching and guidance to all operations employees. Encourage and promote operating in a continuous improvement environment. Remove production constraints; allocate human and equipment resources and direct production employees to attain all established goals. Remove waste and constraints from the production process to improve efficiencies and enhance production yields of yields of 95% + Work with purchasing and planning departments to develop and improve supplier relationships and improve favorable purchase price variance. Maintain physical security and access points to maintain a safe and secure work environment. The ability to perform other job-related duties as assigned or as needed. JOB REQUIREMNTS: 10 years progressive experience in a key leadership/management role at a manufacturing facility. Pet food and canning experienced is preferred. Previous experience/strong understanding of budgeting/expense management with basic understanding of financial accounting practices Strong computer skills including the ability to prepare spreadsheets and use Microsoft Office Products(Word, Excel, Power Point and/or Access) to analyze data trends. Previous experience/best practices implementing and using continuous improvement/lean tools such as; Six Sigma, 5-S, Lean Manufacturing, and Transactional Lean to drive improvement. Previous experience/broad understanding of safety systems and enforcement of safety rules and policies. Demonstrated strong leadership, team building and advanced coaching. Demonstrated understanding of the principles and applications associated with manufacturing operations, maintenance and engineering. Excellent planning and organizational skills, with the ability to balance production and maintenance needs. Excellent interpersonal communication and listening ability. A strong ability to be adaptable and flexible. Strong analytical and decision-making skills. Ability to work with teams and lead decision-making processes in a team environment. EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: Bachelors level degree in Engineering or other related field.