About Kennametal

With over 85 years as an industrial technology leaderKennametal productivity to customers through materials science tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense earthworks energy general engineering and transportation turn toKennametalto help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Learn more at. Follow @Kennametal: Instagram Facebook LinkedIn and YouTube.

Job Title: Plant Manager

Job Summary and Mission

As the Plant Manager you will serve as the key leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of plant operations including production maintenance quality assurance and workforce development. Your role is to ensure that manufacturing processes run reliably and efficiently while driving initiatives that enhance productivity reduce waste and foster employee engagement.

You will lead the manufacturing plant with integrity and excellence cultivating a culture of safety quality and continuous improvement. Our mission is to deliver high-quality products on time and at optimal cost while empowering our workforce and contributing to the long-term success of the organization.

Key Job Responsibilities

Lean Operational Leadership

• Lead plant operations using Lean principles to eliminate waste reduce variability and improve flow utilizing tools such as 5S Kaizen Value Stream Mapping and Standard Work.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement by engaging teams in problem-solving and process optimization.
• Facilitate regular Kaizen events and ensure follow-through on improvement initiatives.
  
  

Team Development & Engagement

• Train and empower employees in Lean thinking and practices.
• Build high-performing teams that take ownership of quality safety and productivity.
  
  

Safety & Compliance

• Promote a zero-incident safety culture through proactive risk identification and mitigation.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and company safety standards.
  
  

Quality Assurance

• Implement Lean quality systems to detect and prevent defects at the source.
• Use root cause analysis and corrective actions to resolve quality issues.
  
  

Production Efficiency

• Monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) cycle time and takt time.
• Balance production lines and optimize resource utilization to meet customer demand.
  
  

Cost Management

• Identify and eliminate non-value-added activities to reduce operational costs.
• Collaborate with finance and supply chain teams to manage budgets and improve cost efficiency.
  
  

Visual Management & Metrics

• Use visual controls and dashboards to communicate performance and progress.
• Conduct daily Gemba walks to observe operations and engage with frontline teams.
  
  

Maintenance & Reliability

• Implement Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) to increase equipment uptime and reliability.
• Coordinate preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
  
  

Strategic Alignment

• Align plant goals with corporate strategy through Hoshin Kanri (policy deployment).
• Support long-term growth through capacity planning and Lean transformation initiatives.
  
  

Knowledge and Skills

Leadership & Team Building

• Ability to inspire coach and develop high-performing teams.
• Proficient in conflict resolution and performance management.
  
  

Strategic Thinking

• Skilled in aligning plant operations with broader business goals.
• Capable of long-term planning and decision-making.
  
  

Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills

• Data-driven decision-making using KPIs and operational metrics.
• Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis capabilities.
  
  

Communication & Collaboration

• Clear and effective communication across all levels of the organization.
• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering quality HR and supply chain teams.
  
  

Project Management

• Planning and executing improvement projects on time and within budget.
• Managing capital projects and technology upgrades.
  
  

Adaptability & Resilience

• Navigating change and uncertainty in dynamic manufacturing environments.
• Maintaining composure and focus under pressure.
  
  

Financial/Business Accountability

Budget Management

• Develop and manage the plants operating budget including labor materials maintenance and overhead.
• Monitor actual vs. forecasted spending and take corrective actions to stay within budget.
  
  

Cost Reduction Initiatives

• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities through Lean practices waste elimination and process optimization.
• Track and report savings from continuous improvement projects.
  
  

Capital Expenditure Planning

• Evaluate and justify capital investments for equipment technology upgrades and facility improvements.
• Ensure ROI and payback periods align with company financial goals.
  
  

Inventory & Working Capital Control

• Optimize inventory levels to reduce carrying costs while maintaining production continuity.
• Minimize excess and obsolete inventory through demand planning and Just-In-Time (JIT) practices.
  
  

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Provide regular financial performance updates to senior leadership.
• Analyze plant metrics such as cost per unit scrap rates and labor efficiency to inform decision-making.
  
  

Education

Required:

• Organizational Leadership & Supervision
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Manufacturing Technology
• Business Administration (with a manufacturing focus)
  
  

Preferred:

• Masters Degree (MBA or MS in Operations/Engineering)
  
  

Skills

Technical & Operational Skills

• Lean Manufacturing & Six Sigma
• Production Planning and Scheduling
• Quality Systems and Root Cause Analysis
• Equipment and Maintenance Management
• ERP/MRP Systems (e.g. SAP Oracle)
  
  

Leadership & Business Skills

• Strategic Planning and Execution
• Financial Acumen (Budgeting Cost Control ROI Analysis)
• Team Development and Performance Management
• Change Management and Employee Engagement
• Strong Communication and Stakeholder Management
  
  

Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills

• Data-Driven Decision-Making
• KPI Tracking and Performance Analysis
• Process Mapping and Optimization
  
  

To be considered for this position the candidate:

• Must be a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident.
• Will be subject to successful completion of a required security assessment and background check under the Canadian Controlled Goods Program