Plant Manager

At Forte Opening Solutions, we don't just manufacture doors; we create pathways to possibilities. We empower our employees to shape the future of our industry. Join a team where craftsmanship meets cutting-edge technology, and where your ideas can open new doors. Together, we build not just products, but a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager with a strong background in particle board or engineered wood panel manufacturing to lead our production facility. This individual will be responsible for the overall safety, operational performance, quality, financial results, and continuous improvement of a high-volume manufacturing operation. The ideal candidate has extensive experience leading continuous manufacturing processes, developing high-performing teams, and optimizing production while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and environmental compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of plant operations, including Safety, Quality, Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Shipping, Environmental, and Continuous Improvement.
• Champion a world-class safety culture and ensure full compliance with OSHA, EPA, environmental permitting, and all company safety policies and procedures.
• Drive operational excellence using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and other continuous improvement methodologies to improve safety, productivity, yield, uptime, and cost performance.
• Lead production of high-quality particle board products by optimizing fiber preparation, drying, blending, forming, pressing, finishing, and packaging operations.
• Ensure efficient utilization of raw materials including wood fiber, resin systems, wax, and additives while minimizing waste and maximizing recovery.
• Monitor and improve key manufacturing metrics including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), throughput, yield, press efficiency, uptime, scrap, energy consumption, customer complaints, and on-time delivery.
• Develop production schedules that meet customer demand while maximizing plant capacity and operational efficiency.
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to improve equipment reliability through preventative and predictive maintenance programs.
• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing leadership team focused on accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of employee engagement through coaching, communication, training, and leadership development.
• Maintain compliance with quality systems and ensure products consistently meet customer specifications.
• Drive capital improvement projects that improve plant capability, automation, safety, efficiency, and cost competitiveness.
• Own the plant's operating budget and full P&L responsibility while partnering with Finance, Sales, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Corporate Leadership to achieve business objectives.
• Analyze operational data to identify trends, eliminate losses, and drive sustainable improvements.
• Serve as the plant's primary leader during customer visits, audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Forestry, Wood Products, or a related field preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience within particle board, MDF, OSB, engineered wood products, wood composites, or other continuous panel manufacturing environments.
• Previous Plant Manager or Operations Manager experience in a continuous manufacturing operation strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading large manufacturing teams in a 24/7 operation.
• Proven success managing plant financial performance and P&L responsibility.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of particle board manufacturing processes including:

• Wood handling and fiber preparation
• Drying systems
• Resin blending and application
• Mat forming
• Hot press operations
• Sanding, trimming, and finishing
• Panel quality testing and process control

• Strong understanding of resin chemistry, moisture control, density profiles, panel properties, and process optimization.
• Experience managing continuous production systems with a focus on maximizing uptime and throughput.
• Knowledge of emissions control systems, environmental compliance, dust collection, combustible dust hazards, and wood products manufacturing regulations.
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, Root Cause Analysis, and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills with the ability to build highly engaged teams.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with a data-driven approach to decision making.
• Experience utilizing manufacturing KPIs such as OEE, First Pass Yield, throughput, downtime, waste, energy utilization, and overall plant efficiency.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficient with ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with continuous press systems.
• Experience with wood fiber procurement and raw material optimization.
• Familiarity with SPC (Statistical Process Control) and process capability analysis.
• Experience leading major capital projects, equipment installations, or plant expansions.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification is a plus.