Operations Manager – Plant Production

Job Title: Operations Manager – Plant Production Location: Gardena, CA About the Company: IPS Corporation is a global, market-leading provider of Water and Flow Management Solutions and Specialty Adhesives Solutions for applications where failure is not an option. Founded in 1954 in Los Angeles, CA, IPS began by producing clear cements for laminating acrylic sheet for aircraft canopies.

We were first to produce reliable cement for use with PVC, CPVC, and ABS pipe and fittings, and first to introduce plastic recessed washing machine and ice maker outlet boxes. Since then, we have expanded our offering to more than 10,000+ products and solutions across multiple fast-growth industries such as residential and commercial construction, irrigation, pool & spa, marine or industrial manufacturing.

Today our industry leading products are proudly manufactured at facilities throughout the world and available through a nationwide network of customer-focused distributors. We offer premium brands, world-class customer service, seamless processes, and a global supply chain. IPS, through its three operating companies, operates 13 manufacturing plants in the US, Europe and China supporting sales to over 85 countries.

IPS Corporation is a portfolio company that is part of Centerbridge Partners. Centerbridge Partners, L.P. is a private investment management firm employing a flexible approach across investment disciplines — private equity, private credit and real estate — in an effort to develop the most attractive opportunities for its investors.

The Firm was founded in 2005 and has approximately $36 billion in capital under management with offices in New York and London. Centerbridge is dedicated to partnering with world-class management teams across targeted industry sectors and geographies. For more information, please visit www.centerbridge.com. About Weld-On: Weld-On Adhesives, the largest subsidiary of IPS Corporation, is the pioneer and leading manufacturer of Weld-On® solvent cements, primers, and cleaners for PVC, CPVC, ABS and other plastic piping systems.

Weld-On products are globally recognized as the premium products for joining plastic pipes and fittings and are used by professional installers around the world in a variety of applications such as, but not limited to, construction (residential & commercial), industrial (chemical process, water treatment, mining, etc.)

, irrigation (landscaping & agricultural) and others.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Director of Manufacturing Plant Operations, the Operations Manager is responsible for overall leadership and coordination of plant operations, ensuring alignment across production, quality, safety, and cost objectives. This role drives continuous improvement through Lean methodologies, oversees the implementation of automation technologies, and ensures data-driven decision-making to optimize resources, processes, and results.

The Operations Manager serves as a key leader in fostering cross-functional collaboration, talent development, and operational excellence across the plant.

Responsibilities

Responsible for meeting quality, cost, delivery, and people objectives Plan, schedule, and organize the workflow of production personnel Monitor product quality and process productivity, implementing methods of continuous improvement to reach established goals Provide general guidance and problem-solving to assigned areas Maintain the process and documentation for training and cross-training of personnel Provide leadership and oversight for assigned team members, including performance management, coaching, career development, and annual performance evaluations Lead manufacturing team to achieve established targets for daily cycle time and on-time delivery Maintain high product quality and manufacturing yield while ensuring optimal use of resources and adherence to best safety practices Ensure customer orders are completed on time for requested delivery dates Monitor metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess productivity and cost management Ensure continued adherence to Lean manufacturing and 5S + Safety initiatives Utilize JD Edwards Enterprise.

One (E1) to manage and monitor operational, inventory, purchasing, production, and reporting activities Assess and analyze current practices and drive improvements Support and collaborate with other departmental needs Lead by example with positive reinforcements Communicate with cross-functional managers to ensure required production coordination Partner and coordinate with cross-functional departments to resolve issues and concerns Ensure the health and safety of all employees through safety policy compliance Lead the daily production meeting Attend the monthly SIOP meeting Attend the OTD meetings Lead and/or participate in Kaizen events All other duties as assigned Skills / Qualifications Must be able to communicate effectively at various levels of the organization; fluent in both English and Spanish preferred Demonstrated ability to work on complex issues and to develop resolutions via in-depth evaluation of factors and/or frequent use of creativity Proven ability to set and communicate challenging team goals and to achieve them through collaborative team leadership Strong problem-solving and data analysis skills with the ability to apply insights to process improvements Proven ability to lead continuous improvement initiatives, including Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen facilitation Experience driving efficiency and performance through automation technologies Working knowledge of CAD tools to support process layout, equipment integration, and design improvements Requirements Bachelor’s Degree or a minimum of 10 years of manufacturing leadership experience required Minimum of 5 years of Lean manufacturing experience with at least 2 years in a supervisory role, preferably in the Chemical manufacturing industry Experience with Value Stream Mapping and proven success in leading Kaizen events Demonstrated ability to make data-driven decisions using metrics and analysis to guide improvements Hands-on experience with the implementation and launch of automation processes in a manufacturing environment Proficiency with CAD software (for reviewing layouts, process flows, or equipment designs) Lean manufacturing training and/or certification a plus Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications Must be available to work overtime and weekends when needed Must be legally authorized to work in the United States Physical Requirements and Demands Must be able to remain in a stationary position throughout assigned working hours Frequent reaching, grasping, bending, and stooping Must be able to tolerate odor from raw materials, freshly cured tires and hot materials Frequent pulling and/or pushing up to 20 lbs independently, and occasional pushing and/or pulling up to 35 lbs independently, and greater weights with mechanical automation assistance Must be able to frequently engage in repetitive motions requiring substantial movement of the wrist, hands and/or fingers Adequate vision to read work instructions, job aids and guides, and detect imperfections in raw materials, tooling and finished product Ability to work in environment with limited climate control and varied temperature levels Must be able to communicate effectively in an environment with continual noise, requiring the ability to hear, understand and communicate work instructions and directions while wearing company provided hearing protection Must be able to be frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, electrical equipment, mechanical equipment and vibration Salary Range: $100,000 - $125,000