What a plant manager does
A plant manager is responsible for everything that happens inside a manufacturing or processing facility. They lead production, maintenance, quality and shipping teams, set and track output, cost and quality targets, plan capital improvements, manage labour and scheduling, and keep the site safe and compliant. In many companies they also manage relationships with unions, key customers and corporate leadership. When a plant runs well, it is usually because its manager has built strong systems and a strong team.
Manufacturing environments vary widely, from food and beverage to automotive parts, plastics, metal fabrication and packaging. Finch screens plant manager candidates for experience in comparable processes and regulations, their safety leadership and their record of improving output, quality and cost. We look for Lean or continuous improvement experience, sound knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and, for some employers, an engineering degree or a P.Eng. licensed through Professional Engineers Ontario.
Typical responsibilities
- Lead all plant functions, including production, maintenance, quality and logistics
- Set and track targets for safety, output, quality, cost and delivery
- Champion the health and safety program and work with the joint health and safety committee
- Drive continuous improvement and Lean initiatives
- Plan capital projects, equipment upgrades and maintenance strategy
- Manage labour planning, budgets and, where applicable, union relations
Qualifications and credentials
- Experience leading a manufacturing or processing facility, often after roles in production or operations management
- Strong knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and plant safety practices
- Lean, Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience
- Familiarity with quality systems such as ISO 9001, or food safety standards where relevant
- A degree or diploma in engineering, operations or a related field; a P.Eng. through PEO is sometimes preferred
Who hires a plant manager
- Food and beverage processors
- Automotive and industrial parts manufacturers
- Plastics, packaging and printing plants
- Metal fabrication and machining companies
- Pharmaceutical and consumer products manufacturers
Where we recruit plant manager candidates
We fill plant manager roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Comparable processes, plant size and workforce they have led
- Safety leadership and how they have improved safety performance
- Measured improvements in output, quality, waste or cost
- Experience with unionized or non-union workforces, matched to your site
- Quality systems and regulatory experience relevant to your products
Interview questions to ask
- Tell me about the biggest safety improvement you led in a plant. How did you change behaviour on the floor?
- Which numbers do you review daily, and what do you do when one of them slips?
- Describe a capital or equipment project you led. How did you justify it and measure the result?