General Manager – Manufacturing– $150,000 – $170,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.
+ Excellent Benefits – Charlotte, NC

General Manager – Manufacturing (Specialty Grinding, Plating, & Press Plates)

Reports To: President / CEO

Company Size: ~50 Employees

Location: Kings Mountain, NC (30 miles West of Charlotte NC)

Position Summary

The General Manager is responsible for leading all manufacturing and operational functions for an ISO Certified Specialty Grinding, Plating, and Press Plate Manufacturing business. This role provides both strategic direction and hands-on leadership in a small-company environment, overseeing sales, production, scheduling, quality, maintenance, and supply chain. The General Manager will drive business development requiring minimal travel (domestic & international), efficiency, precision, and on-time delivery while maintaining high-quality standards required for specialized, tight-tolerance products.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

- Oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations including grinding, plating, and press plate production
- Maintain a strong presence on the shop floor to drive accountability and performance
- Ensure production schedules meet customer deadlines and quality standards

Process & Continuous Improvement

- Implement Lean manufacturing practices appropriate for a small, precision environment
- Identify and eliminate inefficiencies in grinding, plating, finishing, and plate production processes
- Improve workflow, setup times, and throughput while maintaining tight tolerances

Quality & Precision

- Ensure adherence to strict quality standards (ISO-9001) for specialty grinding, plating, and press plates
- Partner with quality personnel to reduce defects and rework
- Promote a culture of craftsmanship, precision, and accountability

Supply Chain & Materials

- Oversee procurement of raw materials, tooling, and outside services
- Ensure vendor relationships are managed to safeguard reliability and cost-effectiveness
- Maintain optimal inventory levels for a small manufacturing environment

Financial & Business Performance

- Manage operational budgets, labor efficiency, and cost controls

- Consistent business development and development of customer relationships
- Drive margin improvement through productivity gains and waste reduction
- Partner with ownership on pricing, quoting, and capacity planning

Leadership & Team Development

- Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and skilled trades employees
- Foster a hands-on, team-oriented culture
- Support hiring, training, and retention of skilled operators and maintenance

Safety & Compliance

- Maintain a safe working environment and ensure compliance with OSHA standards
- Promote safety awareness and accountability at all levels

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business or related field
- 10-15+ years of manufacturing & sales experience with at least 10 years in a leadership role, 5 years in an upper management role preferred

- Hands-on leadership style suited for a small business environment
- Financial acumen with experience managing costs and operational performance

- Experience in precision grinding, machining, or metal fabrication strongly preferred
- Strong understanding of tight-tolerance manufacturing processes preferred

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- On-time delivery performance
- Production efficiency and throughput
- Scrap and rework rates
- Labor utilization and cost control
- Customer satisfaction and repeat business
- Safety performance

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary Range: $150,000 – $170,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

Discretionary Bonus Structure:
- Target bonus: 10% – 25% of base salary
- Performance-based, tied to key metrics including:
  • Company profitability
  • On-time delivery
  • Quality performance (scrap/rework reduction)
  • Operational efficiency improvements

Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off and holidays
- Retirement plan (e.g., 401(k) with company match)

Contact information

Liz Pflieger