Assistant Cap Shop Manager

Position Summary

The Assistant Retread Plant Manager supports the Plant Manager in overseeing daily tire retreading operations, including production, safety, quality, maintenance, and team supervision. This position serves as a key operational leader on the plant floor, ensuring processes run efficiently, safely, and in compliance with all company standards, Bandag requirements, and applicable industry regulations. The ideal candidate is a hands-on team leader with solid technical knowledge of tire retreading processes and a drive for continuous improvement in productivity and product quality.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Operations

• Assist in planning, coordinating, and directing daily plant activities to achieve production goals in alignment with Bandag process requirements and company objectives.
• Support consistent adherence to Bandag's retread manufacturing system, including inspection, buffing, repair, building, curing, and final inspection stages.
• Help optimize plant workflow, material usage, and labor efficiency to minimize downtime and waste.
• Step in to manage plant operations in the absence of the Plant Manager, ensuring continuity of production and compliance.

Quality Assurance

• Support 100% compliance with Bandag quality standards and documentation requirements.
• Assist in conducting regular quality audits, ensuring all retreads meet or exceed customer and DOT specifications.
• Help investigate process or product nonconformities and assist in implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Participate in Bandag field representative plant audits and certification reviews.

Team Leadership & Development

• Assist in supervising, training, and developing production staff, fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and excellence.
• Support the Plant Manager in conducting performance evaluations and coordinating skill development initiatives.
• Help schedule staffing and manage workloads to meet changing production demands.
• Lead by example in promoting safety, quality, and professional workplace standards.

Safety & Compliance

• Enforce all company, Bandag, and OSHA safety policies to maintain a safe and compliant work environment.
• Assist in conducting safety meetings, inspections, and training to ensure employee awareness and hazard prevention.
• Ensure proper handling, storage, and disposal of materials in compliance with environmental regulations.
• Promptly report and document safety incidents, near-misses, and corrective actions.

Maintenance & Equipment

• Support preventive maintenance programs to ensure reliability and optimal performance of all Bandag retread machinery and curing equipment.
• Assist in coordinating maintenance activities and troubleshooting mechanical issues to minimize downtime.
• Communicate equipment concerns and maintenance needs promptly to the Plant Manager.

Reporting & Cost Control

• Assist in managing cost controls and monitoring inventory levels for tread rubber, cushion gum, envelopes, and other retread materials.
• Help track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as production volume, yield, quality, and scrap rate.
• Support corporate initiatives for efficiency improvement and waste reduction.

Statement of Other Duties

This document describes the major duties and responsibilities for this job and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that employees may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described.

What We Offer

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) - Pete's match 25% up to 6% employee contribution
• Vacation - 2 Weeks
• $15,000 Life Insurance - additional coverage may be purchased
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Boot Program
• Paid Job-Related Certification Training
• Job-Related Tuition Reimbursement

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or Equivalent required; associate or technical degree preferred.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in tire retreading, manufacturing operations, or a related industrial environment.
• Minimum of 1 year in a supervisory, lead, or team management role.
• Valid Driver's License with a clean driving record required.

Skills & Competencies

• Working knowledge of retread manufacturing processes, equipment, and materials, including Bandag systems preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management abilities with a collaborative, hands-on approach.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills in a fast-paced production environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with production management or ERP systems a plus.
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with plant staff, management, and vendors.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including occasional evenings or weekends, as production demands require.

Physical Demands

• Exerts 75 to 100 pounds of force occasionally.
• Ability to stand, walk, and work in a production environment for extended periods. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs and perform hands-on work when needed.
• Tolerance for heat, noise, and other conditions typical of an industrial setting.
• Occasionally reaches (extending hands and arms in any direction), handles (seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or working with hands), and identifies and distinguishes colors.
• Occasionally climbs (ascends or descends ladders, stairs, ramps, and the like) and balances.
• Occasionally stoops (bending the body downward and forward by bending at the waist, legs and spine) and kneels (bending the legs at knee to come to rest on knee or knees).