Plant Manager

HSM Company History  |  HSM HEART Company Values  |  Who is HSM to our customers? 

Founded in 1944, HSM is a third generation, privately held company with a rich history of innovation and a commitment to our people. With 25 locations across the U.S. and corporate headquarters in Hickory, NC and Huntersville, NC, we specialize in manufacturing components for furniture, bedding, transportation, packaging, automotive, and healthcare industries. Our expertise also includes designing and building automated production machinery. HSM products from sofa springs to swimming pool noodles and bus seats, touch everyday life in countless ways. 

At HSM, our success is built on our people. We foster a culture of teamwork, innovation, and shared success. If you’re looking for a meaningful place to grow and make an impact, we want to hear from you! 

What You’ll Do

• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations, including foam cutting, fabrication, kitting, packaging, shipping, and supporting production activities 
• Develop and execute operating plans that align plant performance with business objectives and customer needs
• Drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Standard Work, Visual Management, 5S, and waste elimination
• Optimize production scheduling, labor utilization, equipment performance, and material flow to increase throughput and efficiency
• Establish and monitor KPIs to improve productivity, quality, inventory accuracy, and overall plant performance
• Partner with Engineering on new product launches, process improvements, equipment installations, and automation initiatives
• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company requirements
• Support ISO 9001 requirements while advancing automotive readiness through IATF 16949 and VDA 6.3 principles

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field highly preferred; equivalent education and progressive manufacturing leadership experience will also be considered 
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with responsibility for operations, production, quality, safety, and employee development
• Previous Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or similar leadership experience strongly preferred
• Experience in transportation, automotive, engineered products, furniture, bedding, or another high-volume manufacturing environment preferred
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, and continuous improvement
• Experience with production scheduling, capacity planning, inventory management, labor optimization, ERP/MRP systems, and operational performance metrics
• Working knowledge of CNC cutting, fabrication, assembly, material flow, warehousing, and shipping operations
• Understanding of maintenance, capital equipment planning, automation, and manufacturing technology improvements