Extrusion Manager

Role Summary

The Extrusion Manager is responsible for the end-to-end leadership of plastic extrusion operations, including production performance, process optimization, quality consistency, safety, and team development. This role provides strategic and operational oversight of extrusion lines while serving as the technical authority for extrusion processes, tooling, and continuous improvement.

Operational Leadership & Production Management

· Lead and coordinate daily extrusion operations across multiple lines/shifts, ensuring production schedules, quality standards, labor utilization, and cost targets are consistently achieved.

· Plan, execute, and oversee extrusion line startups, shutdowns, changeovers, and staffing coverage to maximize uptime and operational efficiency.

· Monitor real-time production performance and proactively address constraints, bottlenecks, or resource gaps.

· Serve as the primary escalation point for complex production, quality, or safety issues, ensuring timely resolution and minimal disruption.

Process Optimization & Technical Oversight

· Own and continuously refine extrusion process parameters, tooling configurations, and downstream settings to ensure product consistency, dimensional accuracy, and throughput.

· Diagnose and resolve complex extrusion challenges, including melt instability, performance issues, surface defects, and dimensional variation.

· Lead structured root cause analyses for recurring process deviations and implement corrective and preventive actions.

· Develop, standardize, and enforce SOPs for extrusion startup, shutdown, purging, cleaning, and changeovers.

People Leadership & Capability Development

· Recruit, onboard, train, and develop extrusion operators, leads, and supervisors to build a skilled, flexible, and accountable workforce.

· Establish clear performance expectations, training standards, skills matrices, and cross-training plans to support operational continuity.

· Foster a culture of safety, ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement across all shifts.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

· Ensure extrusion operations comply with all applicable OSHA, environmental, and company safety policies and procedures.

· Enforce adherence to PPE, machine guarding, lockout/tagout, housekeeping, and safe work practices.

· Maintain control plans, inspection standards, and process documentation.

· Lead proactive risk assessments and corrective actions to prevent incidents, defects, or compliance gaps.

 REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• 7+ years plastic extrusion experience (PVC preferred)
• 5+ years manufacturing leadership experience
• Strong technical knowledge of extrusion processes and controls
• Proven people leadership and cross-functional collaboration