Operations Manager at KOCH Finishing Systems - Evansville, IN in 5041 68th St SE, Caledonia, MI 49316, USA

Job description

• Posted Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 5:00 AM
• Koch Finishing Systems is looking for an Operations Manager to lead our Caledonia, MI job shop, where our team fabricates custom automated plating and anodizing equipment for customers around the world. In this role, you will own project scheduling, budget, and day-to-day execution across the shop's active projects - from kickoff through delivery. This is a great fit for a hands-on leader who thrives on managing multiple concurrent projects, cares deeply about safety and quality, and wants to help build a growing team.

Responsibilities

• Own project scheduling and execution across the shop's active fabrication projects, balancing customer commitments, capacity, and cost.
• Lead, coach, and manage performance of the manufacturing team including the Manufacturing Manager, Leads, and Production Planner.
• Oversee review of engineering drawings and the ordering of steel and other raw materials to keep every project on schedule.
• Develop and manage the shop's labor and material budgets, including forecasting and cost control.
• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with OSHA and company policy.
• Partner with Engineering to resolve fabrication issues, drawing discrepancies, and constructability questions.
• Drive continuous improvement in shop processes, tooling, layout, and equipment utilization.
• Keep the General Manager and other stakeholders informed on project schedules, status, risks, and issues.
• Manage Manufacturing capacity and planning activities
• Lead weekly shipping schedule meetings and proactively communicate potential delays to project managers
• Sustain welding compliance with all applicable AWS codes
• Champion ERP system, ensuring accuracy and completeness in all transactions
• Manage Inventory levels and cycle counting practices, driving Lean initiatives

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8-10 years of progressive experience in fabrication or manufacturing operations, ideally within a job-shop or project-based environment.
• Proven experience leading supervisors and cross-functional teams; experience overseeing production planning or materials/procurement is a plus.
• Working knowledge of metal fabrication processes and the ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Strong budgeting, scheduling, and organizational skills.

Skills

Required

• hands-on leader
• cares deeply about safety and quality
• metal fabrication processes
• engineering drawings
• ERP system
• AWS codes
• OSHA compliance