Supply Chain & Production Director at Bil-Jax in Archbold, OH

Supply Chain & Production Director

Bil-Jax, Inc.

Location: Archbold, Ohio (On-Site)

Note: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Bil-Jax, Inc., a member of the Haulotte Group, is seeking an experienced Supply Chain & Production Director to lead manufacturing and supply chain operations at our Archbold, Ohio facility. Reporting directly to the Vice President & General Manager, this key leadership role is responsible for manufacturing, procurement, inventory, warehousing, logistics, and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP). The successful candidate will lead a multi-year factory modernization initiative focused on automation, operational excellence, and scalable growth while partnering with production, engineering, sourcing, and commercial teams to improve productivity, delivery performance, and profitability across the business.

Key Responsibilities

Factory Modernization & Automation

• Lead the development and execution of a long-term automation strategy that improves manufacturing efficiency, increases throughput, and reduces overall production costs.
• Manage capital investment projects from concept through implementation, including equipment selection, vendor management, installation, commissioning, and performance validation.
• Partner with Engineering and IT teams to integrate new manufacturing technologies and digital solutions that improve visibility, reporting, and operational decision-making.

Production Planning & Operational Excellence

• Optimize production scheduling and resource allocation across a complex manufacturing environment with approximately 2,000 active SKUs while maintaining high levels of quality, efficiency, and on-time delivery.
• Develop and implement processes that improve the flow of work-in-process material and eliminate bottlenecks between fabrication, welding, painting, and assembly operations.
• Lead the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process in collaboration with cross-functional leaders to align customer demand, production capacity, inventory levels, and business objectives.

Supply Chain & Procurement Leadership

• Develop sourcing strategies for steel, purchased components, and other critical materials while building strong supplier partnerships and mitigating supply chain risk.
• Establish inventory management practices that improve inventory accuracy, increase inventory turns, and maintain service levels required to support customers and production operations.
• Oversee warehousing, inbound logistics, and outbound freight activities to ensure efficient material flow and cost-effective distribution.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Drive organizational change by leading the transition toward a more automated and technically advanced manufacturing environment while developing and upskilling existing team members.
• Provide leadership and direction to Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Production Supervisors, and other operational teams while working collaboratively with Maintenance, Safety, Shipping, and Site Leadership.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement by ensuring compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience within a manufacturing environment, including at least 5 years in a senior operations leadership role such as Plant Manager, Operations Manager, or Director of Operations.
• Demonstrated success within structural steel fabrication, sheet metal fabrication, machining, heavy equipment manufacturing, or a related industrial environment.
• Proven experience implementing manufacturing automation, robotics, or automated production cells.
• Experience leading operations within a manufacturing organization ranging from approximately $30M to $100M in annual revenue.
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or a related field.

Preferred Skills

• Deep understanding of metal fabrication, welding, machining, and assembly processes.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong financial and business acumen with experience managing operational budgets and capital expenditures.
• Experience utilizing ERP systems in a manufacturing environment, preferably Epicor.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and change management skills.