Operations Manager - Plastics Manufacturing
Keller Executive Search
Posted: May 7, 2026
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Quick Summary
We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager with expertise in polymer processing, particularly extrusion and thermo-pressing, to lead our cellulose acetate sheet production facility in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China.
Required Skills
Job Description
A well-established plastics manufacturing operation based in Dongguan is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead its cellulose acetate sheet production facility. This is a senior plant-level role with end-to-end accountability for manufacturing performance, engineering excellence, utilities management, and team leadership.
The successful candidate will be technically accomplished in polymer processing, particularly extrusion and thermo-pressing, and will have a demonstrable track record of driving operational improvement in a complex industrial environment. The role offers genuine autonomy and direct impact on plant-wide outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing & Process Management
• Lead and optimise cellulose acetate sheet production through extrusion and thermo-pressing processes, maintaining consistent quality and throughput.
• Define, monitor, and control critical process parameters including temperature profiles, pressures, line speeds, cooling rates, and residence times.
• Troubleshoot process issues such as sheet defects, thickness variation, surface quality problems, internal stresses, and yield losses.
• Drive continuous improvement programmes targeting OEE, scrap reduction, and cycle time optimisation.
• Collaborate with R&D and Quality teams on new formulations, material grades, and product development initiatives.
Utilities & Plant Infrastructure
• Ensure safe, reliable, and cost-efficient operation of all plant utilities including electrical power distribution, natural gas boilers, chilled water systems, cooling towers, HVAC, compressed air, smoke extraction, and ventilation.
• Monitor utility consumption and implement energy efficiency and cost-reduction initiatives in line with applicable regulations.
• Coordinate preventive and predictive maintenance plans across utilities and production equipment.
Maintenance & Engineering
• Oversee the maintenance strategy for extrusion lines, thermo-presses, material handling systems, and auxiliary equipment.
• Lead root cause analysis for equipment failures and persistent downtime events.
• Plan and execute capital investment projects, equipment upgrades, and plant modifications.
• Manage relationships with equipment suppliers, engineering contractors, and local service providers.
Quality, Safety & Compliance
• Ensure full compliance with customer specifications, quality standards, and internal standard operating procedures.
• Enforce EHS policies with particular attention to high-temperature, high-pressure, and gas-fired systems.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Chinese regulations covering boilers, pressure equipment, fire safety, and environmental protection.
• Promote a strong safety culture through structured training, audits, and continuous improvement activities.
Production Planning & People Management
• Align production schedules with sales forecasts and inventory targets.
• Lead, coach, and develop production, maintenance, and engineering teams.
• Define, track, and report KPIs including OEE, yield, scrap rate, energy consumption per unit, equipment uptime, and on-time delivery.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing technical competency development of local teams.
一家总部位于东莞的成熟塑料制造企业,现面向市场招聘一名经验丰富的运营经理,负责领导其醋酸纤维素板材生产工厂的日常运营。该职位为高级工厂管理层岗位,全面负责制造绩效、工程管理、公用设施运维及团队建设。
理想候选人需具备扎实的高分子材料加工专业背景(尤其是挤出与热压工艺),并能在复杂工业环境中持续推动运营改善,展现出卓越的实战经验与领导力。该职位具有较高的自主权,对工厂整体运营成果有直接影响。
主要职责
生产与工艺管理
• 主导并优化挤出与热压工艺下的醋酸纤维素板材生产,确保产品质量稳定、产能充分释放。
• 制定、监控并管控关键工艺参数,包括温度曲线、压力、线速、冷却速率及物料停留时间。
• 排查生产过程中的板材缺陷、厚度偏差、表面质量问题、内应力及良率损失等异常。
• 推动以综合设备效率(OEE)、废料率降低及节拍时间优化为核心的持续改善项目。
• 与研发及品质团队协作,支持新配方、新材料牌号及新产品的开发工作。
公用设施与工厂基础设施
• 确保全厂公用设施安全、可靠、高效运行,涵盖配电系统、天然气锅炉、冷水机组、冷却塔、暖通空调、压缩空气、烟气排放及通风系统。
• 监控能源消耗数据,制定并推进节能降耗计划,确保符合现行法规要求。
• 统筹制定公用设施及生产设备的预防性与预测性维护计划。
维保与工程管理
• 负责挤出线、热压机、物料输送系统及辅助设备的维修保养策略制定与执行。
• 主导设备故障及长期性停机事件的根本原因分析与改善工作。
• 规划并实施资本支出项目、设备升级及工厂改造工程。
• 管理与设备供应商、工程承包商及本地服务商的合作关系。
质量、安全与合规
• 确保产品符合客户规格要求、质量标准及内部标准操作程序(SOP)。
• 严格执行EHS政策,重点关注高温、高压及燃气系统的安全操作规范。
• 确保遵守中国现行相关法规,包括锅炉安全、压力容器、消防及环境保护等方面的规定。
• 通过系统性培训、审核及持续改善活动,推动建立健全的安全生产文化。
生产计划与团队管理
• 根据销售预测及库存目标,合理安排生产计划。
• 领导、辅导并发展生产、维保及工程团队。
• 制定、跟踪并汇报关键绩效指标,包括OEE、产品良率、废料率、单位能耗、设备开动率及准时交付率。
• 支持本地团队的招聘、入职引导及技术能力持续培养。
Requirements:
Education
• Bachelor's degree or above in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, Materials Science, or equivalent discipline).
Experience
• Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 3 years in a plant-level operations or production management role.
• Demonstrated experience in plastic extrusion, thermo-pressing, or closely related polymer processing technologies.
• Proven hands-on capability managing industrial utilities including natural gas boilers, chillers, cooling towers, and electrical distribution systems.
• Experience working within a Chinese industrial environment or a multinational manufacturing organisation operating in China.
Technical Knowledge
• Strong working knowledge of polymer processing principles; familiarity with cellulose acetate or analogous thermoplastics is an advantage.
• Solid understanding of thermal processes, heat transfer, cooling systems, and industrial energy management.
• Familiarity with industrial automation, PLC-controlled equipment, and process data analysis tools.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, plant layouts, and technical engineering drawings.
• Working knowledge of EHS and regulatory requirements applicable in China (boiler regulations, pressure vessel standards, environmental protection legislation).
Language
• Professional proficiency in both English and Mandarin Chinese (spoken and written) is required for this role, given the bilingual operational environment.
Preferred Qualifications
• Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Direct experience with cellulose acetate or other specialty thermoplastic sheet production.
• Formal qualification or certification in EHS management (e.g., NEBOSH, IOSH, or equivalent).
• Experience implementing lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or TPM frameworks.
• Established network with Chinese equipment suppliers, engineering contractors, or regulatory bodies.
• Exposure to cross-functional project management including capital expenditure planning and execution.
任职要求
学历
• 工程类相关专业(机械、化工、工业工程、材料科学或同等专业)本科及以上学历。
工作经验
• 至少8年制造业运营管理相关工作经验,其中不少于3年担任工厂级运营或生产管理职务。
• 具备塑料挤出、热压成型或相近高分子材料加工工艺的实战经验。
• 有管理工业公用设施的实际经验,包括天然气锅炉、冷水机组、冷却塔及配电系统。
• 具备在中国工业环境或外资制造企业工作的经历。
专业技能
• 扎实掌握高分子材料加工原理;具有醋酸纤维素或类似热塑性材料生产经验者优先。
• 深入理解热过程、热传导、冷却系统及工业能源管理相关知识。
• 熟悉工业自动化、PLC控制设备及过程数据分析工具。
• 能够准确读懂并理解管道仪表图(P&ID)、工厂布局图及工程技术图纸。
• 熟悉中国EHS相关法规(锅炉安全、压力容器标准、环境保护法规等)。
语言能力
• 本岗位因双语运营环境需要,要求候选人具备流利的中英文读写及口语表达能力。
优先条件
• 相关工程专业硕士研究生学历。
• 具有醋酸纤维素或其他特种热塑性板材生产的直接操作经验。
• 持有EHS管理相关认证(如NEBOSH、IOSH或同等资质)。
• 具备精益生产、六西格玛或全面生产维护(TPM)体系的推行经验。
• 与国内设备供应商、工程承包商或监管部门建立有稳定合作网络。
• 有资本支出项目规划与执行的跨职能项目管理经验。
Benefits:
Salary
A competitive salary package commensurate with experience and qualification level is on offer. This role is benchmarked at senior management level within the Guangdong manufacturing sector. Specific remuneration will be discussed in detail during the selection process.
Benefits
• Statutory social insurance contributions (养老、医疗、失业、工伤、生育保险) in full compliance with Guangdong Province requirements.
• Housing provident fund (住房公积金) contributions in accordance with local Dongguan regulations.
• Annual performance bonus scheme.
• Supplementary commercial health insurance.
• Relocation support available for candidates relocating from outside Guangdong Province.
Annual Leave
• Statutory paid annual leave in accordance with the People's Republic of China Labour Law (5–15 days per year based on continuous service), plus public holidays as mandated by law.
• Additional discretionary leave entitlement applicable upon confirmation of employment — details provided during the offer stage.
薪资水平
本职位提供具有市场竞争力的薪酬待遇,薪资水平参照广东省制造业高级管理岗位市场标准制定,最终薪资方案将根据候选人的资历与经验在面试过程中详细沟通。
福利待遇
• 依法缴纳五险一金(养老保险、医疗保险、失业保险、工伤保险、生育保险及住房公积金),严格遵守广东省东莞市相关规定。
• 年度绩效奖金制度。
• 补充商业医疗保险。
• 面向省外人才提供相应的搬迁支持。
年假与休假
• 享有《中华人民共和国劳动法》及《职工带薪年休假条例》规定的带薪年休假(根据连续工龄享受5至15天年假),并享有国家法定节假日。
• 正式入职确认后,可享有额外的酌情年假权益,具体细节将在录用阶段另行说明。
Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy
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Reasonable Accommodations
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Compensation Information
For client positions, compensation information will be provided in accordance with applicable national laws. When required by law, salary information will be included in job postings or shared during the interview process. Actual salary may depend on skills, experience, and comparison to current employees in similar roles. Salary ranges may vary based on role and location.
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Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with national and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in the countries where we operate. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, includin