Operations Manager
Howmet Aerospace · Whitehall, MI
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Aerospace & defense
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Howmet Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Whitehall, MI. Flexibility --responds readily to a variety of stimuli in an environment where every day can be different; capable of multitasking and moving quickly from one topic to another; employs different mindsets or perspectives situationally.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, OEE, Casting
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Michigan: typical posted base $130k–$189k.
Median of the low and high ends of 4 live postings that list pay, out of 30 production engineer openings in Michigan, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Michigan plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 29 other live production postings in Michigan.
- Experience asked
- Typical (7+ years)
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 60%
- ✓ Team leadership 53%
- ✓ Cost reduction 50%
- ✓ Six Sigma 40%
- ✓ Casting 30%
- Automation 30%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Howmet Aerospace
We found 4 people at this company and state: 4 in this kind of role. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Nicholas → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Howmet Aerospace in Whitehall
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Full description from Howmet AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Follow Safety Regulations along with all department specific safety requirements.
- ◆OEE
- ◆Production Value Added by department.
- ◆Daily targets for shipments
- ◆Profit/Revenue
- ◆Ensure the safety of all employees by promoting a clean and safe work environment.
- ◆Improve manufacturing planning, execution, and shop floor discipline.
- ◆Provide leadership for Plant ABS and lean manufacturing initiatives.
- ◆Provide leadership to identify and remove non-value-added waste.
- ◆Improve product flow and/or implement method improvements to reduce labor content.
- ◆Develop and train for the professional and personal growth of team leaders, cell facilitators, supervisors, and other manufacturing support personnel.
- ◆Address any safety issues or non-compliances immediately.
- ◆Promote Injury Free Event (IFE) reporting.
- ◆Accountable for applicable department budgets.
- ◆Maintain good relations and communication with Howmet customers.
- ◆Develop with plant manager and staff budget, strategic plans, team goals and objectives that align with BU objectives.
- ◆Flow down goals and objectives to the entire organization.
- ◆Contribute to other location specific and corporate teams.
- ◆Maintain excellent delivery performance.
- ◆Conduct capacity analysis to drive standard work and ensure accuracy of standards.
- ◆Drive cost reductions to improve profitability.
- ◆Use lean manufacturing tools to reduce WIP and cycle time.
- ◆Communicate all relevant information to Staff, customers, and management.
- ◆Understand constraint management, OEE and apply techniques that exploit constraints to improve OEE.
- ◆Provide leadership in implementing continuous improvement methods and ideas.
- ◆Consults with engineering personnel relative to modifications to the process to improve production and quality of the products.
- ◆Provide leadership in a safety and continuous improvement initiatives.
Qualifications
- ✓HS Degree or GED and a minimum of 7 years in manufacturing with 5 years in leadership OR 3 years in leadership with minimum 1 year of Howmet leadership experience as a leader of other leaders in operations in a castings plant.
- ✓Must be willing to relocate to other company locations to support future career development opportunities and business requirements.
- ✓Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
- ✓This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Bachelor's Degree is preferred.
- ✓Experience in the investment casting industry a plus.
- ✓Strong leadership skills that create an engaged employee environment.
- ✓Able to drive improvement through the implementation of the lean manufacturing principles, total quality practices, six sigma.
- ✓A strong technical understandin
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Howmet Engine Products, a division Howmet Aerospace, seeks a motivated and experienced leader to join our team! The Manufacturing Manager, located in Whitehall, MI, will provide day to day leadership and direction to manufacturing shop floor teams while promoting manufacturing excellence and ensuring customer satisfaction. The Manufacturing Manager will also provide leadership in continuous improvement of plant performance measurements (quality, productivity, cycle time, delivery and cash flow).
This role will be located at our Whitehall Casting Plant 1/3
Primary
Job Roles
- •Empowering talent --identifies and removes obstacles to productivity at individual and systemic levels; inspires and equips people to perform; understands direct link between people and measurable performance; provides cross-training opportunities.
- •Flexibility --responds readily to a variety of stimuli in an environment where every day can be different; capable of multitasking and moving quickly from one topic to another; employs different mindsets or perspectives situationally.
- •Organized and time conscious --manages time well; does what is needed efficiently; understands how long processes require and manages expectations; accordingly, navigates the tension between availability and proactivity.
- •Business-minded --aligns people and resources to demand; forecasts need and synthesizes input to anticipate focus areas on a time and project basis; thorough understanding of business enables quick decisions where appropriate.
- •Interpretation and synthesis --makes sense of multiple inputs quickly and efficiently; generates action plans from available information; interprets data and qualitative information to provide justification and purpose; rationalizes decision making with substantive reasoning; understands relevant numbers and trends.
- •Rigor --participates in audit processes; utilizes existing systems extensively and expertly; solicits information from shift level to enterprise; creates processes through continuous improvement.
- •Team orientation --often involved at a tactical level; can contribute technically or operationally if needed, though not as first option; retains authority while delegating ownership.
- •Trust and relationship --communicates openly and regularly, maintaining information flow; visible on floor; focuses attention on strengths and achievements, while addressing shortcomings as needed.
- •Ingenuity --finds efficiencies and gains time closer to delivery; solicits and implements ideas; invites improvement from any sector or level.
- •Professional posture --handles escalations objectively and dispassionately; recasts difficult situations as opportunities for learning and growth; custodian of plant environment and brand.
Basic