Value Stream Manager, Paint/Powder Coat Operations

Full Time

Office & Admin

Milwaukee, WI, US

At MPE, we're dedicated to making a difference in the world through cutting-edge medical technology. Our mission is to be the global leader in design, engineering, and manufacturing solutions for the medical and technology industries — creating impactful solutions that improve lives, and fostering an environment where our team members can thrive, grow, and contribute to groundbreaking advancements in the medical field.

A better career for you. Creating medical technology for all.

Why This Role

As our Value Stream Manager, Paint/Powder Coat Operations, you'll own the full performance of a critical value stream — preparation, painting, post-processing, touch-up, and silkscreen — that directly supports electromechanical medical device assemblies. You'll lead a team of 15+ Area Leads and operators, running daily GEMBA stand-ups, driving lean improvement initiatives, and making the calls that keep safety, quality, delivery, and cost all on track in a low-volume, high-mix environment.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who wants real ownership — not just managing a schedule, but shaping how a value stream runs day to day, coaching a team, and directly impacting the quality of medical devices that matter.

What You'll Do

Value Stream Ownership

• Own full performance of the Paint/Powder Coat Value Stream — including preparation, painting, post-processing, touch-up, and silkscreen — against safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives

• Own process adherence, including validating operating parameters, documenting corrective actions for near-limit or out-of-limit conditions, and maintaining preventive maintenance intervals

Team Leadership & Scheduling

• Provide direct supervision of Area Leads and operators, including leading daily GEMBA stand-ups to align the team and resolve bottlenecks quickly

• Own the daily schedule, work priorities, and staffing plan across all shifts, partnering with the Plant Manager and Master Scheduling to adjust as demand or business needs change

• Coach, train, and mentor leads and operators on safety protocols, operating procedures, system transactions, operating parameters, and troubleshooting

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Address nonconformance reports (NCRs) in a timely manner, including rework processing and root cause investigation

• Monitor key performance metrics (safety, quality, productivity, efficiency) and departmental KPIs, resolving bottlenecks and quality concerns cross-functionally

• Drive continuous improvement using lean manufacturing tools (5S, Kaizen, etc.) to improve workflow efficiency, reduce waste, and lower costs

Materials & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Track and manage inventory of powders, hooks, plugs, masking materials, and department consumables, partnering with Purchasing to meet production demand

• Serve as key liaison between other production value streams and Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to resolve constraints and support new product launches

What You Bring

Required

• Degree in a technical field such as Operations Management, Engineering, or equivalent experience

• 5+ years of operations management experience leading teams of 10-20 direct labor employees in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment

• Strong problem-solving, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to analyze workflow efficiency, production issues, and quality concerns

• Experience executing production schedules, managing resources, and adjusting workflow to meet changing demand, including ERP system use for work orders, materials, and inventory

• Proficiency interpreting and creating engineering drawings, technical documentation, and specifications, including routings, BOMs, and drawings

• Comfort with power tools, hand tools, precision measurement instruments, and electrical testing equipment

• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and 13485 Quality System requirements

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

Nice to Have

• Powder coating experience, including pretreatment titration, process parameters, equipment operation, cure cycles, finish quality standards, and troubleshooting

• Knowledge of FDA regulations

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification

Why Work With MPE?

• Medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, and life insurance starting the first of the month after your hire date

• 401(k) match and profit sharing

• Vacation time from day one

• 9 paid holidays for regular full-time employees

• Paid training

No relocation or sponsorship available for this role.