Operations Manager

At Allegion, we help keep the people you know and love safe and secure where they live, work and visit. With more than 30 brands, 12,000+ employees globally and products sold in 130 countries, we specialize in security around the doorway and beyond.

Additionally, in 2024 we were awarded the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, which recognizes the most engaged workplace cultures in the world.

Operations Manager - M
cKenzie, Tennessee

Reporting to the Plant Manager, the Operations Manager will lead all manufacturing activities at our McKenzie facility. This role oversees a supervisory team of 10 across two shifts and an hourly workforce of approximately 140 associates. You will implement strategic initiatives, effectively allocate resources, and promote a culture focused on safety, quality, on-time delivery, cost efficiency, and continuous people development. A hands-on leader, you will drive operational excellence through lean initiatives, rigorous safety standards, and cross-functional collaboration.

What You Will Do:

• Lead, mentor and develop a supervisory team of 10 across two shifts and an hourly workforce of ~140 associates to meet performance targets.
• Oversee all manufacturing operations—assembly, processing, machinery, and packaging—to ensure efficient, safe, and on-time production.
• Develop, communicate and execute operational plans in alignment with business objectives and the Annual Operating Plan (AOP).
• Champion continuous improvement efforts and drive plant productivity by leading Kaizen events, A3 problem-solving, and other lean manufacturing initiatives facility-wide.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA and company safety standards, proactively addressing hazards and promoting a zero-injury culture.
• Partner with quality leadership to monitor product standards, investigate deviations and implement corrective actions quickly.
• Optimize delivery performance by managing labor, equipment and workflow to meet customer demand and minimize bottlenecks.
• Control costs—overtime, scrap and operational expenditures—by analyzing data and implementing efficiency measures.
• Collaborate with engineering and new product development teams to support product launches, process validation and continuous process improvements.
• Foster employee engagement and skill development by identifying training needs, coaching supervisors and promoting a positive workplace culture.
• Conduct regular Gemba walks and audits to reinforce standards, engage frontline teams and uncover improvement opportunities.
• Utilize engagement metrics and tools to track progress on cultural initiatives and team accountability.
• Partner with EH&S, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, HR and Finance to drive plant-wide initiatives and achieve business goals.
• Manage staffing plans and organizational structure within operations and maintenance to ensure readiness for volume changes and new product introductions.
• Maintain an active presence on the manufacturing floor, spending approximately 70% of the time engaged directly with operations and frontline teams.

What You Will Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business or related discipline preferred.
• 10–15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, ideally in metal forming and coating or related industries.
• Proven track record managing a supervisory team of ~10 across multiple shifts and 100+ hourly associates.
• Strong expertise in lean manufacturing principles and hands-on leadership of continuous improvement projects.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes including assembly, machinery operation and packaging.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, with high emotional intelligence.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to address complex operational challenges.
• Unwavering commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.
• Flexibility to work variable shifts and occasional weekends as needed.

Why Work for Us?

Allegion is a Great Place to Grow your Career if:

• You're seeking a rewarding opportunity that allows you to truly help others. With thousands of employees…