Director – Physical Automation
First Quality
Director – Physical Automation
First Quality
Produces branded and private-label consumer products
Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.
Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.
We are seeking a Director, Physical Automation for our First Quality Tissue, SE facility located in Anderson, SC. This position will lead the organization to identify and reduce manual operations in manufacturing processes - from unloading of raw materials till finished products delivered to customers.
Primary responsibilities include:
Create and execute roadmap for the physical automation rollout in FQ Tissue (North Star – No human interactions with machines for operations, maintenance or product handling)
Create business case and prioritize rollout of physical automaton projects
Lead cross functional teams across the organization (operations, maintenance, engineering, business unit leads, IT hardware, SAP, project management, Product development ) to execute physical automation projects
Joint development of automation solutions along with suppliers wherever applicable for the benefit of FQ
Create a consortium of suppliers, research labs, universities etc who can partner with FQ to the vision of no human interaction operations
Insure the organization is prepared and knowledgeable for the ongoing introduction of new automation solutions
The ideal candidate should possess the following:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related degree.
Experience leading TPM or Continuous improvement methodologies (IWS, Lean etc)
Experience with implementation of automation projects to reduce waste and variability in industrial environments, for example: self-guided vehicles, trailer loading, ASRS, robots (humanoid, dogs or others), sensors/cameras, manual operations automation, AI solutions in machines, automated product quality checks, converting line automation, warehouse automation, etc.
Experience working with suppliers of technology, machinery or automation solutions
Paper industry or CPG experience preferred
Strong leadership skills
Technical mastery – mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, data
Manage suppliers and external partners
Ability to lead cross functional teams via influence
Good communication skills – oral, written, presentation
Ability to travel as necessary to support multiple sites.
What We Offer You
We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:
Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities
Paid time off (three-week minimum)
Medical, dental and vision starting day one
401(k) with employer match
Paid parental leave
Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)
Bundle of joy benefit (year's worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)
Tuition assistance
Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums
...and more!
First Quality is committed to protecting information under the care of First Quality Enterprises commensurate with leading industry standards and applicable regulations. As such, First Quality provides at least annual training regarding data privacy and security to employees who, as a result of their role specifications, may come in to contact with sensitive data.
First Quality is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identification, or protected Veteran status.
Produces branded and private-label consumer products
First Quality makes consumer products such as personal care items, adult incontinence products, baby care goods, and household paper. These products are produced for both its own brands and private-label programs, then sold to retailers and institutions across North America and beyond. The company designs and manufactures practical, high-quality items that customers use in daily life and aims to meet retailer and institutional needs while maintaining strong product quality. What sets First Quality apart is its emphasis on brand building, customer service, and consistent quality, serving a diverse roster of clients and focusing on innovation and reliability to stay competitive. The overall goal is to grow sales and market presence by delivering dependable products that improve the lives of customers, partners, employees, and communities.
Explore more opportunities at First Quality