Joshua Sabon
Crystal Lake,IL
Summary
Results-driven Plant Manager with extensive experience in diverse production settings. Proven ability to enhance employee performance and align it with organizational goals in high-pressure environments. Expertise in resource allocation, production scheduling, and workflow optimization.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Plant Manager
Meridian Adhesives
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
03.2025 - Current
- Managed daily plant operations and ensured compliance with safety regulations.
- Implemented cost-saving initiatives to improve operational efficiency.
- Oversaw production schedules and coordinated workflow among departments.
- Trained and mentored staff on best practices and safety protocols.
- Developed maintenance schedules for equipment to ensure optimal performance.
- Collaborated with quality control teams to uphold product standards.
- Led cross-functional teams to address production challenges and streamline processes.
- Managed the daily operations of the plant, including scheduling personnel and equipment.
- Monitored plant performance metrics, such as throughput, quality, cost, and safety.
- Planned, directed and coordinated operations for production, machinery and processing within company policies and procedures.
- Planned and coordinated maintenance activities for the facility.
- Facilitated communication between workers at different levels of the organization.
- Authored and updated production reports and personnel records to facilitate operational decisions.
- Applied lean strategies to implement operational enhancements, promote efficiency and cut costs.
- Cultivated culture of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement while providing operational leadership.
- Learned how to respond to emergency situations to prevent personal injuries and property damage.
- Produced daily operations report forecasting staffing needs and production volume to support cost-reduction and service improvement initiatives.
Production Manager
Cristaux International
Elk Grove Village
01.2023 - 03.2025
- Reduced redo quantities- Average 37.5 per month to 3.
- Improved largest program productivity by 35%.
- Sourced materials to keep up with production goals and meet customer demands.
- Managed continuous improvement initiatives to drive gains in quality, flow, and output.
- Standardized production procedures, job roles, and quality assurance guidelines.
- Resolved issues quickly to maintain productivity goals.
- Created streamlined production schedules and collaborated with production employees to communicate objectives and goals.
- Reviewed work for quality and compliance with company standards and design specifications.
- Managed internal operational standards and productivity targets.
- Delivered direct feedback to senior management regarding project visibility and status.
- Determined suitable crew requirements, scheduled employees, and worked with human resources to meet changing production schedules.
- Partnered with leadership on recruiting, hiring and coaching production personnel.
- Reviewed maintenance and repair problems to determine appropriate action for resolution.
- Monitored team budgets to keep projects on task and avoid waste.
- Studied department operations to assist with development of new or improved methods of tooling and production processes.
- Estimated labor requirements to support anticipated workload.
- Managed personnel by implementing company policies, procedures, work rules, and disciplinary action.
- Oversaw routine maintenance programs and scheduled service to keep equipment functioning at peak levels.
- Enforced health and safety protocols to promote safe working environment.
- Evaluated employee performance and provided feedback and training as needed.
- Coordinated with other departments to align production with customer requirements.
Business Unit Manager
AFC Materials
Lake in the Hills
04.2021 - 01.2023
- Build business plan for packaging, execute and launch division.
- Oversee, guide and build CFT (cross functional team) with groups within AFC (Purchasing, sales, IT/Finance, shipping/rec).
- Oversee all operations for new Packaging Division.
- Liaison for Packaging group in Italy.
- Responsible for setup of new bagger machines and press, testing of machine operations and training of all operators.
- Develop and set up relations with all vendors needed for Packaging Division in NA (ie Adhesive, paper supply, inks).
- Create, implement and train on SOP's for entire division (both NA and EU).
- Oversee all maintenance and repairs of bagger machines and press.
- Manage and oversee all Packaging inventory.
- Ensure packaging warehouse stays organized.
- Set up plant for 6S standard.
- Create quality control standards for packaging.
- Manage hiring/promoting/termination and personnel development plans.
- Create safety standards for Packaging Division.
- Develop team to solve own day-to-day operational issues.
- Manage customer inventory in warehouse.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Managed senior-level personnel working in marketing and sales capacities.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Controlled resources and assets for department activities to comply with industry standards and government regulations.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
Production Supervisor
HB Fuller Company
Elgin
04.2017 - 02.2021
- Responsible for safety training/new hire/ welcome packages across two sites.
- Utilize continuous improvement initiatives to influence positive productivity results.
- Assist in implementing inventory control initiatives to reduce raw materials and packaging material shortages.
- Achieve cost improvement goals through optimizing labor productivity and expense control.
- Ensure all quality standards and process procedures are maintained.
- Developed Team Leads to solve day-to-day operational issues.
- Responsible for all shift operations.
- Organize and facilitate work team meetings.
- Manage hiring/promoting/termination and personnel development plan's.
- Initiate and implement projects (reduce product changeover allotted time overages).
- Assist in setting safety standards, high standard of quality, and improving efficiencies.
- Have daily pre-shift safety & production meetings with the employees.
- Managing schedules for leads, bulk unloading, mixers, kettles & forklift Operators.
- Develop team to solve own day-to-day operational issues.
- Observes and enforces safety and attend/train on appropriate training sessions.
- Responsible for immediately reporting all safety and quality issues to plant manager.
- Responsible for managing maintenance for plant, hiring/planning contractors.
- Collect and record the results from shift production, manage and train on SAP.
- Write and Monitor Employees Performance Reviews.
- Trained staff of direct labor employees to perform assembly and manufacture of specified products.
- Evaluated team member performance regularly to identify and resolve productivity concerns.
1st Assistant General Manager
Menards
Lebanon
08.2015 - 03.2017
- Responsible for managing 120 employees in retail-based environment.
- Oversee all maintenance of property/building.
- Resolved customer issues in person or phone.
- Responsible for hiring contractors to tend to grounds, repairs to building or security/fire systems & seasonal needs.
- Develop dept managers and their assistants.
- Oversee morning stockers program.
- Manage store costs (P&L's), overtime and individual department financial needs.
- Work alongside corporate to ensure customer satisfaction is met.
- Helped manage and oversee front office proficiency- money handling.
- Accountable for opening closing procedures with heads of frontend and receiving.
- Help manage building remodel (test for entire company).
- Accountable for helping train 2nd assistant general manager for success.
- Running daily managers meeting with dept heads and GM of store.
- Manage hiring/promoting/termination and personnel development plan's.
Assistant General Manager
Menards
Fox Lake
08.2014 - 10.2015
- Responsible for helping manage 230 employees in retail-based environment.
- Help oversee all maintenance of property/building.
- Resolved customer issues in person or phone.
- Accountable for assisting in hiring contractors to tend to grounds, repairs to building or security/fire systems & seasonal needs.
- Develop assistant dept managers.
- Learn & understand morning stock program.
- Help manage store costs (P&L's), overtime and individual department financial needs.
- Work alongside corporate to ensure customer satisfaction is met.
- Oversee all receiving activities & proficiencies.
- Work alongside 1st assistant gm on opening & closing procedures.
- Accountable for helping set daily Dept manager meeting with store.
- Working alongside security group on site.
- Assist in managing hiring/promoting/termination and personnel development plan's.
Department Manager
Menards
Crystal Lake
07.2009 - 08.2014
- Responsible for receiving and count stock items and record data into the system.
- Pack and unpack items to be stocked on shelves on floor and warehouse.
- Accountable for verifying & track inventory by comparing physical stock & investigate and correct discrepancies.
- Store and maintain all shelves in orderly and accessible manner.
- Clean, maintain supplies, equipment and storage areas to ensure compliance and safety for all guests in store.
- Keep records of usage or damaged stock & stock handling equipment.
- Scheduling & ordering materials for customer.
- Responsible for team member training and disciplinary actions in dept.
- Design homes, building, barns for customers.
Infantry
United States Marines
, States
07.2006 - 06.2009
- Performed as fire team member during situational training exercises and infantry dismounted battle drills.
- Patrolled designated coverage areas and evaluated terrain for defensive use.
- Produced reports on equipment status, incidences, personnel readiness and intelligence for superiors.
- Established defensive positions to protect against enemy forces.
- Taught personnel to mitigate environmental hazards and properly use personal protective equipment such as chem gear for battle scenarios.
- Trained in use of tear gas, passive ordnance, and explosives.
Education
GED -
Jacobs High School
Algonquin, IL07.2006
Skills
- Forklift
- Excel
- Outlook
- Microsoft word
- Customer Service
- 5S
- Continuous Improvement
- Leadership Experience
- Retail Management
- Project Implementation
- Profit & Loss
- Process Improvement
- Supervising experience
- Analysis skills
- Root cause analysis
- ERP systems
- Manufacturing management
- Strong leadership abilities
- Production planning
Accomplishments
- Reduced redo amounts from average 37.5 pieces to 3 pieces per month.
- Reduced largest program redos from 127 pieces to 35. Increased productivity of program by 35% YOY.
Authorized To Work
US for any employer
Personal Information
Willing To Relocate: Anywhere
Timeline
Plant Manager
Meridian Adhesives
03.2025 - Current
Production Manager
Cristaux International
01.2023 - 03.2025
Business Unit Manager
AFC Materials
04.2021 - 01.2023
Production Supervisor
HB Fuller Company
04.2017 - 02.2021
1st Assistant General Manager
Menards
08.2015 - 03.2017
Assistant General Manager
Menards
08.2014 - 10.2015
Department Manager
Menards
07.2009 - 08.2014
Infantry
United States Marines
07.2006 - 06.2009
GED -
Jacobs High School