Technical Engineering Manager – PET Thermoforming & Sheet Extrusion

Company Overview

Krystalite GT Inc. is a Canadian-owned and operated manufacturer specializing in sustainable packaging solutions — including PET cups and lids (brands: Revive, Refresh) and rPET sheet rolls (Reborn). Serving food & beverage and industrial packaging markets, we are committed to innovation, operational excellence, and environmental stewardship.

Role Purpose

The Technical Engineering Manager is a senior plant leadership role responsible for the overall technical, engineering, and operational performance of the Fergus manufacturing facility.

This position provides strategic and hands-on leadership for PET sheet extrusion and thermoforming operations, engineering systems, preventive maintenance programs, OEE improvement initiatives, safety compliance, capital planning, and continuous improvement to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality packaging products.

Key Responsibilities

Plant Operations & Technical Leadership

• Provide full operational oversight of PET sheet extrusion, thermoforming, cups/lids production, finishing, and packaging operations.
• Lead all technical aspects of material handling systems, extrusion process parameters, sheet quality control, and thermoforming optimization.
• Ensure production targets (volume, yield, uptime, cost per unit) are achieved while maintaining food-grade quality standards.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve SOPs for extrusion and downstream operations.

OEE & Performance Management

• Develop, monitor, and continuously improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE – Availability, Performance, Quality).
• Establish plant-level KPIs aligned with corporate performance objectives.
• Conduct structured root cause analysis (RCA) for downtime, scrap, and process inefficiencies.
• Drive productivity and efficiency improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or similar methodologies.
• Lead scrap reduction, yield improvement, labor productivity enhancement, and energy optimization programs.

Maintenance & Engineering Systems

• Oversee a comprehensive Preventive and Predictive Maintenance (PM) program.
• Ensure strict adherence to PM schedules to reduce unplanned downtime.
• Lead maintenance budgeting, spare parts planning, and asset lifecycle management.
• Oversee machine guarding, lockout/tagout compliance, and equipment safety audits.
• Lead evaluation and execution of capital expenditure projects, equipment upgrades, and process automation initiatives.

Quality & Sustainability

• Ensure finished goods consistently meet internal and customer specifications for dimensions, strength, clarity, and multi-color printing (1–8 color capability).
• Collaborate with Engineering, Sales, and Supply Chain on new product introductions and process optimization.
• Lead sustainability initiatives focused on:
  • Waste reduction
  • Scrap control
  • Energy efficiency
  • Responsible material utilization

Health, Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and all applicable Canadian regulations.
• Maintain high safety standards including machine guarding, LOTO compliance, and internal safety audits.
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Foster a strong culture of safety, accountability, and operational discipline across all shifts.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead and develop engineering, maintenance, production, quality, and logistics teams.
• Build strong technical capability within the plant through structured training and mentorship.
• Drive performance management, workforce engagement, and succession planning.
• Act as a key member of the senior leadership team contributing to long-term strategic planning.

Financial & Strategic Accountability

• Monitor actual vs. budget performance and implement corrective actions.
• Drive cost-reduction initiatives while maintaining product quality and service levels.
• Provide structured performance reporting to executive leadership.
• Execute additional operational, technical, and strategic initiatives as assigned to support overall plant performance and business objectives.

Key Qualifications

Essential

• 12+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in plastics manufacturing (Canada/USA).
• Proven track record of improving OEE in high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Strong technical expertise in extrusion and thermoforming process optimization.
• Experience leading engineering and maintenance teams.
• Strong financial acumen including budgeting, capital planning, and cost control.
• Deep understanding of Ontario industrial safety regulations (OHSA).
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Electrical, Polymer, Industrial, or related Engineering field.

Preferred

• Experience in food-grade or consumer packaging manufacturing.
• Experience with recycled PET (rPET) sheet operations.
• Lean / Six Sigma certification.
• Master’s degree in Engineering or Operations Management.
• Bilingual (English + French) is an asset.

Working Conditions

• Full-time, on-site leadership role at the Fergus, Ontario facility.
• Occasional travel to suppliers or customer sites as required.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive senior-level base salary (commensurate with experience)
• Performance bonus tied to plant KPIs and OEE improvements
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Paid time off

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Work Location: In person