Safety-Driven Plant Manager & Production Leader

TRENT ALFORD

803-***-**** ️ ********@*****.*** Fort Lawn, SC

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Results-oriented manufacturing leader with 20+ years of progressive experience driving operational excellence, leading high-performance teams, and improving plant performance across multiple industries. Proven success in production planning, cost control, process optimization, and Lean manufacturing. Recognized for a hands-on leadership style, strong technical aptitude, and a commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

CORE COMPETENCIES

●Plant & Production Management

●Team Leadership & Workforce Development

●Process Improvement & Optimization

●Quality Assurance & Control

●OSHA Compliance & Safety Leadership

●Budgeting & Cost Reduction

●SOP / JSA Creation & Training

●Technical Troubleshooting

●Inventory & Logistics Coordination

●ERP Systems: Oracle, ADP, Cietrade, SAGE, Paychex

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Direct Pack, Inc. – Rockingham, NC

Plant Manager May 2023 – August 2025

●Oversee daily operations in tooling, extrusion, thermoforming, logistics, and maintenance across a 24/5 manufacturing facility (3 extrusion and 6 thermoforming lines).

●Lead a team of 6 direct and 95 indirect reports; report to VP of Operations.

●Revamped SOPs, JSAs, and process documentation to improve standardization and compliance.

●Enhanced product quality through operator training and updated specifications.

●Eliminated water condensation hazard by installing mold temperature units on formers.

●Collaborated with NCDOL to identify gaps and overhaul the plant’s Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) program.

Maslo Company, Inc. – Fort Mill, SC

Plant Manager Nov 2020 – Mar 2023 (Plant relocated)

●Directed plant operations, logistics, and maintenance for a high-volume recycled paper product facility (1,300+ tons/month).

●Reduced customer response times from two weeks to just two days.

●Cut fuel expenses by optimizing delivery routes and consolidating partial loads.

oAveraged a reduction of 50 truck miles per week.

Footprint – Richburg, SC

Plant Manager Nov 2019 – Nov 2020 (Plant closed)

●Managed 10 TPM and 1 SPM production lines in a 24/7 operation; supervised 7 direct and 260 indirect team members.

●Launched daily cross-functional KPI meetings to improve alignment and performance.

●Developed and implemented a daily safety checklist, reinforcing plant-wide safety culture.

●Resolved fire hazard caused by mold heater shorts using Root Cause Analysis (Fishbone method).

Genpak, LLC – Charlotte, NC

Plant Manager Aug 2013 – Feb 2019 (Personal reasons)

●Oversaw 4 extrusion and 5 thermoforming lines; led 7 direct and 160 indirect employees.

●Increased productivity by 20% through tooling vacuum optimization.

oCollaborated with engineering to redesign cavities, improving material flow.

●Reduced packaging costs by 2% through strategic vendor agreements.

●Consolidated four inefficient scrap grinders into one, delivering ROI within two years.

●Initiated “Safety Champion” program, reducing Total Incident Rate (TIR).

Production Manager May 2003 – Aug 2013

●Supervised 4 direct and 60 indirect employees in extrusion and thermoforming operations.

●Improved sheet orientation and reduced defects using RCA and Fishbone techniques.

●Created process sheets that reduced cycle time by 3% and increased output by 5 cases per SKU.

Georgia-Pacific – Rock Hill, SC

Utility Associate May 2002 – May 2003 (Better opportunity)

●Supported daily machine operations, assembly tasks, and met production goals under safety protocols.

US Textiles – Lancaster, SC

Shift Supervisor May 1992 – May 2002 (Layoff)

●Led a 7-person team across dye and drying operations.

●Ensured schedule adherence, product quality, and compliance with safety standards.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

●Business & Accounting Coursework – Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL

●OSHA 10-Hour Certification ARC Flash Safety

●CPR, AED & First Aid Certified

●Experience with SQF, AIB & BRCGS Audits

●Food Defense Awareness Certification

●HACCP on Demand Certification

●BRCGS Packaging Materials Certification

References available upon request

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