Robert Lafrance
Plant Manager @Kaiser Aluminum
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WORK HISTORY
Plant Manager @Kaiser Aluminum
Florence, AL, US
Senior operational leader with end-to-end accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and workforce performance in unionized manufacturing facility - Partner with executive leadership, Sales, and Marketing to align operational capabilities with commercial strategy and capital investment priorities - Led cultural, operational, and financial turnaround, restoring workforce engagement and leadership accountability - Delivered three consecutive years of positive EBITDA and cash flow through disciplined execution, cost structure optimization, and operating cadence
EDUCATION
Clemson University
BS, Business Management
SKILLS
ABOUT ROBERT LAFRANCE
I’m a Vice President–level Operations Executive with 25+ years of experience leading complex manufacturing organizations across union and non-union environments. My career has focused on turning strategy into execution—whether that means restoring profitability in underperforming operations, launching Greenfield facilities, or scaling multi-site campus models.I’ve held full P&L responsibility up to $51M and led organizations of more than 400 associates, with accountability spanning safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people. I’m most often brought in when organizations need disciplined operating systems, stronger leadership accountability, and measurable financial improvement. That includes delivering three consecutive years of positive EBITDA and cash flow, reducing quality defects by orders of magnitude, and building sustainable cost structures.My leadership style is hands-on, data-driven, and people-focused. I believe lasting operational performance comes from engaged teams, strong labor relationships, and clear expectations supported by Lean, TPS, and Six Sigma methodologies. I’ve led enterprise ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and TS/IATF 16949 certifications and governed operating systems that scale across plants and regions.I partner closely with Sales, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Finance to ensure operational capabilities align with commercial strategy and capital investment priorities. I’m particularly effective in environments undergoing change—turnarounds, growth, integration, or cultural reset—where clarity, cadence, and execution matter most.Always open to connecting with leaders who care about building strong teams and delivering real operational r••••••••@att.net or 66••••••18Specialties: Executive Management | P&L responsibilities | New Program Management | Green field Start up | Supply Chain Analysis & Planning | Cost Reduction | Business Optimization | Operational Excellence | Global Leader | Lean & Six Sigma (champion)|Identifying and developing talent | Launching and transitioning greenfield facilities | Change Agent | Leading Global Projects | Launch Teams | Quality improvements | Quality System development | Materials Management | Supply Chain Management | Safety Awareness | Supplier Development | Process Management Skills| Strong Communicator | TPS implementations
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