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Manager Digital Manufacturing Systems

Generac · Waukesha, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 11, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you had to standardize a manufacturing system across multiple sites that each had their own way of doing things. How did you handle the pushback?

What they are checking: experience balancing enterprise standardization against site-specific autonomy, a recurring tension in this role

Describe a project where you had to turn a messy shop-floor problem, like downtime tracking or issue escalation, into a scalable digital solution.

What they are checking: ability to translate operational pain into a repeatable technical solution rather than a one-off fix

Tell me about a time a vendor or system integrator was not delivering. How did you manage that relationship and get the project back on track?

What they are checking: vendor management skill and whether they can hold external partners accountable without damaging the relationship

Tell me about a time you had to build or grow a team of digital manufacturing professionals. What did you look for and what was hard about it?

What they are checking: people leadership experience and self-awareness about team-building challenges

What would you do

Say a plant floor team refuses to adopt a new connected worker tool because it slows them down during changeover. What do you do in the first two weeks after go-live?

What they are checking: practical approach to adoption and human-centered design versus just mandating compliance

If two plants each want their digital initiative prioritized first and you have budget for one, how do you make that call and communicate it?

What they are checking: skill in prioritizing based on business impact and communicating trade-offs to stakeholders who won't like the answer

A plant manager escalates a critical digital manufacturing issue to you directly, bypassing your team. How do you handle that in the moment and afterward?

What they are checking: how they handle being an escalation point without undermining their own team's ownership

About the work

Walk me through a digital factory roadmap you've built or contributed to. What was the sequence of investments and why that order?

What they are checking: whether they can think in terms of phased architecture and prioritization, not just individual tools

How would you design the integration between an MES and ERP, PLM, QMS, and SCADA systems for a high-mix, engineered-to-order plant?

What they are checking: depth of real architecture knowledge versus buzzword familiarity with ISA-95 style system layering

What's your experience with platforms like Tulip or Ignition, and where have you seen them fall short for a discrete manufacturing environment?

What they are checking: hands-on familiarity with the named tools versus surface-level résumé knowledge

How do you decide what OEE, throughput, or scrap data can actually be trusted before you put it in front of plant leadership?

What they are checking: understanding of data quality and automated collection versus just reporting whatever numbers come through

Describe how you'd build a closed-loop quality system that connects a defect found on the line back to a corrective action and eventually to a process change.

What they are checking: whether they understand traceability and continuous improvement as an actual data flow, not just a concept

What's your view on where automation and Industry 4.0 investments create real payback versus where they're mostly hype for a company like Generac?

What they are checking: judgment about practical ROI versus chasing trends, relevant given the future Industry 4.0 responsibilities

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Manager, Digital Manufacturing Systems leads the vision, strategy, and execution of Generac's digital factory ecosystem. This role drives the adoption of manufacturing technologies including MES, connected worker solutions, industrial data platforms, and advanced analytics to improve safety, quality, productivity, and operational performance. This leader will partner across Operations, Engineering, and IT to build scalable digital solutions that enable real-time visibility, operational excellence, and the future of smart manufacturing. Major Responsibilities: Digital Factory Strategy & Roadmap • Own and advance the Digital Factory roadmap across manufacturing operations. • Define scalable architectures for MES, connected worker technologies, data platforms, and analytics. • Align digital initiatives with Lean manufacturing, operational excellence, and enterprise transformation goals. • Drive standardized, repeatable solutions while supporting site-specific business needs. Manufacturing Execution & Digital Shop-Floor Enablement • Lead digital solutions that improve: • Work order execution and production flow • Electronic work instructions and standard work • Routing, sequencing, and changeover efficiency • Production, labor, and equipment visibility • Downtime, exceptions, and issue escalation management • Partner with Operations and Industrial Engineering to digitize processes and improve shop-floor execution. Connected Worker & Human-Centered Design • Implement technologies that enhance safety, quality, and productivity. • Ensure digital tools are intuitive, effective, and adopted by frontline teams. • Support digital capability development for operators and supervisors. Quality, Traceability & Closed-Loop Improvement • Drive digital quality management including defect tracking, corrective actions, and issue resolution. • Enable product and process traceability across manufacturing operations. • Create closed-loop systems that connect quality insights to continuous improvement. Data, Analytics & Performance Visibility • Build the foundation for real-time manufacturing visibility and decision-making. • Enable performance metrics including OEE, throughput, cycle time, downtime, scrap, and labor efficiency. • Automate data collection and reporting to improve accuracy and speed. • Provide leaders with trusted data to support operational excellence. System Integration & Digital Architecture • Lead integration of manufacturing systems with ERP, PLM, QMS, SCADA, PLC, and enterprise data platforms. • Ensure solutions are secure, scalable, and reliable across sites. • Establish data standards that support analytics, AI, and automation initiatives. Automation & Industry 4.0 Enablement • Help prepare manufacturing operations for advanced automation and smart factory capabilities. • Collaborate with Engineering and IT/OT teams on robotics, connected equipment, and advanced controls. • Build the digital foundation required for future Industry 4.0 initiatives. Governance, Change Management & Adoption • Establish standards, governance, and best practices for digital manufacturing systems. • Drive adoption through training, communication, and partnership with plant leadership. • Serve as a key escalation point for critical digital manufacturing issues. Team, Program & Vendor Leadership • Lead and develop a team of digital manufacturing professionals. • Manage external technology partners, vendors, and system integrators. • Own program budgets, timelines, and project delivery. • Prioritize initiatives based on business impact, strategic value, and operational needs. Minimum Job Requirements: Education • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience). Work Experience • 5+ years supporting manufacturing systems within a discrete manufacturing environment. Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Ability to travel to manufacturing sites (approximately 20-50%). • Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production execution, and Lean principles. • Experience leading cross-functional digital transformation or manufacturing systems initiatives. • Proven ability to convert operational challenges into scalable technology solutions. Preferred Job Requirements: Work Experience • Experience managing large-scale programs, portfolios, or digital transformation initiatives. Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Experience with digital manufacturing platforms such as Tulip and Ignition. • Knowledge of ISA-95 standards and manufacturing systems architecture. • Experience supporting high-mix, configurable, or engineered-to-order manufacturing. • Prior leadership experience managing technical or manufacturing-focused teams. • Exposure to Industry 4.0, IIoT, automation, and smart manufacturing technologies. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion, the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Occasional travel. “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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