Hoffer Plastics named Dan Clark as director of manufacturing. In this role, he’ll lead manufacturing operations, driving improvements in production efficiency, process development, tool launch processes and overall equipment effectiveness. 

Clark is a manufacturing executive with more than 30 years of experience in scientific injection molding, enterprise manufacturing strategy, sales, training and continuous improvement. 

"Dan is already making an impact by enhancing processes, solving complex production challenges and championing a culture rooted in learning and continuous improvement," said Jeff Klabunde, vice president of operations at Hoffer Plastics. “In his first few weeks here, he has already made several noticeable improvements including decreasing the cycle time for a critical tool by nearly 30%. These kinds of efficiency optimizations are exactly why Dan is the perfect fit for this role.”

Clark most recently served as manufacturing and technology manager at an Illinois-based contract manufacturing firm where he oversaw all aspects of manufacturing operations, developed and launched a comprehensive apprenticeship program and spearheaded several continuous improvement initiatives.

As a master molder and certified trainer through RJG, he specializes in Decoupled Molding, Scientific Molding and Process Control. Through hands-on training and mentorship, Clark will strengthen Hoffer’s technical capabilities at a time when deep manufacturing knowledge is in high demand.

“Education is the foundation of everything we do,” said Clark. “If people don’t have the knowledge, they can’t improve. And even if they do have the knowledge, they need the tools, time and training to apply it. That’s where real transformation happens, and where we can translate knowledge into more consistent processes, stronger performance and better results for Hoffer’s customers.”

As a passionate advocate for education, Clark is working with his team to expand existing apprenticeships and implement scalable training programs at Hoffer. Efforts like these are critical as manufacturers continue navigating ongoing labor shortages and an aging workforce.