Many plants sit far from where experienced manufacturing leaders live. A search that ignores that fact narrows the pool to people who already live nearby, which is often a short list of competitors' staff.
The mistake is raising relocation late. A candidate who learns at the offer stage that the role requires a move, or that you will not help with it, will usually decline, having spent weeks of their time and yours.
Raise it in the first conversation. Say where the plant is, what the community is like, and what you are prepared to do. You do not need a perfect package, only an honest position.
Ask about the family, not just the person. Spouses, schools and aging parents decide more relocations than compensation does. A candidate who has talked it through at home is far more likely to close.
Finally, keep it flexible. Some candidates will commute for a period or take temporary housing. Offering options widens the pool and builds trust, and it is a normal part of how we run a nationwide search.