Production Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise salaried manufacturing personnel, directing production and assembly operations within the assigned area(s) of responsibility.

• Manage all or a substantial portion of daily production operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and consistent execution across the plant.

• Oversee the processing of raw materials through production and assembly operations to support uninterrupted manufacturing flow.

• Ensure strict adherence to production schedules by expediting production, controlling material flow, and maintaining accurate accounts of work-in-process and finished goods.

• Maintain awareness of customer shipping requirements, work schedules, quality standards, and staffing needs to consistently meet customer expectations.

• Lead employee relations by directing all personnel in a firm, fair, and consistent manner while maintaining a safe, productive, and highly engaged work environment.

• Conduct regular area and safety inspections to ensure a safe, compliant, and harmonious workplace at all times.

• Maintain full responsibility and accountability for ensuring all safety standards are observed and sustained across operations.

• Directly manage, evaluate, train, and coach Manufacturing Supervisors and/or Superintendents to drive performance, accountability, and professional growth.

• Ensure both short-term and long-term staffing requirements are met through effective workforce planning and talent development.

• Develop and implement best-in-class manufacturing practices to improve productivity, increase efficiency, and reduce waste.

• Coordinate with Maintenance, Quality, Logistics, Engineering, and other service departments to resolve production issues, manage schedules, and optimize the cost-efficient use of equipment and labor.

• Partner with the Plant Manager on cost-reduction initiatives by evaluating project feasibility, defining measurement requirements, and tracking results.

• Establish, monitor, and enforce procedures to control total manufacturing costs, with a strong focus on labor variances, indirect labor, scrap reduction, and absenteeism.

• Develop and implement programs to reduce scrap, absenteeism, and the unnecessary use of manufacturing supplies, while ensuring compliance with safety and housekeeping standards.

• Support plant-wide management objectives, profit plans, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with overall business goals.

• Perform additional duties as required to support operational and organizational needs.

Qualifications

• Five to seven (5–7) years of experience in manufacturing management roles, preferably within automotive or high-volume manufacturing environments.

• Proven experience supervising salaried manufacturing leaders, including Supervisors and/or Superintendents, across multiple production areas.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Business Management, or a related field preferred (or equivalent experience).

• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and productivity optimization.

• Demonstrated success driving safety compliance, quality performance, and operational excellence.

• Experience managing cost control initiatives, including labor, scrap, and indirect expenses.

• Experience working in a Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing environment.

• Strong leadership, communication, and coaching skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.

• Ability to manage complex operations in a fast-paced, deadline-driven manufacturing environment.

• Proficiency with production reporting systems, ERP/MRP tools, KPI tracking, and the Microsoft Office suite.

• Lean certification is a plus (Green Belt or Black Belt), including Green Belt or any Continuous Improvement (CI) certification.

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