Production Manager

The Production Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing daily manufacturing operations to ensure products are produced efficiently, on time, within budget, and to quality standards. This role leads production teams, optimizes processes, ensures safety compliance, and drives continuous improvement across the production floor.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead daily production planning and execution to achieve operational efficiency, meet customer demand, and deliver on plant performance objectives.

- Utilize ERP systems to optimize scheduling, manage workflow, balance capacity, and minimize WIP inventory.

- Monitor equipment and labor capacity; recommend capital investments, equipment upgrades, and process enhancements to support growth and maintain competitive advantage.

- Drive Lean manufacturing initiatives focused on waste reduction, scrap improvement, productivity gains, and overall operational excellence.

- Establish, track, and analyze key performance metrics; implement corrective actions to close performance gaps and improve service levels.

- Partner with Quality to resolve nonconformances, support corrective actions, and ensure adherence to standard operating procedures.

- Manage departmental budgets, control expenses, and develop capital requests with clear cost-benefit and ROI justification.

- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing production team, fostering accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.

- Collaborate cross-functionally with Customer Service, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Leadership to ensure alignment and on-time delivery.

- Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with OSHA, ISO, and company safety standards, and maintaining a safe work environment for all employees and visitors.

Education and Experience:

Education:

- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree, ideally in an engineering or management discipline; preference given to mechanical engineering or industrial engineering / technology.

Experience:

- 5+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing management, with at least 3 years in a plant leadership role; preference given to experience in a high-mix, low-volume run manufacturing organization.

- Prior Production Management experience in manufacturing teams larger than 10 employees.

- Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or TPM methodologies, preferred.