Position Summary
The Production Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing all
manufacturing operations to ensure products are produced safely, efficiently, on time, and within
quality standards. This role leads production teams, drives continuous improvement initiatives,
manages staffing and scheduling, and works closely with maintenance, quality, engineering, and
supply chain to meet customer and business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
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Plan, organize, and direct daily manufacturing operations.
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Ensure production schedules are met while maintaining safety, quality, and cost targets.
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Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and production employees.
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Monitor production performance using KPIs such as OEE, scrap, downtime, productivity,
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labor efficiency, and on-time delivery.
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Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing
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and Six Sigma principles.
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Manage staffing levels, overtime, and workforce planning to maximize efficiency.
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Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental, and company safety policies.
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Collaborate with Quality to reduce defects, improve first-pass yield, and resolve
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customer concerns.
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Partner with Maintenance to minimize equipment downtime through preventive and
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predictive maintenance.
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Work with Supply Chain and Scheduling to ensure material availability and production
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flow.
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Develop and manage departmental budgets while controlling labor and operating costs.
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Conduct daily production meetings and communicate performance expectations.
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Investigate production issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
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Support new product launches, process improvements, and capital equipment projects.
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Maintain accurate production records and prepare performance reports for senior
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leadership.
Qualifications
- Manufacturing or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 5+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, including supervision of production
teams.
- Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, SS, and continuous improvement
methodologies.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production scheduling.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to analyze production data and make data-driven decisions.
- Strong organizational and time-management abilities. Proficiency with Microsoft
Office, especially Excel.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in automotive, plastics, injection molding, blow molding, or high-volume
manufacturing.
- Experience with ISO 9001 or IATF 16949 quality systems. Knowledge of OEE, and
TEEP.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Production output
- Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
- Total Effective Equipment Performance (TEEP)
- Scrap
- Labor productivity
- Customer quality metrics
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in a manufacturing environment.
- Ability to stand, walk, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds.
- Availability to work flexible hours and respond to production needs when necessary.
Core Competencies
- Leadership and team development
- Strategic planning
- Continuous improvement
- Problem solving
- Decision making
- Conflict resolution
- Communication
- Budget management
- Performance management
- Results-oriented mindset