Production Manager

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.

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.