Production Manager

Position Summary:

The Production Manager is responsible for the overall performance of manufacturing operations across two shifts, including assembly, production, safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost. This position provides hands-on leadership to production teams while driving a culture of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.

The Production Manager will work closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and other functional leaders to ensure production requirements are met while maintaining high standards for safety, quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Assembly Operations

• Lead daily manufacturing and assembly operations across two shifts.
• Ensure production schedules, customer requirements, quality standards, and delivery commitments are achieved.
• Establish clear production priorities and communicate expectations to supervisors and manufacturing personnel.
• Monitor production performance, labor utilization, throughput, scrap, downtime, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Identify and resolve production constraints, bottlenecks, and workflow issues.
• Ensure effective staffing, training, and cross-training across both shifts.
• Partner with Maintenance to maximize equipment uptime and minimize unplanned downtime.

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the implementation and sustainment of Lean Manufacturing principles throughout the operation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Utilize Lean tools such as 5S, visual management, standard work, root-cause analysis, Kaizen, value-stream mapping, and waste reduction.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and use data to drive operational decisions.
• Develop standardized processes and ensure adherence to established work instructions and standard work.
• Engage employees at all levels in identifying and implementing process improvements.

Safety & Environmental

• Maintain a strong safety-first culture across both shifts.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA requirements, company safety policies, and applicable environmental regulations.
• Conduct regular safety reviews, audits, and workplace observations.
• Partner with EHS leadership to investigate incidents, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Drive employee accountability for safe work practices, housekeeping, PPE, and hazard identification.
• Support initiatives designed to reduce injuries, near misses, and safety risks.

People Leadership

• Directly lead and develop production supervisors and manufacturing personnel across two shifts.
• Establish performance expectations and hold teams accountable for results.
• Coach supervisors and employees to improve performance, engagement, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Promote teamwork and effective communication between shifts.
• Ensure effective shift-to-shift communication and handoffs.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, training, performance management, and succession planning.

Quality

• Partner with Quality to ensure products meet customer and internal requirements.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions related to production issues.
• Identify trends in defects, rework, scrap and implement corrective measures.
• Ensure production personnel understand and follow quality requirements and documented processes.

Operational & Financial Performance

• Manage labor and operating costs while meeting production requirements.
• Monitor productivity, overtime, scrap, rework, and other manufacturing expenses.
• Participate in budgeting and capacity planning activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability through increased throughput, reduced waste, and improved labor efficiency.