Production Operations Manager

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

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ViaTech is seeking a hands-on, technically strong Production Operations Manager to lead production and manufacturing operations. This role combines deep mechanical and technical knowledge of industrial print or manufacturing equipment with the operational discipline to schedule jobs, run just-in-time production, and keep world-class equipment performing at its best. The ideal candidate has come up through the production floor, knows how to calibrate and maintain the equipment, and knows how to build and lead a large, technically competent team of operators.

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POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

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Abilities and Skills:

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• Mechanical and technical expertise with industrial print or manufacturing equipment
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• Equipment setup, calibration, and quality verification
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• Just-in-time manufacturing and lean production practices
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• Production scheduling and job sequencing
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• Preventive maintenance planning and execution
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• Troubleshooting and root-cause problem-solving
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• Team leadership, technical training, and skills development
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• Capacity, labor, and resource planning
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• Data-driven decision-making and KPI management
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• Safety, accountability, and execution
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Position Responsibilities:

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• Manage day-to-day production and manufacturing operations across all shifts, ensuring jobs are completed safely, on time, to specification, and within budget.
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• Schedule and sequence production jobs, including print production, based on customer commitments, due dates, material availability, equipment capacity, and staffing levels; adjust the schedule as priorities and conditions change.
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• Run production on just-in-time principles, aligning material flow and work-in-process to actual demand, reducing changeover time, and minimizing waste, excess inventory, and idle capacity.
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• Oversee the setup, calibration, and adjustment of production equipment to maintain consistent quality and specification standards.
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• Own the preventive maintenance program for world-class industrial production equipment, including PM schedules, completion tracking, spare parts planning, and coordination with OEM service technicians.
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• Serve as the technical escalation point for equipment issues; lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis to reduce unplanned downtime and prevent repeat failures.
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• Lead, supervise, and develop a large team of equipment operators through clear expectations, coaching, performance management, and shift coverage planning.
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• Build technically competent teams through structured equipment training, operator qualification, cross-training, and documented standard operating procedures.
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• Identify bottlenecks and capacity gaps; recommend changes to staffing, shifts, equipment, workflow, or capital investment to support business requirements.
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• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), including schedule attainment, on-time delivery, throughput, equipment uptime, PM compliance, waste and spoilage, and first-pass quality.
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• Partner with Customer Experience, Sales, Procurement, and Logistics to set realistic commitments and communicate delivery risks, constraints, and recovery plans.
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• Enforce safety standards, lockout/tagout procedures, and production floor housekeeping.
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• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that improve workflow, shorten lead times, and strengthen operational predictability.
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• Provide leadership with timely reporting on production performance, equipment condition, maintenance needs, and capital recommendations.
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Experience:

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• Associate's degree or trade certification in a related field, such as Industrial Maintenance, Electromechanical Technology, Manufacturing Technology, or Printing Technology.
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• 7+ years of experience in production or manufacturing operations, in print or other industrial environments.
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• 3+ years of supervisory or management experience leading teams of equipment operators.
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• Hands-on experience operating, calibrating, and maintaining industrial print or manufacturing equipment.
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• Demonstrated success building and managing a preventive maintenance program for production equipment.
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• Proven experience running just-in-time or lean production in a scheduled, deadline-driven environment.
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• Strong mechanical aptitude, including the ability to read technical manuals, schematics, and equipment specifications.
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• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience with MIS, ERP, or production scheduling systems.
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Preferred:

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• Experience in a high-mix production environment such as print, packaging, fulfillment, or discrete manufacturing.
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• OEM technical training or certification on print or industrial production equipment.
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• Lean manufacturing or Lean Six Sigma certification.
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• Experience managing multi-shift operations.
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• Experience with a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
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• Experience with data visualization and reporting tools such as Power BI.
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Other Requirements:

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• Valid Driver’s License
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• Ability to pass criminal background checks and drug screening
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Other Physical Requirements: Must be able to communicate effectively with employees and customers; work on an active production floor, including extended periods of standing and walking; manual dexterity required for reaching, operating and adjusting equipment, and lifting objects up to 50 pounds.

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About ViaTech

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Just-in-time production is in our DNA. Born in a classroom at Columbia University in 1995, ViaTech’s mission then, as it is now, is to automate every step of the “Content Value Chain.” Businesses create huge amounts of content that is consumed by stakeholders around the world. ViaTech automates every step of that process - from creation to consumption. The most prestigious brands in the world rely on us. From our headquarters in Dallas and our offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and Indore (India), we serve clients across the United States.

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Owned by the people who run it. Nearly 40% of ViaTech is owned by our employees through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Here, you are not just keeping someone else's operation running. You have a real stake in the results, and you are trusted to make the decisions that are right for our customers and our company.

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What we stand for: Self-Direction • Transparency • Helpfulness • Innovative • Community • Excellence

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What we offer: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; short- and long-term disability; ESOP participation; 401(k); group life insurance; and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).