Production Manager - Control Panel Manufacturing.

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY

The Production Manager leads day-to-day production for a single, dedicated data center BMS/EPMS panel program. Reporting to the Director of Operations, this role owns the program's build schedule, shop capacity, throughput, quality, and safety, turning the program's release schedule into finished, tested, and shipped panels on time. The Production Manager leads the program's Foreman, Trainer, and panel technicians, works alongside the QA/QC team and Material Managers to meet quality targets and ship dates, and is the production point of contact for the program Project Manager and customer. This position requires strong leadership, hands-on knowledge of panel building and repeat production, and excellent planning, communication, and organizational skills.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Production Planning & Scheduling

• Convert the program's release schedule and customer forecast into a weekly and daily production plan.
• Own the program's critical path build schedule and ensure panels ship on committed dates.
• Balance labor, floor space, and material availability to meet program throughput targets.
• Plan capacity ahead of known volume changes; raise labor, space, or equipment shortfalls to the Director of Operations early.
• Coordinate with Shipping & Receiving on outbound shipments and delivery dates.
• Own program status in Smartsheet (panel tracker, build status, quality log) and make sure it is updated daily.

1. Material Coordination

• Work with the Material Managers to ensure all parts and material for the program are accounted for.
• Communicate upcoming build needs to the Material Managers so technicians have the parts they need to keep building.
• Keep the program's staged material and build areas organized on the shop floor.
• Verify with the Material Managers that kitting is complete and correct before panels are released to the floor:
  • BOM
  • Enclosure
  • Labels
  • Drawings
  • Work Orders
• Share the build plan and schedule changes with the Material Managers so material can be staged ahead of scheduled builds.
• Stay informed on open orders and long-lead items that could affect the build schedule.
• Identify missing parts, shortages, and damaged material on the floor and report them to the Material Managers and Project Manager for resolution.
• Flag low consumables (wire, ferrules, labels, wire duct, DIN rail, hardware) to the Material Managers before they impact production.

1. Shop & Team Leadership

• Ensure safety is a top priority; enforce shop safety procedures, PPE, and housekeeping.
• Lead, schedule, and direct the program Foreman, Trainer, and panel technicians.
• Run daily morning planning huddles and attend weekly Panel Shop leadership meetings.
• Set clear daily and weekly production goals and hold the team accountable to them.
• Monitor staffing needs; lead recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding for program positions.
• Provide performance feedback and conduct reviews; work with HR on performance or attendance issues as needed.
• Foster team morale, collaboration, and professional development.

1. Production Efficiency & Standard Work

• Establish and maintain standard work for the program's repeat panel types, including build sequences, labor-hour targets, and workstation layouts.
• Track and report key production metrics:
  • Panels completed vs. plan
  • Actual vs. estimated labor hours per panel
  • First-pass yield and rework hours
  • On-time shipment
• Identify bottlenecks and reduce lost time from waiting on parts, rework, and material handling.
• Manage tooling and equipment required for production.

1. Quality & Compliance

• Ensure panels are built to approved drawings, BOMs, program specifications, UL 508A, and applicable codes.
• Work with the QA/QC Foreman and QA/QC team to meet program quality targets:
  • Targeted zero craftsmanship defect rate to customer
  • Downward trend in repeat rework items
  • Inspection and testing completed consistently ahead of customer due dates
• Review quality log trends; lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for repeat defects.
• Support and participate in FATs (Factory Acceptance Testing), customer inspections, and witness testing.
• Confirm test reports, redlines, labeling, and packing documentation are complete before shipment.

1. Program & Customer Interface

• Serve as the production point of contact for the program Project Manager, Engineering, and the customer.
• Provide daily progress updates and weekly shipment forecasts.
• Participate in program reviews; communicate schedule, cost, or quality risks along with mitigation plans.
• Control drawing revisions and change orders on the floor so the correct revision is always built.
• Provide design-for-manufacturability feedback to Engineering and the Project Manager.
• Act as host and liaison during customer visits, FATs, and inspections.

1. Training & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with the Trainer to onboard and cross-train technicians on the program's panel types.
• Manage and oversee the new hire checklist and a skills matrix for the program team.
• Create and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions.
• Document lessons learned and implement process improvements to enhance safety, quality, and throughput.

SKILLS & CAPABILITIES

• Proven leadership of production teams in a panel shop or electrical manufacturing environment
• Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, schematics, panel layouts, and BOMs
• Working knowledge of UL 508A, NEC, and panel shop testing practices
• Familiarity with BMS and EPMS panels and components (controllers, PLCs, meters, power supplies, communication devices)
• Experience with production scheduling, capacity planning, and tracking production metrics
• Proficiency with Smartsheet, Microsoft Office/Excel, and ERP systems
• Effective problem-solving and risk mitigation abilities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback professionally
• Commitment to safety and compliance with all company guidelines