Manufacturing Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Taurus is seeking a Manufacturing Manager to lead manufacturing operations across its facilities. This upper management role reports directly to the Operations Manager. This is a senior management position with direct responsibility for the performance and continuous improvement of multiple manufacturing functions. The successful candidate must have demonstrated experience leading people, managing departmental performance, and driving measurable operational results.

The Manufacturing Manager is responsible for the performance, continuous improvement, and performance measurement of Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Maintenance, and Incoming Inspection. This role ensures efficient manufacturing operations, strong labor productivity, reliable on-time delivery, and consistent manufacturing performance in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment, while providing operational oversight for fabrication activities performed at a remote facility.

The Manufacturing Manager will develop and implement manufacturing strategies, processes, performance metrics, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that support operational excellence and align manufacturing performance with the company’s overall business objectives.

Taurus is a customer-focused, sales- and engineering-driven organization, and this role plays a critical part in ensuring manufacturing operations provide the responsiveness, flexibility, and reliability required to support continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Operations Leadership

• Lead and manage Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Maintenance, and Incoming Inspection functions.
• Ensure safe, efficient, and reliable manufacturing operations.
• Allocate labor and equipment resources to support on-time delivery and efficient production flow.
• Maintain the operational flexibility required for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing.
• Provide operational oversight of fabrication activities performed at a remote facility.

Performance Management & KPIs

• Establish, implement, and maintain KPIs and performance metrics for all departments under the Manufacturing Manager's responsibility.
• Define departmental performance measures, targets, and reporting methods that align with company objectives.
• Establish systems to regularly track and review departmental performance and identify trends, deficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Hold department leaders and supervisors accountable for performance against established KPIs and improvement targets.
• Use KPI data to drive decision-making, resource allocation, process improvements, and accountability across manufacturing functions.
• Continuously evaluate and refine KPIs to ensure they accurately measure productivity, efficiency, capacity, cost, delivery, and other key operational objectives.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive improvements in productivity, labor utilization, throughput, manufacturing efficiency, and cost effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for manufacturing processes.
• Identify and implement process improvements and technology solutions that reduce costs, increase capacity, and improve manufacturing performance.
• Establish a culture of continuous improvement based on measurable results and departmental accountability.

Manufacturing Engineering & Incoming Inspection

• Lead the Manufacturing Engineering function, supporting production through effective processes, methods, tooling, and documentation.
• Develop, improve, and standardize manufacturing processes to increase efficiency, consistency, throughput, and cost effectiveness.
• Establish and maintain manufacturing documentation, including work instructions, process specifications, routings, and assembly procedures.
• Oversee incoming inspection of purchased parts and components to verify conformance with drawings, specifications, and purchase requirements.
• Establish and improve appropriate incoming inspection methods and requirements, including the use of inspection equipment, gauges, and measurement techniques.
• Provide technical support to production and troubleshoot manufacturing issues, identifying and implementing practical process improvements.
• Develop and implement tooling, fixtures, equipment, and other manufacturing aids to improve production capabilities and reduce errors.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions related to manufacturing processes and incoming inspection issues, with an emphasis on preventing recurrence and improving process reliability.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering, Production, and Procurement to ensure products are designed and supported for efficient, repeatable, and manufacturable production.

Capacity & Production Planning Collaboration

• Work closely with Planning, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams to understand demand forecasts and align manufacturing capacity.
• Ensure labor and production resources can respond to fluctuations common in the oil and gas industry.
• Identify capacity constraints and develop plans to address future production requirements.

Equipment Reliability & Maintenance

• Oversee maintenance programs to ensure equipment reliability and minimize downtime.
• Establish and monitor maintenance performance metrics and equipment reliability objectives.
• Support capital investment decisions related to manufacturing equipment and production technology.
• Evaluate equipment utilization and identify opportunities to improve capacity and reliability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with leaders across the organization to support operational success, including:

• Marketing and Planning teams to understand demand forecasts and support on-time delivery.
• Design Engineering to improve manufacturability, manufacturing methods, and production efficiency.
• Procurement to address incoming material requirements and supplier-related manufacturing issues.
• Finance to evaluate capital investments, labor costs, and manufacturing productivity initiatives.

Key Manufacturing Performance Metrics

The Manufacturing Manager will establish and manage a comprehensive KPI system for all departments under their responsibility. Initial company-level performance expectations include:

• Direct Labor Cost: Measured monthly as a percentage of revenue with established improvement targets.
• Cross-Training Depth: Expansion of labor capability across critical manufacturing operations.
• On-Time Delivery: Target of 98% on-time delivery, measured against customer requested dates.
• Post-Production Rejection Rate: Target of no more than 2%, representing a minimum of 98% prime production.
• Production Flow Efficiency: Reduction in production interruptions and work order delays caused by shortages, capacity constraints, or process inefficiencies.
• Equipment Reliability: Reduction in unplanned equipment downtime and improvement in equipment availability.
• Manufacturing Engineering Effectiveness: Reduction in manufacturing-related delays, process issues, and engineering-driven production interruptions.
• The Manufacturing Manager is expected to develop additional departmental KPIs as necessary to effectively measure and manage the performance of each function.

Leadership Expectations

The Manufacturing Manager will foster a positive, performance-driven manufacturing culture focused on accountability, teamwork, measurable results, and continuous improvement.

Key leadership responsibilities include:

• Recruiting, developing, and retaining skilled manufacturing personnel.
• Mentoring supervisors and developing future manufacturing leaders.
• Setting clear performance goals and holding department leaders accountable for results.
• Establishing measurable objectives and KPIs for each department.
• Regularly reviewing departmental performance and taking action when targets are not met.
• Encouraging employee engagement in identifying and implementing improvement opportunities.
• Promoting a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, including significant experience in a manufacturing management or senior leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple manufacturing functions, including Production, Manufacturing Engineering, and Maintenance.
• Proven experience managing supervisors, engineers, and/or department leaders, with responsibility for departmental performance and results.
• Demonstrated ability to establish, implement, and manage departmental KPIs, performance targets, and accountability systems.
• Proven experience leading continuous improvement initiatives that measurably improve productivity, capacity, efficiency, cost, or on-time delivery.
• Experience managing operations in a high-mix, low-volume, custom, or similarly complex manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement manufacturing processes, SOPs, work instructions, and standardized methods.
• Strong understanding of production planning, labor utilization, capacity management, and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Demonstrated ability to make operational decisions, allocate resources, and hold department leaders accountable for results.
• Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to work effectively with senior management and contribute to company-level operational and strategic decisions. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field.
• Experience working in an ISO-certified manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, Kanban, or similar methodologies.
• Experience implementing process improvements that increase productivity, capacity, and cost effectiveness.
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAGE100 or similar manufacturing systems is a plus.
• Experience in oil and gas, energy, or other highly engineered manufacturing environments.