PRODUCTION MANAGER

Job Summary

To provide leadership, direction, coordination, and management of assigned production operations, Production Area Managers, production leadership, work groups, and manufacturing resources to safely and effectively meet internal and external customer requirements.

The Production Manager is responsible for coordinating production execution across assigned departments, shifts, and manufacturing areas. This position ensures that approved production priorities and schedules are translated into coordinated operating plans and that labor, equipment, training, process capability, and other assigned production resources are effectively managed to support safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives.

The Production Manager serves as the primary management link between Production Area Managers and the Director of Operations and is expected to identify operational risks, resolve cross-area execution conflicts within delegated authority, strengthen production leadership capability, improve production systems, and promote consistent management practices across assigned production operations.

This position works closely with Production Scheduling, Purchasing and Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Human Resources, Inventory Control, and other support functions to align production execution with approved schedules, material availability, demonstrated capacity, customer requirements, and organizational priorities.

The Production Manager is expected to support a collaborative operating environment in which specialized functions retain appropriate ownership while sharing information, identifying risks, challenging assumptions, and coordinating actions necessary to improve total operational performance.

The Production Manager is accountable for coordinated execution of approved production priorities and provides operational analysis and recommendations regarding capacity, staffing, shift requirements, equipment, technology, and improvement opportunities. Final authority for major organizational direction, long-range production strategy, significant structural changes, major capital priorities, and cross-functional authority outside delegated responsibility remains with the Director of Operations or other designated executive leadership.

Minimum Qualifications Required

1. Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field preferred; or High School Diploma or equivalent required with a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing, production, operations, or a related industrial environment.
2. Minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated management or advanced production leadership experience with responsibility for employee supervision, production execution, operational performance, and leadership development.
3. Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal, coaching, and team-building skills with the ability to effectively lead managers, supervisors, team leads, employees, and cross-functional teams.
4. Strong knowledge of high-volume manufacturing operations, production planning, resource and capacity management, quality systems, continuous improvement, operational problem-solving, and demonstrated success using performance data and metrics to improve throughput, efficiency, and manufacturing capacity.
5. Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex production activities across multiple departments, shifts, manufacturing processes, and competing operational priorities while exercising sound judgment and managing operational risk.
6. Strong analytical, organizational, and time-management skills with the ability to interpret operational data, evaluate production performance, prioritize multiple responsibilities, and implement effective corrective actions.
7. Effective verbal and written communication skills with the ability to prepare reports, presentations, recommendations, and business communications while interpreting and communicating policies, procedures, technical information, and operational requirements.
8. Proficiency using ERP/MRP systems (Epicor preferred), Microsoft Office applications, production reporting tools, scheduling systems, and other business software supporting manufacturing operations, performance analysis, and decision making.

Work Relationships

1. Reports directly to the Director of Operations and provides regular communication regarding operational performance, production risks, resource requirements, and continuous improvement opportunities.
2. Provides leadership, coaching, development, and performance accountability for Production Area Managers and assigned production leadership personnel.
3. Partners with Production Scheduling to ensure production execution supports approved schedules, capacity requirements, customer commitments, and operational priorities.
4. Collaborates with Purchasing, Supply Chain, Inventory Control, Engineering, Quality, and Maintenance to ensure material availability, manufacturing readiness, product quality, equipment reliability, and continuous operational improvement.
5. Works closely with Human Resources to support workforce planning, recruiting, employee relations, performance management, corrective actions, succession planning, and leadership development.
6. Coordinates with Accounting, Information Technology, and other business support functions to ensure effective production operations and business performance.
7. Represents Production on cross-functional teams, operational reviews, engineering change activities, strategic projects, and continuous improvement initiatives.
8. Maintains professional working relationships throughout the organization while promoting communication, collaboration, accountability, and respect for established authority, organizational structure, and decision-making processes.

Essential Job Functions

1. Provide leadership, direction, and accountability for assigned production operations, Production Area Managers, production leadership, employees, and manufacturing resources.
2. Plan, coordinate, and execute approved production schedules to achieve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives.
3. Coordinate production activities across departments and shifts while resolving operational conflicts involving labor, equipment, workflow, staffing, training, and production priorities within delegated authority.
4. Monitor and analyze key production performance metrics including safety, quality, labor efficiency, throughput, schedule attainment, downtime, scrap, rework, overtime, and capacity utilization, implementing corrective actions as necessary.
5. Ensure accurate and timely production reporting, labor transactions, inventory movements, scrap reporting, and all required ERP system transactions.
6. Collaborate with Production Scheduling, Purchasing, Inventory Control, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Human Resources, and other support functions to ensure efficient and effective production execution and timely resolution of operational issues.
7. Evaluate production capacity, staffing levels, equipment utilization, training requirements, and resource needs while recommending and implementing approved staffing plans, shift structures, cross-training initiatives, and production resource improvements.
8. Identify production bottlenecks, operational risks, and systemic issues while leading continuous improvement initiatives involving process improvement, standard work, workplace organization, waste reduction, visual management, setup reduction, automation, and manufacturing technology.
9. Provide leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development for Production Area Managers and other assigned production leadership personnel by inspiring and motivating employees, fostering a positive work environment, encouraging teamwork, promoting employee engagement, and maintaining a culture of accountability.
10. Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, recruiting, employee relations, performance management, corrective action, succession planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.
11. Support new product introductions, engineering changes, equipment installations, production transfers, process improvements, and manufacturing readiness activities.
12. Lead departmental participation in operating and capital budget planning, evaluate equipment and technology investment needs, develop business recommendations, and represent Production on cross-functional teams, engineering reviews, operational initiatives, and continuous improvement projects.
13. Communicate significant operational risks, production issues, resource constraints, and performance results to the Director of Operations while recommending appropriate corrective actions and operational improvements.
14. Promote effective communication, collaboration, and consistent management practices across production departments while maintaining established organizational authority, accountability, and decision-making processes.
15. Lead the development and continuous improvement of scalable manufacturing systems, operational capabilities, leadership talent, and continuous improvement initiatives that accommodate business growth, increased production volume, automation, and changing customer requirements.
16. Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of Production, Operations, and overall business objectives.