Production Manager

JTM Products is a privately held specialty chemical manufacturer located in Solon, Ohio. JTM serves industrial and construction markets with pipe joint lubricants, tire and tube lubricants, soaps, and specialty compounds.

We operate with an entrepreneurial mindset, long-standing customer relationships, and a commitment to Quality, Innovation, and Service. We continue to invest in our people, processes, systems, and operational infrastructure to support the long-term success of the organization.

The Production Manager owns the day-to-day execution of manufacturing operations at JTM Products.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, this position is accountable for production being completed safely, accurately, on schedule, and in line with customer and business needs.

Key areas of responsibility include leadership of the production team, safety and quality execution on the floor, production planning and scheduling, inventory and material flow, shipping coordination, production ticket accuracy, and day-to-day plant performance.

The Production Manager maintains a constant presence on the manufacturing floor, sets direction for production employees, resolves operational issues rather than routing them upward, and works closely with the Director of Operations and cross-functional teams to keep production moving.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Production Operations & Scheduling | 30%

• Own day-to-day manufacturing execution at JTM Products.
• Build, own, and maintain the daily and weekly production schedule, with the Director of Operations approving the monthly production plan.
• Set production priorities based on customer demand, available inventory, materials, staffing, and equipment availability.
• Communicate daily priorities and expectations to the production team.
• Own the accuracy and timeliness of production tickets and associated manufacturing documentation.
• Monitor production progress and make the call on resequencing work when priorities or operating conditions change.
• Resolve production delays and bottlenecks, and escalate to the Director of Operations when the fix sits outside the plant’s control or affects a customer commitment.
• Deliver production requirements accurately and on schedule.
• Assign staffing and workflow, and approve overtime within the limits established by the Director of Operations.
• Maintain visibility on the production floor and resolve routine operational issues at the point they occur.
• Partner with Customer Service on production status and customer requirements, and communicate early when a production issue may affect a customer commitment.

Team Supervision & Employee Development | 25%

• Provide daily direction and supervision to production employees.
• Establish clear expectations related to safety, quality, productivity, attendance, teamwork, and workplace conduct.
• Own employee performance within the production department, including timely coaching, feedback, and documented follow-up.
• Partner with the Director of Operations and Human Resources regarding employee performance, corrective action, staffing, and development.
• Identify training and cross-training opportunities within the production team.
• Ensure employees are trained and qualified for their assigned responsibilities before they perform the work.
• Encourage teamwork, communication, and accountability throughout the production operation.
• Maintain consistent and fair application of workplace expectations.
• Administer the collective bargaining agreement day to day, apply it consistently, and partner with the Director of Operations and Human Resources on grievances, discipline, and contract questions.
• Own the cross-training matrix for the production department and close the coverage gaps it exposes.
• Recommend hiring, corrective action, and pay-affecting decisions to the Director of Operations and Human Resources.

Inventory, Shipping & Material Coordination | 20%

• Monitor inventory levels required to support scheduled production.
• Coordinate with Purchasing regarding raw materials, packaging, and other production needs.
• Own inventory accuracy within the plant, including research and resolution of discrepancies.
• Coordinate production priorities with shipping requirements.
• Direct warehouse and shipping personnel to ensure finished goods are staged and prepared for customer delivery.
• Communicate potential material shortages or inventory concerns to the appropriate departments.
• Own the accuracy of production and inventory transactions in the ERP system.
• Support physical inventory and cycle-count activities as needed.
• Maintain effective communication between Production, Shipping, Purchasing, and Customer Service.

Safety, Quality & Operational Standards | 15%

• Own safe working practices and adherence to plant procedures within the production department.
• Ensure employees follow applicable work instructions, safety procedures, PPE requirements, and production standards.
• Partner with the Engineering and EHS Manager, who owns the EHS program and its standards, while owning how those standards are executed on the floor every day.
• Partner with Quality regarding product quality issues, deviations, and production concerns.
• Ensure production documentation is accurately completed, and confirm that work instructions and SOPs match how the work is actually performed, raising gaps to the Engineering and EHS Manager.
• Maintain strong housekeeping and plant organization standards.
• Promptly communicate safety, quality, equipment, or operational concerns to the appropriate team members.
• Participate in incident investigations and root cause analysis, and own implementation and sustainment of the resulting corrective actions on the floor.
• Hold standing authority to stop production when safety or product quality is at risk, without prior approval.
• Lead daily safety and quality communication with the production team, including shift start expectations and housekeeping standards.

Operational Performance & Improvement | 10%

• Monitor production performance and identify recurring operational challenges.
• Own the accuracy and daily reporting of production performance data, including schedule adherence, output, scrap, and labor utilization.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflow, productivity, labor utilization, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action efforts.
• Lead an agreed number of floor-level improvement projects each year, using the methods and support provided by the Engineering and EHS Manager.
• Communicate equipment reliability and maintenance concerns that affect production.
• Coordinate with Maintenance on production needs, equipment availability, and adherence to the preventive maintenance schedule.
• Support implementation of process improvements, new equipment, and operational changes.
• Support production trials, new product introductions, and scale-up activities in coordination with Technical, Quality, and the Engineering and EHS Manager.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred. Equivalent manufacturing leadership experience will be considered in place of a degree.
• Three - Five years of experience in manufacturing operations, production management, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Chemical or process manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing production employees.
• Strong production planning and scheduling skills.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a dynamic production environment.
• Understanding of manufacturing safety, quality, and operational requirements.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Self-driven, dependable, organized, and results-oriented.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on manufacturing environment.

Strongly Preferred

• Experience leading union-represented hourly employees, including day-to-day contract administration and the grievance process.
• Experience within specialty chemical or batch/process manufacturing.
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or another technical discipline.
• Experience with production scheduling, shipping, and inventory management.
• Experience using ERP or manufacturing planning systems.
• Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement experience.
• Experience supporting production metrics and operational performance improvement.

OUR OPERATING PHILOSOPHY

Everything we do is centered around three pillars: Quality, Innovation, and Service.

We also operate through five core values: Accountability, Collaboration, Empathy, Drive, and Openness. These are not statements on a wall. They are behavioral expectations that apply to every person in the organization regardless of title or tenure.

Performance and Alignment is how we operate and win.

How We Show Up Matters.