LEAN PRODUCTION MANAGER

Job Description

Job Description

Kingspan Insulated Panels North America, a division of the Kingspan Group Plc headquartered in Ireland, is a global and trusted leader in the design, manufacturing, and supply of high-performance sustainable building products and solutions for the construction industry. As the most energy-efficient, cost-effective building envelope solutions, insulated metal panels are at the forefront of sustainability. We serve the architectural, commercial/industrial, cold storage and food processing markets, and are committed to delivering the most advanced building products on the market. 

Learn about our Planet Passionate initiatives:  

At Kingspan, our future success is based on the quality of our people, who's expertise and motivation have helped ensure that we remain at the forefront of the construction materials manufacturing industry. In joining Kingspan you become an important part of a growing organization with a reputation for innovative design and use of technology, technical expertise, product quality, service excellence, and dedication to sustainability.

Ready to be part of our team?    

We are looking for a Production Manager for our Columbus, Ohio facility.   

Summary:   The Production Manager is a key operational leader responsible for managing daily manufacturing and assembly. This role ensures that the production team delivers safe, high-quality products on time and in full, while maintaining compliance with company standards, customer requirements, and operational KPIs. 

Success is achieved through strong leadership and the development of subordinate supervisors and operators, while building a strong, engaged organization capable of delivering reliable operational and business results. 

Essential Duties:  

Operational Performance & KPI Accountability  

• Drive performance of the production department across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and inventory accuracy. 

• Execute daily management systems, standard work, and KPI reporting with accuracy and timeliness. 

• Ensure production schedules and forecasts are achieved on time and in full. 

• Take corrective action when daily output does not meet requirements. 

• Ensure customer expectations are met through effective production planning, quality control, and timely confirmations. 

• Maintain accurate quality records and investigate warranty or customer complaints as needed. 

Organizational Leadership & People Development  

• Provide visible, values-based leadership that reinforces expectations for safety, quality, performance, and teamwork. 

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and production team members, ensuring adequate staffing, training, and cross training to support operational needs. 

• Manage attendance, performance, and disciplinary matters in accordance with company policies. 

• Communicate effectively with crews regarding goals, performance, and operational priorities. 

• Foster an engaged, respectful, and accountable work environment. 

• Partner with Human Resources to address employee relations matters and workforce planning 

Safety, Quality & Compliance Leadership  

• Champion a proactive safety culture by modeling safe behaviors and enforcing standards, supporting incident investigations, and driving corrective actions. 

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, safety, and labor requirements. 

• Maintain adherence to quality standards and drive improvements to reduce defects and variability. 

• Support audits, inspections, and compliance activities as required. 

Continuous Improvement & Change Leadership  

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve equipment reliability. 

• Use root-cause problem solving and data-driven decision making to address operational issues. 

• Support the launch of new products and variants in partnership with Engineering. 

• Sustain improvements through standard work, coaching, and consistent leadership routines. 
• Apply lean manufacturing principles and methodologies to improve flow, eliminate non-value-added activities, reduce variation, and optimize the use of people, materials, and equipment.
• Establish and sustain a culture of continuous improvement through employee involvement, standard work, visual management, and disciplined follow-through.

Production Planning & Cross Functional Coordination  

• Collaborate closely with Purchasing, Customer Service, and Shipping to ensure material availability and accurate cut lists. 

• Ensure accurate stock usage reporting in SAP and implement Bill of Material changes as required. 

• Support effective scheduling and resource planning to meet customer and operational requirements. 

• Participate in production management meetings and provide updates on performance, risks, and priorities. 

General Responsibilities  

• Maintain accurate records and reporting across all operational areas. 

• Participate in meetings, training, and development activities as required. 

• Follow the Group Code of Conduct and Group Compliance. 

• Follow Compliance requirements per “KNA-SOP-1705 Compliance Roles and Responsibilities.” 

• Performs all other duties as assigned. 

Safety Champion Responsibilities (Designation ‑ Based):   

Employees designated to serve as Safety Champions assume additional responsibilities that enhance the company’s safety culture and compliance programs. These responsibilities apply only to designated individuals and are not part of the standard duties for all employees in this role. 

• Ensure a safe working environment is maintained at all times. Lead and support all safety programs, policies, and compliance activities.  

• Use the Action Tracker to document and follow up on safety corrective actions. 

• Process, report, and document all accidents, injuries, and near-miss incidents according to OSHA and company requirements. 

• Monitor, track, and report monthly Lost Time, Injury, and Accident metrics. 

• Maintain and ensure accuracy of all confidential safety records. 

• Submit data required for annual OSHA reports. 

• Provide supervisors with materials for weekly safety toolbox talks. 

• Participate in conducting safety training sessions. 

• Support the Safety & Health Committee by preparing agendas, coordinating monthly meetings, and publishing meeting minutes. 

• Maintain and inspect First Aid inventories and safety supplies monthly. 

• Enforce proper use of PPE and safe work practices across all departments. 

Education & Experience  

• College degree or five years of experience in insulated panel manufacturing or related construction/metal building environments. 

• Proficiency in modern manufacturing practices and production processes. 

• Strong understanding of quality, safety, and operational standards. 

• Demonstrated experience applying lean manufacturing principles in a production environment, with a track record of identifying and eliminating waste, improving process flow, and delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, cost, or delivery performance.
• Working knowledge of lean tools and continuous improvement practices such as 5S, standard work, visual management, root-cause analysis, and process improvement.

Computer Skills