Assistant Production Manager

Assistant Production Manager

This role supports the day-to-day operation of a U.S. manufacturing facility producing precision aluminum cabinet systems used in garages, trailers, specialty vehicles, and professional workshops. The company operates a small but highly collaborative manufacturing team, where operational leaders are directly involved with the shop floor and work closely with production teams to maintain quality and throughput. The organization produces high-end products with strong attention to craftsmanship, and production leadership plays a key role in maintaining standards, workflow efficiency, and safety.

The Assistant Production Manager supports the Shop Foreman in coordinating manufacturing operations and ensuring production teams are operating efficiently and safely. This role acts as a communication bridge between shop leadership and production personnel, helping coordinate scheduling, monitor job progress, track production metrics, and resolve workflow issues before they disrupt output. The position is both administrative and hands-on, requiring visibility on the production floor and active participation in problem solving.

Key Responsibilities

Production Oversight

• Support the Shop Foreman in overseeing daily manufacturing and assembly operations
• Conduct routine shop floor walkthroughs to monitor productivity and workflow
• Ensure production activities are aligned with schedules and deadlines
• Identify and escalate operational issues that may impact throughput or quality

Scheduling and Workflow Coordination

• Coordinate production schedules across departments
• Balance workflow to avoid bottlenecks between fabrication, assembly, and finishing processes
• Track job progress and ensure work orders move through production efficiently
• Communicate schedule adjustments and priority changes to production teams

Inventory and Materials Management

• Monitor inventory levels and material availability
• Coordinate with purchasing and operations leadership to ensure material readiness
• Identify potential shortages that could interrupt production schedules

Quality and Safety Oversight

• Support shop leadership in maintaining quality standards across manufacturing operations
• Reinforce safety protocols and ensure adherence to established safety procedures
• Assist with identifying quality concerns and implementing corrective actions

Performance Tracking and Reporting

• Track production metrics and operational performance indicators
• Identify trends in productivity or efficiency
• Provide operational reporting to leadership regarding workflow and production output

Process Improvement

• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives
• Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency, workflow layout, and process consistency

Team Support and Leadership

• Assist with employee training and cross-training initiatives
• Provide feedback to leadership regarding team performance and training needs
• Serve as a backup leadership presence when the Shop Foreman is unavailable

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of experience working in a manufacturing or production environment
• Experience supporting production teams or leading manufacturing staff
• Understanding of production workflow and manufacturing scheduling
• Strong communication skills with the ability to coordinate between production teams and leadership
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work in a hands-on shop floor environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in metal fabrication or sheet metal manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing or 5S methodology
• Experience working with ERP or manufacturing software
• Experience tracking production metrics or operational reporting

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan
• Company benefits package including disability coverage and additional voluntary benefits

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will:

• Have prior experience working in a manufacturing environment
• Be comfortable spending time on the shop floor
• Demonstrate strong organizational and communication skills
• Be capable of balancing operational oversight with hands-on production awareness
• Thrive in a small company environment where roles require flexibility and initiative