Manufacturing Production Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Value Stream Coordinator

The Opportunity:

The Manufacturing Value Stream Coordinator will oversee the daily operations and continuous improvement of a designated value stream within the manufacturing process. They will be responsible for coordinating multiple activities to ensure the efficient flow of materials, products, and information across the value stream while focusing on meeting safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives. The Coordinator will work closely with cross-functional teams to streamline operations, eliminate waste, and drive continuous improvement.

What You’ll Need:

Value Stream Management:

• Oversee the flow of materials, components, and information throughout the value stream to ensure optimal efficiency.

• Effectively manage production schedules and workflows to meet delivery and performance targets.

• Analyze and optimize processes to reduce waste, improve productivity, and enhance overall efficiency.

• Collaborate with multiple departments (production, procurement, quality, and logistics) to manage the scheduling, resource allocation, and performance tracking of the value stream.

Production Planning and Scheduling:

• Develop and maintain detailed production schedules based on customer orders, forecasted demand, and inventory levels. Ensuring that the production timeline aligns with value stream capacity and customer delivery dates.

• Align production schedules with material availability, labor capacity, and equipment constraints.

• Coordinate with production teams to ensure schedules are communicated clearly and executed efficiently.

Material Flow & Inventory Management:

• Work with procurement teams and suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials. Managing lead times and potential supply chain disruptions to avoid production delays.

• Monitor and escalate raw material issues as needed, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods inventory levels within the value stream.

• Track inventory levels and adjust orders to maintain optimal stock levels while minimizing excess.

• Work closely with logistics and inventory management to ensure the correct storage and movement of materials.

• Maintain external vendor relationships.

Capacity Planning & Resource Allocation:

• Identifying and addressing potential bottlenecks or inefficiencies in the production plan. Developing contingency plans to minimize the impact of disruptions, such as equipment failures or late deliveries.

• Coordinate the allocation of labor with Value Stream Leaders, equipment, and resources to ensure the smooth execution of production plans.

• Work with production supervisors to ensure the efficient utilization of personnel and machinery.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Initiatives:

• Participating in continuous improvement initiatives to streamline the planning process, improve forecast accuracy, and enhance overall value stream performance.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement lean manufacturing principles and improve overall value stream performance.

• Develop and implement action plans to reduce cycle times, increase throughput, and lower costs.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Serve as the point of contact between production, purchasing, logistics, and customer service teams to ensure alignment on priorities, changes, and issues.

• Communicate timely on production updates, constraints, challenges, and solutions with relevant stakeholders, including management and cross-functional teams.

• Work closely with the Value Stream Leader to support the overall goals and objectives of the value stream.

• Effectively facilitate communication between departments to resolve scheduling conflicts, material shortages, or other production issues.

Data Analysis & Reporting:

• Analyzing historical production data, forecast accuracy, and inventory trends to refine future planning efforts.

• Continuously track production progress, material availability, and demand fluctuations. Adjusting production schedules in response to changes in customer orders, equipment downtime, or material shortages.

• Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time delivery, production efficiency, and re-work. Using these metrics to assess the effectiveness of the production plan and make improvements where necessary.

• Providing reports to management on planning performance and key challenges.

Pricing and Cost Optimization:

• Collaborating with sales and marketing teams to set pricing strategies that align with production costs and desired profit margins.

What You’ll Need:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.

• 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, with a focus on production coordination, Lean, or value stream management.

Skills & Abilities:

• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles, value stream mapping, and waste reduction techniques.

• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills.

• Proficiency in data analysis and the use of software tools such as Excel, ERP systems, Smartsheet and production planning tools.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Certifications:

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent certification.

• APICS certification preferred.

Schedule:

• General hours are from 7:00 AM- 3:30 PM, with limited overtime unless there is a business need.

Work Environment:

• We offer a friendly and fun participative work environment by encouraging and enabling associates to take ownership of their work and collaborate with their teammates to positively impact the business.

• Metal-Free in our operations areas

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

The successful candidate will enjoy a rewarding, challenging, and principled work environment. Please visit for more information on our company!

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging:

Guided by our core values, Rio Grande is committed to treating all people with dignity and respect. We are an equal-opportunity employer with a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or discrimination of any kind. As an advocate for equity and equality, we hire, train, and promote qualified people of all backgrounds. We consider employment candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other underrepresented class. We value our associates and have won the yearly Healthiest Places to Work and Family Friendly Business awards on multiple occasions.

The Reward:
Rio Grande provides a generous benefit package for full-time (30+ hours a week) associates that includes:

• Medical plan with low premium rates and no high deductible (includes dental and vision) and telemedicine
• 401(k) matching program
• Paid time-off benefits, plus an additional seven paid holidays
• Paid life insurance and optional additional life insurance
• Long-term and short-term disability
• Flexible spending account
• Pet insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• On-site gym and company wellness program
• Bereavement leave
• Employee discounts at Rio Grande
• Local and national discounts on various travel and entertainment
• Competitive compensation, including an opportunity to share in the profits

Our associates strive for joint accountability. We work together for the success of our stakeholders, and we provide a thoughtful, fun, and creative environment to support them. We encourage professional and personal development through a variety of training opportunities and a focus on promoting from within.

The Company:
Established in 1944, Rio Grande, a Berkshire-Hathaway manufacturer/distributor, has thousands of valued customers around the world. We are a principle-based company with a highly evolved team-based environment. We can show you how a profoundly effective organization lives these values every day. You can find our guiding principles, The 3 R’s, Respect, Responsibility and Results, on our website as well as information about our community support and how we protect the environment.

Within our 186,000 sq. ft., solar-powered facility, with covered parking, Rio Grande has sales, marketing, supply chain, IT and administrative offices, a climate-controlled distribution center with more than 40,000 items, and a comprehensive, well-equipped manufacturing operation. Manufactured products include jewelry-making equipment (from basic tools to highly sophisticated induction casting machines) and jewelry components—both die-struck and cast. Capabilities include CAD/CAM, casting, stamp and form, metal finishing, CNC machining, manual milling, tool & die and electronics/mechanical assembly.