Production Foreman

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionThe Production Foreman is the Plant Manager’s right hand on the shop floor and the single point of accountability for how work actually gets executed each day. Where the Plant Manager sets plant-wide priorities across Production, Quality, and Warehouse, the Production Foreman converts those priorities into daily crew assignments, sequencing, and hands-on direction of the production workforce. This is a floor-based leadership role: the Production Foreman directly supervises production personnel, owns the execution of the daily build plan for the assembly and fabrication of sub-assemblies, parts, and units, and is expected to act on the Plant Manager’s behalf on the floor in their absence. Success in this role is measured by schedule attainment, workmanship quality, labor efficiency, and safety performance, all achieved through a visible, disciplined presence on the floor rather than from a desk.

RESPONSIBILITIES

RIGHT HAND TO THE PLANT MANAGER Serve as the Plant Manager’s primary partner and second set of eyes on the production floor, translating plant priorities into an executable daily plan. Act with the Plant Manager’s delegated authority on the floor in their absence, making real-time decisions on sequencing, staffing, and work assignments within established priorities and budget. Provide the Plant Manager with a daily report on build progress, labor hours, constraints, and any units at risk of missing schedule. Escalate schedule, cost, quality, and safety issues to the Plant Manager early, and bring a recommended course of action rather than the problem alone. Represent Production in daily plant stand-ups and cross-departmental meetings, and carry decisions made in those meetings back to the floor. Reinforce the Plant Manager’s decisions, standards, and expectations with the crew, presenting a consistent and unified front of leadership at all times. Give the Plant Manager honest, ground-level feedback on which processes, tools, and staffing models are working in practice and which are not. Support the Plant Manager in building the department’s operating budget and controlling labor, consumable, and rework costs against it.

DAILY FLOOR EXECUTION Direct the day-to-day activities of the production floor to meet daily, weekly, and monthly schedules for the assembly and fabrication of sub-assemblies, parts, and units. Assign work to crews and individuals based on skill, certification, and workload, and adjust those assignments throughout the day as conditions change. Sequence work across fabrication, assembly, and finishing to keep units moving, eliminate bottlenecks, and minimize idle time. Conduct start-of-shift and end-of-shift huddles to set expectations, communicate priorities, and confirm progress. Track build progress against the production schedule and identify variances the same day they occur. Proactively identify and resolve production challenges on the floor before they affect the schedule. Set up and continuously refine floor workflows, staging, and work-cell layouts to support an efficient, lean operation. Verify each unit is complete, documented, and ready for handoff before it is released from the production floor. Maintain accurate and timely production and employee records, including work order and build status in NetSuite, production schedule spreadsheets, production calendars, and weekly update communications.

DIRECT SUPERVISION OF PRODUCTION PERSONNEL Directly supervise production personnel, including production leads, fabricators, welders, assemblers, and helpers. Manage attendance, timekeeping, break and shift schedules, and overtime approval for floor personnel within the Plant Manager’s guidelines. Train, coach, and develop team members so that every technician clearly understands the standard of work expected of them. Deliver regular performance feedback, conduct performance reviews, and administer corrective action in partnership with the Plant Manager and Human Resources. Recommend hiring, promotion, pay, and termination decisions to the Plant Manager, supported by documented performance observations. Build bench strength through deliberate cross-training so the floor is not dependent on any single individual. Apply company policies and procedures fairly and consistently across all crews and shifts. Develop production leads into capable frontline supervisors who can run their areas independently.

QUALITY AND SAFETY ON THE FLOOR Hold the floor to defined workmanship standards, verifying work against drawings, specifications, and travelers before it advances to the next stage. Perform regular audits and walkdowns of the Production Department’s work to confirm all standards are being met. Partner with the Quality Department on defects, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions, and ensure corrective actions are actually sustained on the floor. Enforce all safety standards, personal protective equipment requirements, and job-site safety procedures, and stop work immediately when conditions are unsafe. Lead toolbox talks and participate in safety meetings, incident investigations, and near-miss reviews with the Safety Department. Own housekeeping, organization, and cleanliness standards throughout the production area.

MATERIALS, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT Confirm that materials, parts, and consumables are staged and available ahead of each build, and communicate shortages to Warehouse and Procurement early enough to protect the schedule. Provide technical assistance for equipment malfunctions and expedite repairs to minimize downtime. Oversee the care, maintenance, and calibration of production tools and equipment. Monitor and control consumable usage, scrap, and rework, and address recurring drivers of waste.

CROSS-DEPARTMENT COORDINATION Collaborate with the Engineering Department to resolve drawing and design questions and to develop and implement productivity improvements. Collaborate with the Procurement Department to ensure inventory and material requirements are communicated accurately and on time. Collaborate with the Safety Department to promote a safe work environment and ensure compliance with all safety standards. Collaborate with the Human Resources Department on hiring practices, candidate selection, onboarding, and terminations. Coordinate with the Warehouse & Logistics Department on staging, receiving, and shipping to align material flow with the build schedule. Provide updates to the Sales and Service teams on the production status of current orders.

OTHER Maintains cleanliness of the work area and associated equipment. Completes work in a neat and safe manner. Seeks growth in expanding knowledge and skills through training and education. Communicates questions, concerns, and risks to management. Engages in the company’s vision and seeks to implement processes and establish goals with the company’s vision in mind. Complies with company policies and procedures. Prioritizes and coordinates work activities. Performs responsibilities related to special assigned projects. Presents self in a clean, neat, professional manner. Performs other miscellaneous duties and tasks as assigned.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS

Exceptional communication skills (written, oral, and listening), with the ability to give clear direction to a crew and to brief leadership concisely. Proven ability to lead hourly production personnel directly and to hold people accountable without damaging morale. Hands-on working knowledge of fabrication, welding, and mechanical assembly processes. Ability to read and interpret technical documents, blueprints, drawings, and specifications. Excellent time management and organizational skills. Strong decision-making, problem resolution, and creative thinking skills. Able to multi-task and re-prioritize activities as conditions on the floor shift. Ability to persuade and influence others, including peers in other departments. Highly energetic, self-directed, and comfortable operating with delegated authority. Working knowledge of ERP or production tracking systems; NetSuite experience preferred. Proficient computer skills, including MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a Production Foreman, Operations Foreman, Plant Foreman, or production supervisory role.Minimum of 3 years of direct supervision of hourly production, fabrication, or assembly personnel.Hands-on background in fabrication, welding, mechanical assembly, or industrial equipment build.High school diploma or equivalent required; technical or trade certification preferred.Previous experience in the oil and gas industry is preferred.Previous experience with lean or continuous improvement methodologies is preferred.