Panel Shop Manager

Company: Covenant Panel Works (CPW), a division of c3controls

Location: Beaver, PA

Reports To: VP & COO

Employment Status: Full-Time / Exempt

Position Summary

The Panel Shop Manager is directly responsible for operational execution, shop floor throughput, labor efficiency, and technical integrity at Covenant Panel Works (CPW). This role bridges commercial commitments and physical production, driving daily assembly operations while providing direct leadership to the panel engineering and drafting team.

The primary mission is to run a high-velocity, safe, and profitable panel shop floor, converting the sales pipeline into control panels delivered on time, within budgeted labor hours, and built to division margin and quality standards.

Core Responsibilities

1. Shop Floor Operations, Scheduling & Throughput

• Master Production Scheduling: Own the daily and weekly shop floor build schedule, balancing incoming orders, component availability, and assembly bench capacity to meet customer ship dates.
• Workflow & Cell Design: Organize the Beaver facility into lean, high-efficiency assembly cells (kitting, sub-plate mechanical layout, wiring, testing, and packaging) to maximize wire-per-hour output.
• Labor Efficiency & Margin Defense: Track estimated versus actual assembly hours per job in real time to prevent labor overruns and safeguard gross profit targets.
• Capacity & Staffing Execution: Set staffing levels, balance overtime, and lead the recruitment, onboarding, and hands-on training of assembly technicians as shop volume scales.
• Shop Safety & 5S: Maintain a clean, organized, and compliant work environment adhering to OSHA standards and CPW housekeeping practices.

2. Engineering Leadership & Technical Authority

• Engineering Team Oversight: Direct controls engineers and CAD drafters in generating accurate schematics, panel layouts, and multi-level Bills of Materials (BOMs).
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Review and coordinate designs before floor release to ensure ease of assembly, optimal wire routing, thermal headroom, and component availability.
• Component Standardization: Drive the engineering team to maximize integration of c3controls parent-company components into custom and standard panel architectures.
• Global Technical Coordination: Direct the tactical workflow of remote engineering and estimating resources (such as the India technical office) to ensure BOMs and takeoffs are ready for production hand-off without delays.

3. Quality Assurance & UL 508A Compliance

• UL 508A Technical Authority: Serve as the designated Manufacturer Technical Representative (MTR) for the shop, maintaining full compliance with UL 508A, NEC, and NEMA guidelines.
• Inspection & Testing Protocol: Enforce a strict quality gate process—including mechanical checks, point-to-point continuity, Hipot/dielectric checks, and powered functional I/O testing—prior to applying UL serial labels.
• Non-Conformance & Rework Reduction: Drive a zero-defect mindset by logging Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), identifying root causes (design, vendor, or workmanship), and implementing corrective actions to stop scrap and rework.

4. Supply Chain, Kitting & Inventory Coordination

• Material Staging & Kitting: Partner with c3controls supply chain and warehouse teams to ensure complete job kits (enclosures, backplates, components, terminal blocks, wire) are staged before assembly begins.
• ERP Job Tracking: Maintain operational tracking in the ERP/MRP system from work order release through final pick, pack, and shipment.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead initiatives to minimize cycle times, eliminate material-handling bottlenecks, and optimize tooling and wire processing equipment.

Candidate Requirements

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), Mechanical Engineering (BSME), Industrial Engineering (BSIE) or a related technical/manufacturing discipline. Practical panel shop leadership experience with an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology or extensive UL 508A MTR tenure will also be considered.
• Industry Experience: 5–7+ years of hands-on experience in electrical control panel manufacturing, industrial automation, or systems integration.
• Leadership Experience: Minimum of 3+ years managing shop floor operations, assembly technicians, and technical staff in a fast-paced custom manufacturing setting.
• UL 508A Credentials: Proven experience as a UL 508A Manufacturer Technical Representative (MTR) or deep technical mastery of UL 508A Supplement SA and SCCR calculations.

Technical & Operational Competencies

• Technical Fluency: Ability to read, interpret, and mark up complex schematics, ladder logic, single-line diagrams, and mechanical layouts.
• Software Tools: Familiarity with electrical CAD platforms (AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, or SolidWorks Electrical) and hands-on proficiency with manufacturing ERP/MRP inventory tracking systems.
• Operational Mindset: Demonstrated success applying Lean, 5S, and cell-based flow concepts to panel building or light electromechanical assembly.
• Financial Literacy: Clear understanding of job costing, labor efficiency rates, overhead burden, and how floor execution directly drives gross margins.
• Leadership Style: A "player-coach" who commands respect on the production floor, is comfortable troubleshooting a wiring error or reading a schematic at a bench, and can present production KPIs to executive leadership.

Position Type, Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position in the facility, hours are 8:30AM - 5:00PM.

Travel

Some local travel expected as needed.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this

job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.