Production Manager

The Production Manager is a senior operations leader responsible for end-to-end production performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale. Reporting to the Plant Manager, this role owns daily execution while driving long-term operational capability through people development, standardization, and continuous improvement. This position requires a hands-on leader who can balance urgency with discipline, lead through change, and build high-performing teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Success in this role is defined not only by results, but by the ability to develop leaders, stabilize processes, and sustain improvements. 

Operational Ownership

• Own and lead all production operations to ensure safe, efficient, and predictable execution.

• Plan, schedule, and adjust daily and weekly production activities to meet customer demand, capacity, and labor availability.

• Ensure effective process flow, on-time execution, and adherence to quality standards across all shifts.

• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to minimize downtime and improve equipment reliability.

• Analyze production data and performance metrics to identify gaps and implement improvements across processes, people, and equipment.

• Track and report key performance indicators related to safety, production output, efficiency, quality, and downtime.

• Establish, maintain, and support product quality specifications and quality control programs.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, coach, and develop supervisors and frontline leaders to create a strong leadership pipeline.

• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement at all levels.

• Administer company policies fairly and consistently, providing coaching and corrective action when necessary.

• Support onboarding, training, and ongoing performance development for all production team members.

• Ensure strong communication and alignment across shifts to maintain operational continuity.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Execution

• Lead structured continuous improvement initiatives using Lean manufacturing principles (A3, Kaizen, standard work, root cause analysis).

• Identify and eliminate waste, variation, and inefficiencies across people, processes, and equipment.

• Standardize best practices and ensure disciplined follow-through to sustain gains.

• Actively leads change initiatives and drive adoption across the organization.

Performance Management & Data-Driven Decision Making

• Track, analyze, and report key performance indicators including safety, quality, OEE, labor efficiency, scrap, downtime, and on-time delivery.

• Use ERP/MES and operational data to identify trends, gaps, and improvement opportunities.

• Translate operational metrics into clear insights and action plans aligned with business objectives.

• Manage labor and operational spending to meet cost and productivity targets.

Safety, Quality, & Compliance

• Lead a safety-first culture by maintaining an organized, compliant work environment and promptly addressing unsafe acts or conditions.

• Ensure compliance with all EHS policies, regulations, and company standards.

• Establish, maintain, and support product quality specifications and quality control programs.

• Serve as a role model for ethical leadership and ESG principles.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Customer Service, Scheduling, Procurement, Quality, EHS, Finance, Maintenance, and engineering to ensure stable operations and strong customer outcomes.

• Proactively identify operational risks and develop contingency plans to ensure continuity of supply.