Production Manager

• Lead all manufacturing readiness activities required to successfully launch a new production line. 
• Develop and implement the operational startup plan from equipment installation through production ramp-up. 
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to establish production processes, workstation layouts, standardized work, visual management systems, and manufacturing documentation. 
• Develop the production organization required to support the expanded manufacturing operation, including organizational structure, staffing plans, supervisory assignments, and labor deployment. 
• Lead hiring, onboarding, and development of Production Supervisors and direct production employees to support startup schedules. 
• Coordinate development and execution of production training plans to ensure workforce readiness prior to production launch. 
• Establish manufacturing operating procedures, leader standard work, escalation processes, and daily management systems. 
• Develop production readiness metrics and milestone tracking to ensure successful launch.

• Design and implement production pull systems supporting the expanded manufacturing line. 
• Define Work-in-Process (WIP) levels, kanban inventories, buffer locations, replenishment strategies, and material presentation standards. 
• Establish production flow, takt time, cycle time expectations, line balancing, bottleneck management, and throughput targets. 
• Deploy visual management systems including production boards, tier meetings, performance dashboards, and daily accountability processes. 
• Partner with Planning and Supply Chain to integrate the new production line into existing scheduling and material planning systems. 
• Modify existing production management systems and operational processes to incorporate the expanded manufacturing capacity.

• Identify, specify, procure, and commission all production support equipment, small tools, fixtures, ergonomic devices, and operator resources required for production readiness. 
• Ensure tooling, consumables, gauges, and production support assets are available prior to launch. 
• Coordinate production area organization utilizing Lean Manufacturing principles including 6S, visual workplace, contamination control, and point-of-use storage. 
• Support equipment acceptance activities and manufacturing validation prior to production release.

• Responsible for all activities that occur in product production. 
• Comprehensive knowledge of company products, general management policies and objectives, and specific understanding of all production related operations performed within the factory 
• Coordination of the plant activities requires working with intangibles, such as changing priorities and volume of production, as well as working with all levels of staff groups. 
• Decisions require sound judgement and the ability to deal with ambiguity on long range problems. 
• Act as a role model and as an agent of the Company.
• An excellent team player with strong people skills; able to build relationships at all levels of the organization
• Performance management, coaching, feedback, encouraging and empathic communication skills
• Basic team-building and fundamental leadership skills
• Effective communication skills, including verbal (logical and organized), written, listening and presentation
• Responsible for all aspects of their respective departments and therefore must be able to be mobile around the manufacturing areas.
• Strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent startup activities. 
• Ability to lead organizational change in a rapidly expanding manufacturing environment. 
• Expertise in manufacturing system design, production flow optimization, and operational readiness planning. 
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Manufacturing support organizations. 
• Experience building high-performing manufacturing teams from recruitment through operational maturity. 
• Demonstrated ability to establish standardized work, visual management, and Lean Daily Management systems.

• 5-7 years of experience in a manufacturing environment including supervisory experience.
• High School Diploma or equivalent
   
   

• Bachelor’s degree in related field
• Experience leading startup, expansion, or commissioning of new manufacturing operations or production lines. 
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing systems in a greenfield or expansion environment. 
• Experience designing pull production systems including Kanban, WIP management, supermarket design, and material flow. 
• Experience hiring, developing, and leading large hourly manufacturing workforces. 
• Experience implementing production management systems including tier accountability, visual management, leader standard work, and KPI management. 
• Experience with ERP implementation or expansion into new manufacturing operations. 
• Knowledge of industrial safety, production ergonomics, and manufacturing startup risk assessment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Engineering organization, including mechanical, electrical, manufacturing and applications engineering groups
• Operations management, including plant supervision, quality, planning, etc.