JOB SUMMARY –
The Production Manager is responsible for overseeing all production operations to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing performance. This role provides leadership across production teams and supervisors while aligning daily operations with company strategy, productivity goals, and customer requirements.
The Production Manager ensures production schedules, quality standards, and operational performance targets are consistently achieved while developing employees and strengthening production systems. Through leadership, process improvement, and cross-functional collaboration, the role supports operational excellence and continuous improvement across the manufacturing environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES –
Production Operations Leadership:
- Oversee all production operations to ensure safety, quality, productivity, and delivery targets are achieved.
- Manage production supervisors and frontline leadership to ensure effective coordination across shifts.
- Monitor plant-wide production performance and ensure alignment with production schedules and operational targets.
- Ensure production readiness for new product launches, trials, and operational transitions.
- Establish and maintain a structured production management system that supports daily accountability and operational performance.
- Understanding of Lean manufacturing systems, TPS principles, Kaizen methodologies, standardized work, and continuous improvement practices.
Operational Performance & Continuous Improvement:
- Drive productivity improvements through Lean manufacturing principles and structured continuous improvement initiatives.
- Lead initiatives such as Value Stream Mapping, 5S, root cause analysis, and waste elimination.
- Monitor operational KPIs including throughput, scrap, downtime, labor utilization, and on-time delivery.
- Lead investigations into quality issues, safety incidents, and production disruptions and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
- Promote quality at the source and reinforce stop-the-line quality practices across production teams.
Cross-Functional Coordination:
- Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Materials, Maintenance, and Planning teams to ensure production inputs and outputs meet operational goals.
- Ensure production involvement in new product introduction processes including Phase Gate and IPQP requirements.
- Collaborate with leadership teams to support enterprise-wide operational initiatives and business objectives.
People Leadership & Workforce Development:
- Lead, mentor, and develop supervisors and production leaders to strengthen operational capability.
- Conduct performance evaluations, coaching, and leadership development activities across production teams.
- Ensure training programs, cross-training initiatives, and development plans are implemented effectively.
- Promote strong communication through production meetings, Gemba walks, and team engagement practices.
Compliance & Operational Governance:
- Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality management systems.
- Ensure standard operating procedures are consistently followed across production operations.
- Support internal and external audits by ensuring production documentation and processes meet required standards.
- Maintain accurate production reporting and documentation to support operational visibility and accountability.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES –
Knowledge:
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes including stamping, machining, assembly, and production flow management.
- Understanding of Lean manufacturing systems including Value Stream Mapping, 5S, structured problem solving, and continuous improvement practices.
- Knowledge of production scheduling, operational KPIs, and plant performance management.
- Familiarity with ERP systems and production planning tools used to manage manufacturing operations.
- Understanding of quality systems, safety compliance requirements, and manufacturing standards.
Skills:
- Leadership and team management skills to oversee supervisors and production teams across multiple shifts.
- Strong problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities.
- Ability to analyze production performance data and identify operational improvements.
- Effective communication and coaching skills to develop supervisors and frontline employees.
- Organizational skills to coordinate production schedules, workforce planning, and operational priorities.
Abilities:
- Lead production teams while maintaining safety, quality, and productivity standards.
- Translate operational goals into actionable production plans and performance expectations.
- Manage multiple operational priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Build collaboration across departments including Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Materials.
- Identify operational risks and implement corrective actions to maintain production performance.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE –
- Post-secondary education in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum 7–10 years of experience in manufacturing operations.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in a production leadership or plant management role.
- Experience implementing Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement initiatives preferred.
- Experience with ERP systems, production reporting, and manufacturing metrics tracking.
WORKING CONDITIONS –
- Primarily production-floor based leadership role supporting manufacturing operations.
- Standing: approximately 50–60% of the workday overseeing operations, conducting Gemba walks, and supporting production teams.
- Walking: approximately 25–35% of the workday moving between departments, workstations, and operational meetings.
- Sitting: approximately 10–15% of the workday performing administrative tasks, production reporting, and planning activities.
- Work environment includes exposure to manufacturing equipment, noise, and varying temperatures.
- Mandatory use of required personal protective equipment (PPE) when on the shop floor.
- Frequent interaction with production teams, supervisors, engineering, and operational leadership.
- Role may require occasional schedule flexibility to support multiple shifts or operational priorities.
Pay: $100,000.00-$120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Profit sharing
- Relocation assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision care
- Wellness program
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Hanover, ON N4N 3T6: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Experience:
- Production Management: 6 years (required)
Work Location: In person
