Corrugated Production Manager

Job Summary

We are seeking a hands-on Converting Production Manager to lead converting operations during an assigned shift in a fast-paced corrugated manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for driving safe, high-quality, and efficient production while developing employees, supporting continuous improvement, and aligning daily performance with plant goals for safety, quality, cost, delivery, and customer satisfaction.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Direct daily converting operations and ensure production schedules are completed safely, efficiently, and on time.
• Execute daily production schedules and ensure customer commitments are met.
• Drive production performance, including throughput, uptime, efficiency, and labor productivity.
• Make timely decisions regarding staffing, machine assignments, priorities, and workflow adjustments.
• Safety Leadership
  • Champion a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all safety policies.
  • Lead pre-shift huddles and communicate daily priorities related to safety, quality, production, and maintenance.
  • Investigate incidents, near misses, and unsafe behaviors; ensure corrective actions are completed.
  • Ensure employees are properly trained and consistently follow PPE, lockout/tagout, and plant safety requirements.
• Quality and Customer Focus
  • Ensure all finished goods meet customer specifications and plant quality standards.
  • Monitor quality performance and address recurring defects related to print, die cutting, folding, and gluing.
  • Enforce first-piece approvals and in-process inspections.
  • Persist with Quality and Production teams to reduce complaints, scrap, and rework.
• Team Leadership and Development
  • Supervise lead personnel, operators, utility employees, and production crews within the converting department.
  • Cook, train, and develop employees to improve skills, engagement, accountability, and performance.
  • Support performance evaluations, corrective action, recognition, and employee relations activities.
  • Promote teamwork, accountability, clear communication, and a strong sense of ownership across the shift.
• Production Planning and Coordination
  • Collaborate with Scheduling, Maintenance, Quality, Shipping, and other departments to maintain workflow alignment.
  • Manage job sequencing, changeovers, and machine utilization.
  • Ensure proper staffing levels and coverage for all converting operations.
  • Lead effective shift handoffs with clear communication on safety concerns, production priorities, downtime, staffing, and quality issues.
• Performance and Continuous Improvement
  • Track, communicate, and improve key performance indicators, including:
    • Safety metrics
    • Efficiency and uptime (OEE)
    • Waste/scrap reduction
    • On-time delivery (OTD)
    • Labor productivity
  • Analyze daily production reports and identify improvement opportunities.
  • Lead continuous improvement and cost-saving initiatives that improve safety, quality, efficiency, and delivery.
• Maintenance and Equipment Reliability
  • Partner with Maintenance to coordinate repairs and preventive maintenance.
  • Ensure crews properly operate, clean, and care for equipment, dies, plates, tooling, and work areas.
  • Identify chronic downtime issues and support troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective action.
  • Oversee proper handling and care of dies, plates, and tooling.
• Administrative Duties
  • Complete shift reports, production tracking, and labor reporting accurately.
  • Manage timekeeping, attendance, shift coverage, and scheduling for assigned personnel.
  • Participate in plant meetings, audits, training, safety activities, and continuous improvement efforts.
  • Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and standards.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in corrugated converting operations or a closely related manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of converting equipment, including Apstar, LMC, or similar FFG/RDC machinery.
• Prior leadership experience as a lead, supervisor, or equivalent production leadership role.
• Knowledge of production scheduling, workflow management, quality standards, and lean manufacturing principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Supervisory or management experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience using KPI tracking, OEE, production reporting, and continuous improvement tools.
• Mechanical aptitude with the ability to support operational troubleshooting and downtime reduction.

Skills And Competencies

• Strong leadership, coaching, and people-management skills.
• Sound operational judgment and the ability to make real-time decisions.
• Clear communication, conflict resolution, and shift handoff discipline.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on waste, downtime, quality, and cost control.
• Organizational and time management skills.
• Data-driven approach to performance management and problem solving.

Work Environment And Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in an industrial manufacturing environment with noise, dust, moving equipment, and changing production demands.
• Position requires standing, walking, bending, and occasional lifting of up to approximately 50 lbs.
• Must be flexible to work assigned shifts, overtime, weekends, and schedule changes as business needs require.

Reports To

• Plant Manager

Direct Reports

• Lead personnel
• Operators
• Utility employees
• General labor employees

Pay Range

$70,000-80,000 annually dependent on experience*

Pay range may be adjusted depending on cost of living Annual performance bonus opportunity based on Company and specific business unit ROI and PBOP achievement criteria and individual job responsibility and performance.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Health savings account with company contribution
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Basic and voluntary life insurance
• Disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Stock purchase program with employee discount
• Wellness programs and challenges

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.