Production / Engineering Manager

About the Role

The Manufacturing Manager leads and oversees all day-to-day operations within the forge facility to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality products. This position provides leadership and direction to multiple manufacturing departments, including forging of steel products, machining, heat treatment, and supporting production functions. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with extensive experience in heavy manufacturing environments and a strong background in machining, forging, and heat treatment operations.

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership
  • Direct and coordinate daily manufacturing activities across all forge operations to meet production schedules, quality standards, and customer requirements.
  • Oversee operations including:
    • Closed-die forging presses
    • Mechanical and hydraulic press operations
    • Machining departments
    • Heat treatment operations
    • Material handling and workflow coordination
    • Secondary finishing processes
  • Monitor production performance and implement corrective actions to improve efficiency, throughput, and equipment utilization.
  • Ensure effective communication and coordination between departments to maximize productivity and minimize downtime.
  • Establish departmental goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and cost.
• Safety and Environmental Compliance
  • Promote and maintain a culture of safety throughout the facility.
  • Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations, company policies, and environmental standards.
  • Conduct routine safety audits, inspections, and investigations of workplace incidents.
  • Lead corrective and preventive actions to eliminate hazards and reduce risk.
  • Ensure employees receive appropriate safety training and maintain required certifications.
• Quality Management
  • Partner with Quality personnel to ensure products meet customer specifications and internal standards.
  • Investigate quality concerns and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
  • Drive root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives related to defects and scrap reduction.
  • Ensure process controls and inspection requirements are consistently followed.
• Employee Leadership and Development
  • Lead, coach, mentor, and develop supervisors, team leaders, and hourly employees.
  • Foster employee engagement, accountability, and teamwork.
  • Manage staffing levels to support production demands.
  • Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, performance evaluations, discipline, and succession planning.
  • Support labor relations activities and administer policies consistent with collective bargaining agreements, where applicable.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Identify opportunities to improve workflow, reduce waste, optimize labor utilization, and increase operational efficiency.
  • Lead Kaizen events and process improvement projects.
  • Monitor production metrics and use data-driven decision-making to improve performance.
• Maintenance and Equipment Reliability
  • Collaborate with Maintenance to maximize equipment reliability and minimize unplanned downtime.
  • Assist in developing preventive and predictive maintenance strategies.
  • Support capital improvement projects, equipment installations, and process upgrades.
  • Participate in evaluating equipment needs and recommending investments.
• Planning and Cost Control
  • Work closely with Production Planning and Supply Chain teams to ensure materials and resources are available to meet customer commitments.
  • Monitor labor, scrap, overtime, and operational expenses to achieve budget objectives.
  • Develop action plans to improve profitability and control manufacturing costs.
  • Prepare reports and communicate operational performance to senior leadership.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field required. Equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 7–10 years of manufacturing leadership experience, preferably within a forging, metal forming, or heavy industrial environment.
  • Minimum of 3–5 years of supervisory or management experience leading multiple departments and teams.
  • Demonstrated experience overseeing:
    • Forging operations
    • Machining processes
    • Heat treatment operations
    • Production scheduling and workflow management
  • Experience working in a unionized environment preferred.

Skills

• Thorough understanding of forging processes and downstream manufacturing operations.
• Strong knowledge of machining practices and heat treatment principles.
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations and industrial safety practices.
• Proven ability to lead teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze data and develop strategic operational improvements.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience utilizing Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily within a forge manufacturing facility. The Manufacturing Manager routinely works in production areas involving forging presses, machining centers, heat treat furnaces, and other industrial equipment. The role requires a visible presence on the production floor to support employees, address operational issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Safety performance and incident rates
• Production output and schedule attainment
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Scrap and rework reduction
• Labor efficiency and overtime management
• On-time delivery performance
• Employee engagement and retention
• Continuous improvement implementation and cost savings