Production Manager

About the role

The Michigan Milk Producers Association is a dairy farmer-owned cooperative and dairy processor. Founded in 1916, the MMPA serves dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. It maintains a strong presence within the dairy industry through strategic business relationships and operates four member-owned processing plants in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for directing the plant production activities and leading the production team to produce and ship quality products to meet business and customer requirements.
• Responsible for full-plant operations including processing, production, and the warehouse.
• Sets strategic direction and implementation of Operational Safety, Quality, HR, and Preventative Maintenance systems for the plant in alignment with the Plant Manager.
• Evaluates and maintains effective application of the SQF plan and regulatory requirements to ensure product quality.
• Inspects facility (production, warehouse, grounds) to assure adherence to safety and operating policies and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Controls and effectively utilizes the production capacity, workforce, equipment, and outside resources through planning, organizing, and scheduling to minimize losses, while maintaining high levels of compliance with legal and Cooperative requirements.
• Works within the framework of the budget to optimize producer profitability. Interprets policy and decides the best course of action in problems of quality, scheduling, and allocation of employee resources to maintain efficient operations.
• Works closely with the Plant Manager and supervisors to review and adjust operational goals and efficiencies.
• Mentors and directs management employees. Participates in Cooperative planning through budget preparation, capital expenditure recommendation, workforce, and space forecasting.
• Strategic partner in labor relations issues.
• Provides leadership, development, and support to team members under the guidance of the Michigan Milk Producers Association Management and Leadership Principles.

Requirements

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Food Science, Business, or related field required. 5-7 years of experience managing in a plant environment. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Knowledge: Food, beverage, or pharmaceutical manufacturing experience preferred. Knowledgeable in FDA, MDARD, and USDA requirements. Experience with MMPA systems and personnel. Experience managing in a unionized environment.
• Technical/Professional Knowledge: Demonstrates total commitment to the manufacturing of safe and compliant products. Participates as a change control member to manage corrective actions in the production area. Directs the troubleshooting of operational deviations. Participates in periodic audits of sanitation, general GMP’s, and manages corrective actions.
• Production/Operations: Participates in setting production standards with the Finance & Production teams. Reviews the attained efficiencies/performances and yields on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and manages corrective actions for improvements. Leads and participates in operational review meetings. Facilitates Root Cause Analysis Exercises, including cost savings projects, communications, culture change. Reviews and directs the operational Forms and SOP’s.
• Schedule: Understands and provides input into the production master planning for the site. Reviews the short-term and long-term production schedules to optimize productivity and schedule attainment. Participate in the weekly and daily production scheduling meetings.
• Personnel: Leads and directs the plant operations leadership to support effective execution of 365, 24-7 operations to meet cost, quality, and fulfillment goals. Develops talent and coaches the team to improve organizational effectiveness. Sets goals for the department. Conducts performance appraisals. Labor: Coaches the Team Advisors on difficult personnel issues. Hiring: Participates in the hiring of related new employees. Shows passion to lead efforts to coach, train, and develop department members.
• Future Planning: Reviews proposals for upcoming projects in the production areas. Works with Operations Performance to conduct annual capacity studies as well as project-related studies.

Behavioral Attributes

• Diligence - accomplishing tasks through concern for all areas involved, no matter how small; showing concern for all aspects of the job; accurately checking processes and tasks; maintaining watchfulness over a period.
• Communication - presents ideas effectively, actively listens and works across functional boundaries.
• Energy - Maintaining a high activity level. Some jobs require employees to maintain the required activity level for an extended period; to sustain concentration; or to pace the work throughout the work period.
• Technical/Professional Knowledge - having an understanding and ability to use technical/professional information, keeping up on developments and trends in one’s field.
• Teamwork/ Cooperation - effectively working within and outside the formal line of authority. Able to act in several roles depending upon the situation - facilitator, leader, executor, etc.
• Initiative - Assert influence over events to achieve goals; self-starting rather than accepting passively; take action to achieve goals beyond what is required.
• Tolerance for Stress - Able to maintain stable performance under pressure or ambiguity; able to work against tight timelines.
• Customer Delight Orientation - Listen and understand internal and external customers, and to anticipate needs and exceed expectations.

Other Requirements

• The job requires individuals to monitor all aspects of the operation, often requiring inspection of hard-to-reach areas where the candidate may have to climb, balance, kneel, crouch, and crawl. Pipe connections sometimes require the individual to reach above the shoulders. On occasion, an individual may be required to lift and/or move 50-pound components or finished product manually or with a powered industrial lift (PIT).
• Communication and listening skills are a must.