Production Manager

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live.

About the role

Manages the day-to-day operations of one or more manufacturing production lines, prepares schedules, resolves issues, and ensures adherence to safety and quality standards. Creates reports and records of production processes, tools, performance, and inventory; shares suggestions with managers and leads improvements to safety, productivity, and quality for assigned areas of accountability. Oversees operations activities, ensuring that safety, schedules, and performance requirements are met while system resources are used effectively. Monitors overall operations performance and implements production safety, cost, and quality control mechanisms. Ensures compliance with all regulatory guidelines and forges a safe and sound manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Analyze situations or problems by defining the issue and determining its significance, using tools such as flow charts, Pareto charts, and fish diagrams to identify meaningful data patterns.
• Make systematic comparisons of alternative solutions, using logic and intuition to draw conclusions from data.
• Identify major forces, events, and people impacting the situation.
• Raise awareness of potential bottlenecks and disruptions to schedules, breaking tasks into manageable steps for personal work plans.
• Escalate concerns over competing or conflicting priorities and monitor progress continuously, adjusting tactics as needed.
• Create action plans to ensure the accomplishment of responsibilities.
• Streamline critical workflows for executing key processes and set priorities for addressing process problems that limit performance.
• Develop methods for improving and establishing controls for critical processes, monitoring external sources for new methods.
• Analyze findings from improvement cycles to ensure success and coach others to develop process-improvement skills.
• Identify opportunities to enhance performance, such as through practice assignments, training, or shadowing.
• Ensure performance goals, checkpoints, and feedback focus on behaviors, providing documented input for formal performance reviews.
• Observe individual performance and provide fair, objective feedback, using formal and informal rewards and recognition programs.
• Monitor organizational adherence to policies and procedures, facilitating communications across departments for smooth workflow.
• Evaluate risks and safety hazards in manufacturing operations, recommending industry benchmarks.
• Supervise daily operations to ensure production targets and forecasts are achieved, employing tools to anticipate demand and assure capacity.
• Consult on the use of new tools and techniques for safety protection, performing safety inspections to ensure OSHA compliance.
• Design and implement emergency response processes and procedures, promoting workplace safety among supervisors and workers.
• Assess and report unusual or new safety hazards, initiating corrective action and ensuring compliance with safety policies.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of manufacturing procedures, investigating exceptions for review and approval.
• Explain the rationale for procedures and standards in your area of responsibility, providing feedback for improvement.
• Conduct needs analysis to determine skill gaps or areas requiring training, developing programs for new or improved production machines.
• Direct staff on the setup and operation of production machinery for custom or non-standard jobs.
• Evaluate training media and their value to the organization, facilitating employee training on new equipment.
• Measure training program value by gathering pre- and post-training performance metrics.

Requirements

• Degree or equivalent experience desired.

Skills

• Analytical Thinking: Working knowledge of techniques and tools for effective analysis, including root-cause determination and alternative solutions.
• Planning and Organizing: Working knowledge of planning and arranging tasks and resources systematically to handle competing priorities.
• Process Improvement: Extensive experience in evaluating and improving product quality, production methods, and workflows.
• Performance Management: Working knowledge of techniques to develop and improve individual, team, and organizational performance.
• Manufacturing Operations: Extensive experience in performing day-to-day operations of a manufacturing plant or facility.
• Manufacturing Safety: Extensive experience in identifying work-related hazards and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.
• Manufacturing Standards, Procedures, and Policies: Working knowledge of organizational standards and ability to guide and monitor compliance.
• Production Training: Extensive experience in delivering formal and informal training on safe and efficient operation of production machinery.

Pay

Summary pay range: $112,704.00 - $169,056.00. Compensation and benefits may vary depending on job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance, and experience. Note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. Night shift premium of $3 per hour applies for 2nd shift. Potential base salary increases from annual performance reviews.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus program.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holiday, Sick, etc.).
• Health savings account (HSA).
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs).
• Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Programs.
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Accident, Identity Theft Protection).
• 401(k) savings plans.
• Health Lifestyle Programs.
• Disability benefits.
• Parental leave.
• Adoption benefits.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Career Development.
• Incentive bonus.