Production Manager - Custom Manufacturing

Production Manager – Custom Manufacturing Join Our Production Team CHL Systems is seeking an experienced Production Manager – Custom Manufacturing to lead daily manufacturing operations across fabrication, welding, machining, and assembly. This role is ideal for a manufacturing leader who combines strong people leadership with real technical manufacturing experience. We are looking for someone who understands how custom equipment gets built, can lead through experienced supervisors and skilled tradespeople, and knows how to keep complex production work moving safely, accurately, and on schedule. Our environment is custom, engineered, and project-driven, not repetitive high-volume production. The right candidate will be comfortable working from engineering drawings, navigating changing priorities, resolving production challenges, and partnering closely with Engineering, Production Planning, Quality, and Supply Chain. Why Join CHL Systems? Competitive compensation with growth opportunitiesWeekly payMedical, dental, vision, PTO, paid holidays, and 401(k) with company matchStable, family-owned manufacturing company with 65+ years in businessCollaborative environment with direct access to company leadershipOpportunity to make a visible impact on production performance, team development, and customer deliveryDiverse custom automation, material handling, and engineered manufacturing projects What You’ll Do Lead daily manufacturing operations across fabrication, welding, machining, and assemblyLead, coach, and develop production supervisors and team members while establishing clear expectations and accountabilityPartner with Production Planning to align labor, capacity, materials, priorities, and production schedulesMaintain a strong presence on the production floor, monitor progress, identify constraints, and remove barriers that impact safety, quality, productivity, or deliveryWork closely with Engineering to resolve manufacturability, drawing, design, tolerance, fit-up, and other technical production challengesCoordinate across Quality, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Planning to keep projects moving and meet customer commitmentsMonitor and improve production performance, including on-time delivery, throughput, labor utilization, productivity, rework, scrap, safety, and qualityEnsure staffing and resources are aligned with production requirements and support capacity planning, labor allocation, and overtime decisionsDrive practical continuous improvement through Lean, 5S, standard work, root cause analysis, and workflow improvementsReinforce company safety expectations, including PPE, machine safety, Lockout/Tagout, material handling, and safe equipment practicesSupport employee development, performance management, training, and succession planning within Production What Success Looks Like The successful Production Manager will be a visible, credible leader on the manufacturing floor who can balance technical understanding with strong people leadership. You should be comfortable asking questions, challenging assumptions, listening to experienced tradespeople, and making sound decisions that support the broader operation. Success in this role means building accountability and consistency across Production while improving safety, quality, workflow, schedule performance, and team development. What We’re Looking For Required Qualifications 8+ years of industrial manufacturing experience with progressive leadership responsibilityDemonstrated experience leading production teams, supervisors, and/or multiple manufacturing work areasStrong technical manufacturing background in one or more areas such as fabrication, welding, machining, sheet metal, industrial assembly, or custom equipment manufacturingExperience in a custom, engineered-to-order, job-shop, made-to-order, or low-volume/high-mix manufacturing environmentAbility to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, specifications, and production documentationStrong understanding of production flow, scheduling, labor planning, capacity, quality, and operational performanceExperience using production metrics and shop-floor information to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and efficiencyProven ability to coach, develop, and hold supervisors and employees accountableStrong problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to respond effectively to changing production prioritiesAbility to collaborate effectively with Engineering, Production Planning, Quality, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and company leadershipWorking knowledge of industrial safety practices, including PPE, machine safety, Lockout/Tagout, and material handling Preferred Qualifications Previous experience as a Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Fabrication Manager, Operations Manager, or similar manufacturing leadership roleExperience leading across multiple manufacturing disciplines or departmentsPrior technical or trade experience in fabrication, welding, machining, industrial equipment, or a related fieldExperience with custom automation, material handling systems, engineered equipment, or similar industrial productsExperience with ERP/MRP systems for production planning, labor tracking, inventory, or performance reportingFamiliarity with ISO quality systems, Lean Manufacturing, 5S, standard work, and root cause analysisBachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent technical, trade, and leadership experience will also be consideredLean, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement certification is a plus Work Environment Full-time, onsite position based in Souderton, PennsylvaniaFrequent presence on the manufacturing floor is requiredManufacturing environment includes fabrication, machining, welding, assembly, industrial equipment, noise, and material handlingRegular interaction with production employees, supervisors, engineers, planners, quality, purchasing, and operations leadershipAbility to walk, stand, and move throughout production areas for extended periodsOccasional lifting up to 50 lbs. with assistance as neededPPE is required in designated areasOccasional extended hours may be necessary based on production and project requirements About CHL SystemsFor more than 65 years, CHL Systems has designed and manufactured custom automation, material handling, and engineered equipment solutions for customers across the food, pharmaceutical, and general manufacturing industries. Our work brings together engineering, fabrication, machining, welding, assembly, and field expertise to build custom solutions around each customer’s needs. As a family-owned company, we value craftsmanship, accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and long-term relationships with our employees and customers. Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V)CHL Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.