Manufacturing Manager

Carfair Composites Inc.; Winnipeg; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Carfair Composites Inc. in Winnipeg seeks a Manufacturing Manager to plan production schedules and lead manufacturing activities aligned with plant objectives. The role drives throughput, product quality, workforce effectiveness, and cost efficiency across operations.

You will develop systems and standards to reduce waste and resolve production issues, while partnering with QA, engineering, and supply chain to ensure safe, compliant, and scalable manufacturing.

Qualifications

• A university degree in engineering, process management, manufacturing, or a related field is preferred, along with 5+ years of direct leadership experience working with manufacturing production systems, standards, regulations, and operating requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing methodologies, production planning, inventory control, resource management, and process improvement.
• Experience leading manufacturing teams, including staffing, scheduling, coaching, and performance management.
• Experience with risk management, product testing, capability studies, control plans, and manufacturing quality systems.
• Demonstrated ability to identify production issues, conduct root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Experience developing, reviewing, and maintaining manufacturing metrics, audits, procedures, project plans, test procedures, design documents, and other technical documentation.
• Training or practical experience with Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, waste reduction, or related continuous improvement methods is considered an asset, along with working knowledge of QS-9000, ISO 9000, or comparable quality-management systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for manufacturing and plant initiatives across production operations.
• Develop long-term manufacturing strategies and lead the implementation of production systems, operating plans, and process standards.
• Translate business and plant objectives into production plans that support safety, quality, cost, delivery, capacity, and productivity requirements.
• Evaluate manufacturing systems and processes, identify performance gaps, and establish priorities for improvement.
• Develop standardized methods, scorecards, and operating metrics to assess manufacturing performance and guide decision-making.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other structured improvement methods to improve throughput, reduce variation, eliminate waste, and lower production costs.
• Provide manufacturing expertise in support of new product development, production readiness, process validation, and operational scale-up.
• Determine optimal manufacturing methods, material usage, staffing models, production schedules, and workflow requirements.
• Lead the development of plant layouts, process flows, standard work, time studies, and other production standards.
• Partner with Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Engineering, Tooling, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and other functions to resolve complex production and quality issues.
• Evaluate manufacturing quality performance and support root-cause analysis, corrective actions, control plans, capability studies, and process controls.
• Lead capital-equipment planning, including equipment selection, business-case development, purchase, installation, commissioning, and start-up.
• Assess production capacity, resource requirements, operational risks, and cost impacts, and provide recommendations to plant and operations leadership.
• Lead and develop manufacturing employees, including workforce planning, staffing, scheduling, coaching, training, and performance management.
• Build problem-solving capability within production teams and support effective response to real-time manufacturing issues.
• Ensure manufacturing activities comply with applicable quality standards, legislation, and regulatory requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership experience

Manufacturing production systems

Process improvement

Risk management

Six Sigma/Lean/Kaizen

Strong communication

Education

University degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Carfair Composites is a leader in fibre-reinforced plastic design and composite technologies. Carfair Composites is a subsidiary of NFI Group, a leader in propulsion agnostic bus and coach mobility solutions, operating in five manufacturing and distribution centers across North America, including Winnipeg, MB, St. Cloud, MN, Anniston, AL, Wausaukee, WI, and Gillett, WI. As a comprehensive manufacturer of engineered composite products, Carfair Composites supplies quality fiberglass components to the original equipment manufacturers operating in agriculture, automotive, construction, transportation, commercial, food processing, and medical industries.

POSITION SUMMARY: Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, the Manufacturing Manager is responsible for planning production schedules and leading manufacturing activities in support of plant and business objectives.

This role provides leadership across production operations, with a focus on improving throughput, product quality, workforce effectiveness, and overall manufacturing performance. The Manufacturing Manager develops and implements systems, standards, policies, and processes designed to reduce waste, resolve production issues, improve cost efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction.

WHY JOIN US:

• Be part of a team leading the world’s electrification of mass mobility
• Competitive Wages and comprehensive benefit package with Immediate benefit eligibility
• Paid holidays and vacation
• Registered pension plan with generous company match)
• Passionate about creating a better product, a better workplace, and a better world
• Inclusive workplace culture that values and empowers team members.
• On-the-job training in a continuous learning environment (we invested $15.9 million in 2024)
• Advancement opportunities within our family of companies
• We are proudly named one of Manitoba’s Top 25 employers.

What You Will Do

• Provide strategic leadership for manufacturing and plant initiatives across production operations.
• Develop long-term manufacturing strategies and lead the implementation of production systems, operating plans, and process standards.
• Translate business and plant objectives into production plans that support safety, quality, cost, delivery, capacity, and productivity requirements.
• Evaluate manufacturing systems and processes, identify performance gaps, and establish priorities for improvement.
• Develop standardized methods, scorecards, and operating metrics to assess manufacturing performance and guide decision-making.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other structured improvement methods to improve throughput, reduce variation, eliminate waste, and lower production costs.
• Provide manufacturing expertise in support of new product development, production readiness, process validation, and operational scale-up.
• Determine optimal manufacturing methods, material usage, staffing models, production schedules, and workflow requirements.
• Lead the development of plant layouts, process flows, standard work, time studies, and other production standards.
• Partner with Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Engineering, Tooling, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and other functions to resolve complex production and quality issues.
• Evaluate manufacturing quality performance and support root-cause analysis, corrective actions, control plans, capability studies, and process controls.
• Lead capital-equipment planning, including equipment selection, business-case development, purchase, installation, commissioning, and start-up.
• Assess production capacity, resource requirements, operational risks, and cost impacts, and provide recommendations to plant and operations leadership.
• Lead and develop manufacturing employees, including workforce planning, staffing, scheduling, coaching, training, and performance management.
• Build problem-solving capability within production teams and support effective response to real-time manufacturing issues.
• Ensure manufacturing activities comply with applicable quality standards, legislation, and regulatory requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You Need to Be Successful

• A university degree in engineering, process management, manufacturing, or a related field is preferred, along with 5+ years of direct leadership experience working with manufacturing production systems, standards, regulations, and operating requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of manufacturing methodologies, production planning, inventory control, resource management, and process improvement.
• Experience leading manufacturing teams, including staffing, scheduling, coaching, and performance management.
• Experience with risk management, product testing, capability studies, control plans, and manufacturing quality systems.
• Demonstrated ability to identify production issues, conduct root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Experience developing, reviewing, and maintaining manufacturing metrics, audits, procedures, project plans, test procedures, design documents, and other technical documentation.
• Training or practical experience with Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, waste reduction, or related continuous improvement methods is considered an asset, along with working knowledge of QS-9000, ISO 9000, or comparable quality-management systems.
• Strong communication and relationship-management skills, with the ability to work effectively with plant leadership, employees, vendors, customers, and cross-functional teams.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to travel approximately 5% within the United States, with valid authorization to do so.

OUR WHY: We exist to move people. Our mission is to design, deliver, and support market-leading bus and motorcoach solutions that are safe, accessible, efficient, and reliable. Our values—safety, quality, integrity, accountability, teamwork, and sustainability—are at the core of everything we do. NFI Group | We Move People - YouTube

Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI offers a wide range of propulsion-agnostic bus and coach platforms, including market leading electric models. Through its low- and zero-emission buses and coaches, infrastructure, and technology, NFI meets today’s urban demands for scalable smart mobility solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more livable cities through connected, clean, and sustainable transportation. News and information is available at www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, nfi.parts, www.alexander-dennis.com, arbocsv.com, and carfaircomposites.com.

Carfair is committed to administering all employment matters in accordance with thevaluewe place on fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the contributions of all team members. We ensure that all employment decisions are based upon merit and comply with applicable employment legislation and requirements. Accommodations are available at all stages of the recruitment process, at the candidates’ request.