Area Manager: Floor Leader for Safety & Quality

Fairbanks Scales Inc.; Meridian (MS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairbanks Scales Inc. in Meridian, MS, seeks an Area Manager to oversee safety, quality, and production performance on the factory floor, guiding Team Leads with real-time coaching and ensuring the area meets output targets.

This floor-first leadership role demands hands-on presence, ability to drive root-cause problem solving (5-Why, fishbone), sustain quality, and mentor frontline leaders to improve OEE and deliver right-first-time products.

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred; HS diploma with equivalent manufacturing experience accepted.
• 5–7 years manufacturing experience including 2–3 years in leadership roles.
• Experience with heavy fabrication, structural steel, or heavy equipment manufacturing preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma exposure is a plus.
• Experience developing frontline leaders through a formal program is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own safety performance of the assigned area; model safe behavior every shift.
• Coach Team Leads to run root-cause safety investigations and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Own first-pass yield and rework/scrap rate; track trend over time.
• Ensure Team Leads understand area specifications and lead root‑cause problem solving.
• Escalate quality tradeoffs and partner with Quality on inspection results and corrective actions.
• Own arc‑on % and machine utilization; prioritize fixes using data.
• Balance daily production with material, staffing, and equipment conditions.
• Identify and lead productivity improvements with clear cost justifications.
• Coach Team Leads daily through floor observation and delegate decisions.
• Participate in Team Lead Development Program to build future leaders.
• Hold Team Leads accountable for output, quality, and safety metrics.

Skills

Reading drawings

Safety leadership

Floor presence

Data interpretation

Coaching frontline leaders

Decision making under pressure

Clear communication

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s degree (technical/industrial/ops)

HS diploma with equivalent manufacturing experience

Job description

Fairbanks Scales Inc. in Meridian, MS, seeks an Area Manager to oversee safety, quality, and production performance on the factory floor, guiding Team Leads with real-time coaching and ensuring the area meets output targets.

This floor-first leadership role demands hands-on presence, ability to drive root-cause problem solving (5-Why, fishbone), sustain quality, and mentor frontline leaders to improve OEE and deliver right-first-time products.