Fabrication Operations Lead: Scheduling, Budgets & Safety

Colonial Group; Caledonia (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Koch Finishing Systems in Caledonia, MI, a shop that fabricates custom automated plating and anodizing equipment, seeks an Operations Manager to own project scheduling, budget, and day-to-day execution across active projects. This hands-on leader will oversee a manufacturing team, ensure safety and quality, and help grow the shop.

You will partner with Engineering, manage materials, forecast costs, and drive Lean improvements while reporting on schedules and risks to leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive fabrication/manufacturing ops experience.
• Proven experience leading supervisors and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings.
• Strong budgeting, scheduling, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Own project scheduling and execution across active fabrication projects, balancing customer commitments, capacity, and cost.
• Lead, coach, and manage performance of the manufacturing team including managers and planners.
• Review engineering drawings and order materials to keep projects on schedule.
• Develop and manage shop labor and material budgets with forecasting and cost control.
• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure OSHA compliance.
• Collaborate with Engineering to resolve fabrication issues and constructability questions.
• Drive continuous improvement in shop processes, tooling, layout, and equipment utilization.
• Keep executives informed on schedules, status, risks, and issues.
• Manage manufacturing capacity and planning activities.
• Lead weekly shipping schedule meetings and communicate delays to project managers.
• Sustain welding compliance with AWS codes.
• Champion ERP system data accuracy and transactions.
• Manage inventory levels and cycle counting; drive Lean initiatives.

Skills

Project scheduling

Budgeting

Leadership

Cross-functional teams

Safety compliance

ERP systems

Lean manufacturing

Reading engineering drawings

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Manufacturing or related field

Tools

ERP system

Job description

Koch Finishing Systems in Caledonia, MI, a shop that fabricates custom automated plating and anodizing equipment, seeks an Operations Manager to own project scheduling, budget, and day-to-day execution across active projects. This hands-on leader will oversee a manufacturing team, ensure safety and quality, and help grow the shop.

You will partner with Engineering, manage materials, forecast costs, and drive Lean improvements while reporting on schedules and risks to leadership.