Lead Production Manager — 24/7 Lean Ops (Battery Factory)

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America; De Soto (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

On-site cafeterias

Job summary

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America is expanding its manufacturing presence in De Soto, Kansas, and seeks a Production Manager to lead multiple high-volume lines 24/7. You will drive safety, quality, cost, and delivery performance while developing leaders and coordinating with cross-functional teams.

This role emphasizes lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, capacity planning, and effective supervision of production staff.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership in a 24/7 high-volume environment.
• Proven track record owning safety, quality, cost, and delivery metrics.
• Strong data-driven decision making and financial acumen.
• Lean manufacturing, 6S, problem-solving and continuous improvement skills.
• Experience with ERP/MES systems (SAP, Oracle, FactoryTalk).
• Excellent written and verbal communication; English proficient.
• Ability to influence cross-functional partners without direct authority.
• Bilingual or multilingual capabilities (e.g., Japanese, Spanish).

Responsibilities

• Own manufacturing performance across assigned lines to meet safety, quality, cost, and delivery targets.
• Lead and develop Production Supervisors for daily execution.
• Drive capacity planning, labor optimization, and resource allocation.
• Implement standardized work and operational controls.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and EHS.
• Lead Lean, 6S, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Data-driven decisions

Communication skills

English proficiency

Lean manufacturing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related technical field

Master’s degree (MBA or MS) in a related discipline

Lean Six Sigma Certification (Green Belt or higher)

OSHA 30-Hour General Industry certification

Tools

SAP

Oracle

FactoryTalk

Job description

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America is expanding its manufacturing presence in De Soto, Kansas, and seeks a Production Manager to lead multiple high-volume lines 24/7. You will drive safety, quality, cost, and delivery performance while developing leaders and coordinating with cross-functional teams.

This role emphasizes lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, capacity planning, and effective supervision of production staff.