Lean Production Manager: Drive Operational Excellence

States Manufacturing Corporation; Dayton (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

States Manufacturing Corporation is seeking a Production Manager to oversee a value stream, drive lean initiatives, and collaboratively optimize processes across engineering, quality, and supply chain. You will lead a diverse team, manage planning, and ensure on-time delivery while controlling costs.

The role emphasizes data-driven decision making, continuous improvement, and strong leadership to maintain high quality and efficiency in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Operations Management, or related field (or equivalent experience for internal applicants)
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing, including leading cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated experience implementing lean practices in high-mix, low-volume environments
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing dashboards

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all activities within the assigned value stream, including daily operations, short- and long-term planning, and performance tracking.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Maintenance to ensure flow and continuous improvement across processes.
• Apply lean manufacturing principles to design, manage, and continuously improve the value stream; lead root cause analysis and Kaizen events.
• Lead a diverse team of supervisors, operators, and support staff with workforce planning and engagement.
• Monitor KPIs such as safety, throughput, on-time delivery, inventory turns, and labor efficiency; use data for daily management.
• Translate business objectives into value stream plans and priorities to scale operations while maintaining excellence.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-Solving

Planning & Prioritization

Change management

Safety & Quality focus

Operational excellence

Result-driven

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

ERP software

PDM software (Vantage)

SharePoint

Job description

States Manufacturing Corporation is seeking a Production Manager to oversee a value stream, drive lean initiatives, and collaboratively optimize processes across engineering, quality, and supply chain. You will lead a diverse team, manage planning, and ensure on-time delivery while controlling costs.

The role emphasizes data-driven decision making, continuous improvement, and strong leadership to maintain high quality and efficiency in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.