Manufacturing Manager

LJ Design & Manufacturing; Town of Brookfield (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Laacke & Joys seeks a Manufacturing Manager to lead our sewing operation, focusing on safety, quality, delivery, and productivity. You will drive continuous improvement, engage on the factory floor, and develop a high-performance team ready for growth.

The role requires a strong leader who mentors staff, collaborates cross-functionally, and steers operations toward scalable future capability.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Proven success leading frontline production teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership, employee development, coaching, and communication skills.
• Experience improving operational performance through metrics, accountability, and process discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and drive results.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity goals.
• Establish a strong daily presence on the production floor and engage with employees and team leaders.
• Be on-site and engaged with daily startup activities by 7:30 a.m.
• Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement.
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members while creating opportunities for growth and advancement.
• Ensure staffing, scheduling, and workflow effectively support customer requirements and business objectives.
• Manufacturing liaison for New Business Development Team
• Lead development and continuous improvement of the Quality Management System.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Analytics

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/Manufacturing/Operations/Business

Job description

For companies seeking a soft goods OEM manufacturing partner, Laacke & Joys is the partner of choice. Since 1844, we have leveraged our expertise in sewn product design and manufacturing to transform customer ideas into scalable manufactured products. As our business continues to grow, we are investing in the people, processes, and systems necessary to support the next stage of our journey.

Position Summary

The Manufacturing Manager is responsible for leading our industrial sewing operation and driving performance in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and employee engagement.

This role requires a highly visible leader who enjoys being on the manufacturing floor, building relationships with employees, solving problems, and creating a culture of continuous improvement. The successful candidate will strengthen our quality systems, lead cross-functional improvement initiatives, and help position the organization for continued growth.

This position is considered a key leadership role within the company and offers meaningful opportunity for advancement into broader operational leadership responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Team Leadership

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity goals.
• Establish a strong daily presence on the production floor and actively engage with employees and team leaders.
• Be on-site and engaged with daily startup activities by 7:30 a.m.
• Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement.
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members while creating opportunities for growth and advancement.
• Ensure staffing, scheduling, and workflow effectively support customer requirements and business objectives.
• Manufacturing liaison for New Business Development Team

Quality Management

• Lead development and continuous improvement of the company's Quality Management System.
• Establish standardized work, process controls, training systems, and quality documentation.
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and preventive actions.
• Partner with customers to understand and meet quality expectations.
• Improve product consistency, reduce defects and rework, and enhance customer satisfaction.

Operational Excellence

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing principles and data-driven decision making to improve operational effectiveness.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators and drive accountability for results.
• Develop scalable processes and systems that support future growth.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead strategic projects involving Operations, Engineering, Sales, Customer Service, Sourcing, and Quality.
• Collaborate across departments to solve problems, remove barriers, and improve business performance.
• Participate in operational planning and strategic growth initiatives.
• Serve as a key contributor to the development of future organizational capabilities and leadership capacity.

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Proven success leading frontline production teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership, employee development, coaching, and communication skills.
• Experience improving operational performance through metrics, accountability, and process discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and drive results.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Preferred

• Experience developing or managing Quality Management Systems.
• Experience with ISO 9001 or similar quality frameworks.
• Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or a related field.