Operations Manager - Fabrication

Mpe Inc; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

Mpe Inc in Milwaukee, WI is seeking an Operations Manager - Fabrication to lead metal fabrication operations, ensure safety, efficiency, and product excellence in a high-mix/low-volume environment. You will partner with senior leadership to set goals and manage budgets, while owning day-to-day operations across shifts.

The role emphasizes CI/Lean initiatives, KPI tracking, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver on-time delivery and quality objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or a related technical field; MBA a plus.

Responsibilities

• Participate in senior management strategic planning to establish company goals, budgets, and action plans for the location.
• Own daily metal fabrication manufacturing operations — including schedule adherence, process adherence, maintenance, quality, and EHS — to drive safety, efficiency, and product excellence.
• Coordinate staffing, work hours, and order priorities across shifts to ensure budget and on-time delivery targets are met.
• Oversee capacity planning within department to respond to demand spikes and evolving customer needs.
• Work with leadership to build scalable operational infrastructure (systems, processes, personnel) aligned with company growth goals.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Leadership

Strategic planning

Education

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

Tools

MRP/ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

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Operations Manager - Fabrication

Operations Full Time Milwaukee, WI, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1886

Salary: $120,000.00 Annually

Job Summary:

The Operations Manager - Fabrication provides operational leadership for metal fabrication operations, partnering with fellow Operations Managers and senior leadership to set goals and manage budgets. The role owns day-to-day operations, including process adherence, equipment maintenance, quality, and EHS compliance — to drive safety, efficiency, and product excellence across the production of high-mix/low-volume, complex medical electromechanical assembly systems.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning & Operations Leadership
  • Participate in senior management strategic planning to establish company goals, budgets, and action plans for the location.
  • Own daily metal fabrication manufacturing operations — including schedule adherence, process adherence, maintenance, quality, and EHS — to drive safety, efficiency, and product excellence.
  • Coordinate staffing, work hours, and order priorities across shifts to ensure budget and on-time delivery targets are met.
  • Oversee capacity planning within department to respond to demand spikes and evolving customer needs.
  • Work with leadership to build scalable operational infrastructure (systems, processes, personnel) aligned with company growth goals.
• Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving
  • Drive a CI/Lean culture using tools such as Kaizen, 5S, SMED, and TPM to achieve breakthrough operating performance.
  • Partner with internal departments and manufacturing engineering to proactively identify, drive, and resolve operational bottlenecks.
  • Analyze production metrics to identify improvement opportunities in efficiency, throughput, and process capability; investigate major delays and implement corrective actions that are both systemic and sustainable.
• Performance Management & KPIs
  • Establish and take ownership of Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Productivity (SQDP) goals/KPIs across operations, ensuring accountability for self and team.
  • Track and report on operational performance, opportunities, achievements, and related action plans, adhering to agreed formats and timelines.
  • Improve financial performance through direct and indirect labor cost reductions, and by reviewing and driving plans to address labor and material variances.
• Supervise production leads and production staff, including scheduling, hiring, onboarding, timecard review and approval, performance evaluations, discipline, and termination decisions.
• Lead, mentor, and develop supervisors, production leads, material handlers and production team members, closing skills gaps to build a flexible, cross-trained workforce.
• Coach and empower production leads and production team members to make timely decisions on daily production matters through mentorship, performance counseling, and additional training as needed.
• Cultivate an accountable, performance-driven, continuous-improvement culture by engaging, coaching, and leading by example.
• Drive team morale and retention by understanding motivations and leading employee engagement action plans as a change management champion. Including goal setting, discipline, career development, succession planning, and recruitment support.
• Quality & Compliance
  • Collaborate with other production Operations Managers, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing Engineering to resolve quality issues and drive adherence to best practices and inspection methods.
  • Maintain device history records in compliance with quality, regulatory, and safety standards while owning the accuracy, thoroughness, and overall quality of production activities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Maintain proactive communication with other production Operations Managers,Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain, Engineering, and other teams to ensure alignment on operational objectives.
  • Track and manage inventory of applicable equipment tooling and department consumables, partnering closely with Supply Chain to satisfy production demand

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or a related technical field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. MBA a plus.

Experience and/or Training

• 7-10 years of Operations management experience, leading teams of 35+ direct labor employees in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment inclusive of laser cutting, turret punch, drilling, welding (manual and robotic), hardware insertion, metal finishing, press brake operations, quality standards, and troubleshooting preferred.
• Proven experience leading self-directed work teams, with a track record of coaching and mentoring individuals and teams to problem-solve on the manufacturing floor.
• Hands-on leadership style with strong drive, integrity, accountability, and the energy to engage effectively with employees at every level.
• Demonstrated success managing high-mix/low-volume production operations, including frequent changeovers, small lot sizes, and configuration variability.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver results in a fast-paced, high-growth manufacturing environment.
• Thorough understanding of Lean manufacturing principles, with a proven track record in Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, Gemba and KPI management.
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems, work order management, transactional processing, and traceability systems supporting both unit-level and lot-level tracking, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to safeguard confidential business information, communicate clearly in both verbal and written form, and adapt to frequently shifting deadlines, time pressures, and change.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (ISO 9001, ISO 13485, FDA QSR/QMSR), ideally within medical devices; familiarity with Class II/III devices and validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ) is a plus.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Frequently required to stand, sit, and walk for extended periods across office, manufacturing, or warehouse environments.
• Frequently required to bend, reach, and climb stairs; use hand tools and equipment; and perform light lifting to 40 lbs., as applicable to the role.
• Visual acuity to review data, analyze reports, and observe operational processes, with color perception required.
• Self-motivated and adaptable, with technical abilities and a strong sense of urgency and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Must be comfortable and capable of engaging directly with customers, including representing the operation professionally in face-to-face, phone, in front of large audiences or on-site customer interactions.
• Strong understanding of the importance of standardized processes, paired with sharp analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to evaluate personnel and complex processes and identify root causes.
• Ability to interpret data, metrics, and financial impact analyses to drive decisions.
• Resourceful with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously with shifting priorities.
• High attention to detail with strong organizational skills.
• Resilience and adaptability in dynamic operational settings.
• Ability to receive and provide instructions in a positive manner.
• Flexible to change and possess a high degree level of integrity and “can do attitude”.
• Work hour flexibility is required. Working hours are generally weekdays during normal business hours, typically averaging a minimum of 45–50 hours per week to ensure continuous support for projects and production as needed.
• Some unscheduled evening and weekend work will be required.

Noise level is moderate, and the production area may not be temperature controlled, potentially resulting in hot or cold conditions depending on the weather.