Production Excellence Leader (Area Manager)

Continental; Sumter (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Continental in Sumter, SC seeks a Production Excellence Leader (Area Manager) to oversee daily production operations, schedule development, and ensure safety and quality standards. You will lead and coach teams to high performance and drive continuous improvement across the production floor.

You will manage resources, monitor KPIs, and collaborate with maintenance, engineering, and procurement to meet production targets and reduce downtime.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 7+ years of supervisory experience in manufacturing.
• 14+ years of manufacturing supervisory/leadership experience (or more if no relevant bachelor’s degree).
• Strong Microsoft Office Suite skills.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S.; visa sponsorship may be available for internal candidates only.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily production activities to ensure products are manufactured on time and meet quality standards.
• Develop and implement production schedules, ensuring efficient use of resources and minimal downtime.
• Monitor production processes and make adjustments to optimize efficiency and reduce waste.
• Lead and mentor teams to foster a culture of high performance and adherence to standards.
• Provide training and development opportunities to enhance team capabilities and understanding of standards.
• Work closely with the quality control team to ensure products meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Ensure all production activities comply with safety regulations and company policies; conduct regular safety audits.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives (Lean/Six Sigma) and manage production KPIs.

Skills

Leadership

Supervisory experience

MS Office

US work authorization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Job description

Job Description

THE POSITION

The Production Excellence Leader (Area Manager) is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the production department, ensuring that manufacturing processes run smoothly, efficiently, and meet quality standards. This role involves coordinating production schedules, managing a team of production staff, and optimizing processes to maximize output while maintaining safety and compliance standards.

Manage Production Operations:

• Oversee the daily production activities to ensure products are manufactured on time and meet quality standards.
• Develop and implement production schedules, ensuring efficient use of resources and minimal downtime.
• Monitor production processes and make adjustments as necessary to optimize efficiency and reduce waste.

Leadership and Team Management:

• Lead and mentor teams to foster a culture of high performance and adherence to standards.
• Provide training and development opportunities to enhance team capabilities and understanding of standards.

Quality Control:

• Work closely with the quality control team to ensure products meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Implement and enforce quality standards and procedures throughout the production process.
• Address any quality issues promptly, working with relevant departments to identify and resolve root causes.

Safety and Compliance:

• Ensure all production activities comply with safety regulations and company policies.
• Conduct regular safety audits and risk assessments, implementing corrective actions where necessary.
• Promote a culture of safety within the production team.

Process Improvement:

• Continuously evaluate and improve production processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and increase output.
• Lead or participate in continuous improvement initiatives, such as Lean or Six Sigma projects.
• Stay informed about industry trends and new technologies that could improve production capabilities.

Resource Management:

• Manage the allocation of labor, materials, and equipment to meet production goals.
• Collaborate with procurement and inventory teams to ensure the availability of necessary materials.
• Track and report on production KPIs, such as output, waste, and downtime.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Coordinate with other departments, such as maintenance, engineering, and logistics, to ensure smooth production flow.
• Communicate production status, challenges, and needs to senior management.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for production-related issues in your area.

KPI Management & Data-Driven Decisions:

• Utilize KPIs as a strategic tool to manage the department's performance, track progress, and identify areas for improvement.
• Analyze data to make informed decisions that drive operational efficiency, cost savings, and overall production excellence.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting systems to provide real‑time visibility into key metrics and performance indicators.
• Collaborate with senior management to set and review performance targets, ensuring alignment with broader organizational objectives.

Continental Business System

• Champion the Continental Business System (CBS) structure by actively engaging in relevant CBT meetings, taking accountability for team performance, and driving continuous improvement.
• Lead by example in reviewing and managing both individual and team performance metrics.
• Facilitate problem‑solving by utilizing action sheets to address challenges and implement effective solutions.
• Identify and implement opportunities for improvement within your team and across the broader operation.
• Participate in CBT reviews to ensure alignment with organizational goals and progress.
• Take ownership of team boards, ensuring they accurately reflect performance, challenges, and improvement actions, and are used as a tool to foster team accountability and transparency.

• Maintain and Enhance Standards:

• Ensure that organizational and departments standards are consistently met, sustained and improved.
• Regularly review and update standards to align with industry best practices and organizational goals

NOTE: May not be inclusive of all work required and may be updated as needed.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

EEO-Statement:

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Continental offers equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to unlawful consideration to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. In addition, as a federal contractor, Continental complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans, where they apply. To be considered, you must apply for a specific position for which Continental has a current posted job opening. Qualifying applications will be considered only for the specific opening(s) to which you apply. If you would like to be considered for additional or future job openings, we encourage you to reapply for other opportunities as they become available. Further, Continental provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance in the application process, please reply to [e-mail] or contact US Recruiting at 800-821-2727. This telephone line and email address are reserved solely for job seekers with disabilities requesting accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Please do not call about the status of your job application, if you do not require accessibility assistance or an accommodation. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or non-disability related technical issues, will not receive a call back.

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Qualifications

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in related field with 7+ years supervisory experience in manufacturing
• 14+ years of manufacturing supervisory/leadership experience or more if no relevant Bachelors Degree
• Strong Microsoft Office Suite skills
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S is required
• Continental is able to offer visa support and relocation for internal candidates only

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years Tire experience

THE ENVIRONMENT

• Safety is our highest priority and safety procedures / guidelines must be always adhered to. This includes safety wear such as steel toed shoes, hearing protection, and safety glasses as needed
• This position may require standing for long periods and working in a manufacturing environment, which may involve exposure to noise, dust, heat, and machinery.
• May require evening or weekend work to meet production deadlines.

Company Description

THE COMPANY

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In2023, Continental generatedpreliminary sales of€41.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in56 countries and markets.

With its premium portfolio in the car, truck, bus, two-wheel and specialty tire segment, the Tires group sector stands for innovative solutions in tire technology. Intelligent products and services related to tires and the promotion of sustainability complete the product portfolio. For specialist dealers and fleet management, Tires offers digital tire monitoring and tire management systems, in addition to other services, with the aim of keeping fleets mobile and increasing their efficiency. With its tires, Continental makes a significant contribution to safe, efficient and environmentally friendly mobility.