Production Manager

Interactive Resources - iR; Alpharetta (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Interactive Resources - iR is seeking a Production Manager for its Alpharetta, GA plastics facility. You will oversee operations across injection molding, extrusion, and related processes, driving safety, quality, and efficiency to meet schedules and cost targets.

You will lead supervisors, technicians, and operators, optimize machine utilization, and coordinate with Planning, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure uninterrupted production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, preferably within plastics manufacturing.
• Experience managing production teams in plastics processing (injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience working with production KPIs, OEE, scrap reduction, downtime, and labor efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee daily manufacturing operations to meet production schedules, customer requirements, and company objectives.
• Monitor production performance, including output, efficiency, scrap, downtime, labor utilization, and OEE.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining product quality and cost targets.
• Identify and resolve production bottlenecks, equipment issues, material shortages, and process inefficiencies.
• Coordinate with Planning, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Establish priorities and allocate labor, equipment, and resources based on production requirements.
• Provide leadership and technical oversight for plastics processing operations (injection molding, blow molding, extrusion).
• Work with Process Technicians and Engineering to optimize machine settings, cycle times, material utilization, and process performance.
• Monitor processing conditions and ensure standardized operating procedures are followed.
• Drive initiatives to reduce scrap, rework, downtime, and production variability.
• Lead, coach, and develop Production Supervisors, Leads, Technicians, and Operators.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Manage staffing levels, scheduling, overtime, attendance, and workforce utilization.
• Participate in recruiting, onboarding, training, and performance evaluations.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Partner with Quality to ensure products meet customer specifications and internal standards.
• Investigate quality issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure employees follow work instructions, process specifications, and quality procedures.
• Support OSHA, ISO, FDA, GMP, and customer-specific requirements as applicable.
• Maintain focus on process consistency and defect prevention.
• Maintain a safe working environment and promote a strong safety culture.
• Ensure compliance with safety policies, procedures, and PPE requirements.
• Participate in safety audits, investigations, and corrective actions.
• Identify hazards and implement measures to reduce injuries.
• Lead Lean initiatives and continuous improvement.
• Analyze production data to identify efficiency, throughput, quality, and cost opportunities.
• Establish and monitor KPIs such as production output, scrap, downtime, OEE, on-time production, and quality defects.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Lean manufacturing

OEE

Production planning

Team leadership

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Business

Job description

Production Manager – Plastics Manufacturing

Position Summary

The Production Manager is responsible for overseeing all manufacturing and production activities within a plastics manufacturing facility. This role provides leadership to production supervisors, technicians, operators, and support personnel while ensuring production targets are achieved safely, efficiently, and in accordance with quality standards.

The Production Manager will drive operational excellence through effective workforce management, process improvement, equipment utilization, production planning, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership experience in plastics manufacturing, including injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, or related polymer processing operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Direct and oversee daily manufacturing operations to meet production schedules, customer requirements, and company objectives.
• Monitor production performance, including output, efficiency, scrap, downtime, labor utilization, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while maintaining product quality and cost targets.
• Identify and resolve production bottlenecks, equipment issues, material shortages, and process inefficiencies.
• Coordinate with Planning, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Establish priorities and allocate labor, equipment, and resources based on production requirements.

Plastics Processing

• Provide leadership and technical oversight for plastics processing operations, including injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, or other applicable processes.
• Work closely with Process Technicians and Engineering to optimize machine settings, cycle times, material utilization, and overall process performance.
• Monitor processing conditions and ensure standardized operating procedures are followed.
• Support troubleshooting of molding, extrusion, automation, and material-related issues.
• Drive initiatives to reduce scrap, rework, downtime, and production variability.

Leadership & Workforce Management

• Lead, coach, and develop Production Supervisors, Leads, Technicians, and Operators.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold team members accountable for results.
• Manage staffing levels, scheduling, overtime, attendance, and workforce utilization.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, training, and performance evaluations.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Quality & Compliance

• Partner with Quality to ensure products meet customer specifications and internal quality standards.
• Investigate production-related quality issues and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Ensure employees follow documented work instructions, process specifications, and quality procedures.
• Support compliance with applicable OSHA, ISO, FDA, GMP, and customer-specific requirements, as applicable.
• Maintain a strong focus on process consistency and defect prevention.

Safety

• Maintain a safe working environment and promote a strong safety culture throughout the production department.
• Ensure employees follow company safety policies, procedures, and PPE requirements.
• Participate in safety audits, investigations, and corrective actions.
• Identify potential hazards and implement measures to reduce workplace injuries and incidents.
• Lead and support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Utilize tools such as 5S, Kaizen, root cause analysis, 5-Why, and corrective action methodologies.
• Analyze production data to identify opportunities for improved efficiency, throughput, quality, and cost reduction.
• Develop and implement initiatives to improve machine utilization, labor productivity, and material efficiency.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to measure production performance.

Maintenance & Equipment

• Partner with Maintenance to ensure production equipment is properly maintained and available when needed.
• Monitor equipment downtime and recurring mechanical or electrical issues.
• Assist with capital equipment projects, machine installations, automation initiatives, and facility improvements.
• Provide input on equipment upgrades, process improvements, and new technology investments.

Reporting & Metrics

• Track and report key production metrics to senior management.
• Monitor KPIs including:
• Production output
• OEE
• Scrap and regrind
• Downtime
• On-time production
• Quality defects
• Safety performance
• Develop action plans when performance falls below established targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, preferably within plastics manufacturing.
• Experience managing production teams in injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, thermoforming, or related plastics processing.
• Strong understanding of plastics processing, manufacturing equipment, tooling, automation, and production processes.
• Proven experience leading supervisors, technicians, and hourly production employees.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience working with production KPIs, OEE, scrap reduction, downtime, and labor efficiency.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and manage multiple priorities.