Production Manager

ITW; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

ITW, a leading diversified industrial company, seeks a hands-on Production Manager for our Chicago-area facility. You will lead first-shift production directly and guide supervisors across second and third shifts, ensuring safety, quality, on‑time delivery and cost targets.

You will build an engaged frontline team on the shop floor, manage staffing and resources, and use daily performance data to drive improvements.

Qualifications

• Three+ years of direct manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience managing daily production priorities, staffing, labor, and operational metrics.
• A practical approach to lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, quality, and standard work.
• Hands-on leadership style that builds team engagement and accountability on the production floor.
• Ability to drive execution, solve problems, and improve processes across shifts and functions.
• An understanding of how labor, scrap, and other production costs affect financial results; interest in broader leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead first-shift production directly and guide the Production Supervisors for second and third shifts.
• Build an engaged, accountable team through visible shop-floor leadership and coaching.
• Deliver the production plan by managing staffing, labor, overtime, and resources while improving schedule stability.
• Own safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost results for assigned production areas.
• Improve line performance by reducing downtime, scrap, changeover losses, in partnership with other functions.
• Support broader plant priorities and readiness for expanded responsibility.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Operations management

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in operations, engineering, business

Job description

Company Overview

Smart Components North America, a division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Automotive, manufactures innovative components for major automotive manufacturers. Our products include fuel housings, door and safety handles, Capless solutions, and EV charge ports. We operate manufacturing facilities in Mokena and Richton Park, Illinois, and Saltillo and Aguascalientes, Mexico.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a hands‑on Production Manager who wants to lead from the manufacturing floor and grow quickly toward a Plant Manager role. This position combines direct leadership of first‑shift production with responsibility for production performance across all three shifts.

What You Will Lead

• Lead first‑shift production directly and guide the Production Supervisors responsible for second and third shifts, creating consistent priorities and strong handoffs across the operation.
• Build an engaged, accountable team through a visible shop‑floor presence, clear expectations, coaching, and development of frontline leaders.
• Deliver the production plan by managing staffing, labor, overtime, and resources while improving schedule stability and responsiveness to customer needs.
• Own safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost results for assigned production areas. Use daily performance data to identify gaps and drive corrective action.
• Improve line performance by reducing downtime, scrap, changeover losses, and other production constraints in partnership with Quality, Materials, Maintenance, and Engineering.
• Manage conversion costs and understand how operational decisions affect the plant’s financial performance.
• Support broader plant priorities, represent the operation when needed, and take on delegated Plant Manager responsibilities as your capability and readiness grow.
• The role also serves as a key operational contact for the location, including appropriate escalation support outside normal first‑shift hours.

What You Bring

• Three or more years of direct manufacturing leadership experience, including responsibility for frontline teams and measurable improvements in production performance.
• Experience managing daily production priorities, staffing, labor, and operational metrics.
• A practical approach to lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, quality, and standard work.
• Hands‑on leadership style that builds team engagement and accountability on the production floor.
• Ability to drive execution, solve problems, and improve processes across shifts and functions.
• An understanding of how labor, scrap, and other production costs affect financial results, with an interest in taking on greater financial responsibility.
• Motivation to grow into broader plant leadership responsibility.

A bachelor’s degree in operations, engineering, business, or a related field is preferred. Experience leading across multiple shifts or in automotive, injection molding, automated assembly, or other high‑volume manufacturing is also preferred.

How Success Will Be Measured

Success starts with a safer, more engaged team and stronger daily execution. Key measures include safety, quality and scrap, schedule attainment, delivery, labor efficiency, overtime, downtime, conversion costs, and the development of frontline leaders. Progress toward broader plant leadership will be assessed through sustained performance, leadership capability, and readiness for expanded responsibility.

Compensation Information

$105,000-$125,000

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.