Production Manager

AFL; Duncan (SC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K Company match

Professional development, training, & 

Tuition reimbursement programs

Job summary

AFL is seeking a Production Manager to lead the Cable manufacturing team in a 24/7 operation, overseeing multiple production lines and reporting to the Department Manager.

The ideal candidate will have lean/JIT manufacturing experience, strong leadership, and a track record of driving continuous improvement, safety, and on-time performance. Experience with Oracle ERP and ISO standards is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 2+ years leading lean/JIT manufacturing operations.
• Experience with Kaizen, Six Sigma, DMAIC; Green Belt or CQE a plus.
• Experience building annual operational plans (capacity, investments, materials, budget, staffing).
• Strong understanding of EHS and ISO 9001/14001.
• Hands-on 5S/6S and lean principles required.
• Ability to support off-shift/weekend operations with short notice.
• Familiar with Oracle R12 or similar ERP and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily production operations; ensure safety; schedule staffing; adhere to production plan.
• Improve housekeeping, safety, productivity, and material flow using lean methods.
• Ensure compliance with safety rules and EHS permits.
• Monitor KPIs like yield, labor efficiency, capacity; drive improvements.
• Provide direction to production associates and cross-functional teams.
• Support S&OP process to align resources with orders and financials.
• Lead cross-functional project teams to meet objectives.
• Oversee inventory control and cycle counting.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Leadership

Kaizen / DMAIC

Six Sigma

EHS & ISO knowledge

ERP / Oracle R12

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Oracle R12

Microsoft Office

Job description

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $4B in revenue, and employ approximately 12,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

What We Offer

• 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)
• Professional development, training, and tuition reimbursement programs
• Excellent medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policy options
• Opportunities for career advancement with an industry leading company!

The Production Manager will be a member of the Cable manufacturing team responsible for providing support to the plant’s production associates in a 24/7 operation. The Production Manager will assist with managing multiple production lines. The position will report to the Department Manager.

Responsibilities

• Assist with Managing daily production operations to include, ensuring a safe working environment, work-schedule management, staffing to meet demand; ensuring adherence to the production schedule; investigating and resolving quality issues; and the initiation of corrective and preventative actions as appropriate.
• Sustain and improve plant housekeeping, safety, productivity, and material flow by applying lean manufacturing principles and conducting continuous improvement activities such as kaizen events to eliminate waste.
• Ensure compliance with all safety rules and EHS permits at all times.
• Monitor and routinely report performance on key operating metrics which may include items such as % material yield (scrap), labor efficiency and capacity utilization; identify trends and launch improvement activities to capture opportunities.
• Provide direction to assigned production associates through routine individual and team assessments.
• Cultivate positive working relationships with internal support groups including Engineering, HR, EHS, Maintenance/Mechatronics, Scheduling, Shipping, and Supply Chain.
• Promote a safe and productive work environment built upon teamwork, accountability, integrity, and mutual respect where associates proactively engage in continuous improvement.
• Develop associates to expand their contribution and allow them to grow into positions of increasing responsibility through the execution of cross-training and development plans.
• Support AFL’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values.
• Responsible for upholding a zero-defect culture in support continuous improvement of quality, performance and morale leveraging our AFL Manufacturing Excellence (AME) initiative.
• Complete routine administrative tasks as assigned including the review and approval of associate time records; the monitoring of attendance; and the application of attendance and other policies.
• Support the building and execution of the annual business plan including the capacity, investment, materials, budget, and staffing plans to meet forecast demand; and the setting and achievement of objectives to improve operational performance.
• Control operating expenses to meet approved budget including materials, consumables, labor, overtime, and other operating expenses.
• Actively participate in the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process to align resources (capacity, staffing, expenses, materials, etc.) with customer orders and financial results.
• Lead, participate, and support cross-functional project teams to achieve objectives.
• Adhere to inventory management and control procedures to ensure accuracy and minimize variances. Function as the approver for the routine cycle counting process.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Two plus years of experience as a leader in a lean/JIT/process-driven industrial or automotive manufacturing environment.
• Results-oriented professional with experience solving manufacturing problems using methodologies such as Kaizen, six sigma and/or DMAIC. Green-belt, CQE or equivalent certification is a plus.
• Experience building and executing an annual operational business plan to include capacity, investment, materials, budget and staffing plans.
• Solid understanding of EHS and quality management systems including current ISO 9001 & 14001 standard.
• Hands-on experience applying workplace 6/5S and lean manufacturing principles is required.
• Able to support off-shift and/or weekend operations with limited prior notice.
• User of manufacturing related modules in Oracle R12 or another ERP system.
• Intermediate or higher user of MS Office.

Personal Qualities

• Strong leadership skills
• Hands-on team player with well-developed interpersonal skills that is comfortable leading in a cross- functional, multi-cultural environment. Demonstrated ability to collaborate across organizational boundaries and build strong business partnerships.
• Well-honed and balanced people skills with experience in a performance driven operation.
• Results-oriented
• Self- motivated