Production Manager

Midland Plastics, Inc.; Keosauqua (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth opportunities

Medical, Dental, Vision

Life Insurance

401(k) with company match

Fitness reimbursement

Job summary

Midland Plastics, Inc. in Keosauqua, IA is seeking a Production Manager to coordinate all production activities on the shop floor.

This hands-on leadership role requires active presence on the floor to address operational needs and ensure safe, on-time production that meets quality standards. The ideal candidate will lead production personnel, manage resources across maintenance, quality, and customer service, and drive continuous improvement using Lean and Six Sigma principles.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing setting.
• Must be a hands-on leader who can work alongside the production team to support daily operations and achieve goals.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement methodologies, and ISO standards is a plus.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze production data and make informed operational decisions.
• Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends; on-call responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct daily production operations to meet customer delivery requirements.
• Supervise production staff including operators and leads.
• Monitor production performance: output, downtime, scrap, labor efficiency.
• Ensure extrusion lines operate safely and maintain product quality.
• Coordinate die and tooling changes to minimize downtime.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance to resolve quality issues and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with Maintenance to schedule preventive maintenance and minimize failures.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies.
• Monitor material usage and reduce waste through process optimization.
• Develop and maintain SOPs and work instructions.
• Investigate production issues and implement corrective actions.
• Track key production metrics and staffing needs.]

Skills

Leadership

Hands-on leadership

Problem-solving

Communication

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Purpose: The Production Manager is responsible for coordinating and overseeing all production activities within a plastic extrusion manufacturing facility. This is a hands-on, working manager role that requires an active presence on the production floor, working alongside and supporting the team as needed to address operational needs, resolve issues, maintain workflow, and ensure production goals are achieved.

Date Posted: August 21, 2026
Location: Keosauqua, IA

Overview

Job Purpose: The Production Manager is responsible for coordinating and overseeing all production activities within a plastic extrusion manufacturing facility. This is a hands-on, working manager role that requires an active presence on the production floor, working alongside and supporting the team as needed to address operational needs, resolve issues, maintain workflow, and ensure production goals are achieved.

This role ensures products are manufactured safely, efficiently, on schedule, and in accordance with customer quality standards while meeting production, cost, and continuous improvement goals. The Production Manager leads and develops production personnel, manages resources, and collaborates closely with Maintenance, Quality, Customer Service, and other departments to optimize plant performance and drive accountability, productivity, and continuous improvement.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and direct daily production operations to meet customer delivery requirements.
• Supervise production staff, including secondary operations, leads, machine operators, and support staff.
• Monitor production performance, including output, downtime, scrap, and labor efficiency.
• Ensure all extrusion lines operate safely and efficiently while maintaining product quality standards.
• Coordinate die and tooling changes to minimize downtime.
• Collaborate with the Quality Assurance team to resolve product quality issues and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with the Maintenance team to schedule preventive maintenance and minimize equipment failures.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Monitor raw material usage and reduce waste through process optimization.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions.
• Investigate production issues, equipment failures, and safety incidents, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Track and report key production metrics, including production output, scrap rates, downtime, and labor efficiency.
• Oversee labor scheduling and manage staffing levels, overtime, and training needs.
• Participate in budget planning and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Support new product launches, process improvements, and equipment installations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing setting. Plastic extrusion manufacturing experience is a plus, but not required.
• Must be a hands-on leader who is willing and able to work alongside the production team as needed to support daily operations and achieve production goals.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement methodologies, and/or ISO standards is a plus.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze production data and make informed operational decisions.
• Must be able to work occasional evening and weekends. Position has some on-call responsibilities to support production needs.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment requiring frequent interaction with production, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Growth and training opportunities in a supportive working environment
• Comprehensive benefits package including:
  • Medical, Dental, Vision
  • Life Insurance & Disability (Short & Long Term)
  • Additional Voluntary Benefit Plans
  • 401(k) with Competitive Company Match
  • Fitness Reimbursement
• Engaging company culture with team events and a family-focused environment