SMT Production Section Chief

LUXSHARE-ICT; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

LUXSHARE-ICT in Reno, NV is seeking a seasoned SMT Production Manager to fully own daily operations of the SMT workshop, coordinating manpower, equipment, materials, and processes to meet KPIs across output, quality, delivery, cost, and safety.

You will lead production planning, manage abnormality resolution, drive cost improvements, implement 5S and safety standards, and develop a talent pipeline, overseeing multiple lines and a 50+ staff.

Qualifications

• Legal eligibility to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• Engineering or related degree preferred.
• 5+ years of SMT production management experience.
• Experience leading 50+ person teams and multiple shifts.

Responsibilities

• Develop monthly, weekly, and daily production schedules for the SMT workshop based on the MPS and allocate line resources to meet demand.
• Monitor progress on each line, coordinate bottleneck resolution, balance loads, and improve OEE and output attainment.
• Lead on-site resolution of major quality abnormalities; organize joint analysis and implement countermeasures.
• Drive root cause analysis using 5 Whys and fishbone diagrams; implement preventive actions and verify effectiveness.
• Establish rapid response mechanisms for abnormalities and define reporting procedures.
• Convene regular production quality meetings and drive improvement projects to improve FPY.
• Prepare and manage annual/monthly manufacturing cost budgets; monitor costs and material scrap.
• Lead projects to reduce component reject rates; optimize feeders, nozzles, and parameters.
• Apply Lean tools (VSM, SMED, standardized work) to reduce waste and increase UPH.
• Optimize manpower allocation via skill matrix and multi-skill training; control overtime and labor costs.
• Review consumption standards for auxiliary materials and explore cost-saving alternatives.
• Establish and maintain the 5S system; standardize material flow and fixed-location management.
• Strengthen ESD controls and ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
• Lead safety training, hazard inspections, and emergency drills.

Skills

Production planning

Lean manufacturing

Quality management

Team leadership

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electronics/Industrial Engineering or related fields

Tools

ERP/MES systems

MS Excel

Job description

Core Value of the Position: Fully responsible for the daily production operation management of the SMT workshop (including multiple production lines), coordinating all elements of manpower, machinery, materials, methods, and environment to ensure comprehensive achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) such as output, quality, delivery, cost, and safety. As the primary person in charge of workshop operations, this role leads the formulation and execution of production plans, drives the closed-loop resolution of major abnormalities, continuously optimizes manufacturing costs, builds an efficient, standardized, and safe on-site management system, and develops a talent pipeline. It is the core executor at the workshop level for translating the company's operational objectives into action.

II. Key Responsibilities

1. Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop monthly, weekly, and daily production schedules for the SMT workshop based on the Master Production Schedule (MPS), and rationally allocate line resources (lines, equipment, personnel) to ensure capacity matches order demand.
• Monitor production progress on each line, coordinate resolution of bottleneck processes, balance line loads, and improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and output attainment rate.
• Lead emergency rescheduling during production abnormalities (e.g., changeovers, rush orders, material shortages), quickly adjust production sequences to minimize impact on delivery.
• Review work order closure, Work-In-Process (WIP), and material inventory data to ensure physical counts align with system records, and conduct monthly statistical analysis of material losses.

2. Abnormality Handling & Quality Control

• Lead on-site resolution of major quality abnormalities in the workshop (e.g., batch soldering defects, systematic component misplacement, critical equipment failures), organize joint analysis with process, equipment, and quality departments, determine and implement temporary countermeasures in the shortest possible time to reduce production losses.
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) of abnormalities using tools such as 5 Whys and fishbone diagrams, formulate long-term corrective and preventive actions, and track verification of effectiveness to ensure closure.
• Establish a rapid response mechanism for workshop abnormalities (e.g., visual boards, red/yellow card system), clearly define reporting procedures and handling authority for each position to shorten response cycles.
• Convene regular production quality meetings, consolidate abnormality data, identify frequent issues, drive special improvement projects, and improve First-Pass Yield (FPY).

3. Cost Control & Improvement

• Prepare and manage the annual/monthly manufacturing cost budget for the SMT workshop, covering direct labor, material losses, auxiliary material consumption, energy consumption, and equipment maintenance costs.
• Lead special projects to reduce component reject rates (PPM), monitor reject data per line, organize optimization of feeders, nozzles, pick-and-place parameters, etc., to reduce material scrap.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing tools such as Value Stream Mapping, Single-Minute Exchange of Die (SMED), and standardized work to reduce non-value-added time and increase Units Per Hour (UPH).
• Optimize manpower allocation through skill matrix and multi-skill training to improve personnel utilization, reasonably control overtime, and reduce the labor cost ratio.
• Review consumption standards for auxiliary materials (solder paste, red glue, cleaning agents, wiping paper, etc.), implement quota management to eliminate over-consumption, and explore alternative materials or processes for cost savings.

4. 5S & Site Management

• Fully establish, implement, and continuously maintain the 5S system in the SMT workshop (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain), define visual standards and inspection/assessment systems, regularly organize 5S evaluations and red-tag campaigns to create a clean, orderly, and efficient working environment.
• Standardize material flow, semi-finished and finished goods area planning, with clear labeling and fixed-location management to ensure smooth logistics and reduce searching and handling waste.
• Strengthen Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) control, supervise grounding, ESD facility checks, and personnel attire to ensure compliance with ESD protection requirements and reduce electrostatic damage risks.
• Lead workshop safety management, implement safety accountability, organize safety training, hazard inspections, and emergency drills, ensuring that storage of hazardous chemicals, equipment guarding, firefighting facilities, etc., meet regulations and prevent safety incidents.
• Coordinate the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Standard Inspection Procedures (SIPs), and operating specifications for all workstations in the SMT workshop, with regular reviews and updates to ensure documentation matches actual operations.
• Establish a new-hire onboarding training system (covering basic skills, quality awareness, safety, 5S, etc.) with defined assessment criteria to ensure 100% qualification rate before independent work.
• Plan and organize on-the-job skill enhancement training (e.g., advanced changeover techniques, AOI programming basics, abnormality recognition) to build a multi-skilled workforce and elevate overall operational competency.
• Develop reserve talents and build a management pipeline within the section, guide team leaders to improve their management capabilities to ensure smooth succession.
• Conduct routine audits of standardized operations, check on-site execution deviations, correct promptly, and incorporate feedback into training, forming a PDCA cycle.

III. Qualifications & Requirements

1. Basic Requirements

• Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• Major: Electronic Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Automation, Management Science and Engineering, or related fields preferred.

2. Work Experience

• 5+ years of production management experience in SMT, with at least 2 years in a Section Chief or equivalent management role.
• Familiar with the entire SMT process (printing, placement, reflow, AOI/SPI, etc.) and proficient in production operation workflows.
• Proven experience managing a team of 50+ people, capable of effectively leading multiple shifts or production lines.
• Background in high-volume manufacturing industries such as consumer electronics, automotive electronics, or telecommunications equipment is preferred.

3. Technical Skills

• Solid understanding of the basic principles and key process parameters of common SMT equipment (printers, pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, AOI/SPI).
• Proficient in using ERP/MES systems for work order management and data tracking, and skilled in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) to independently prepare daily production reports and monthly operational analysis reports.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing improvement tools; practical project implementation experience is preferred.

4. Core Competencies

• Strong planning, coordination, and resource allocation abilities to effectively balance production tasks across multiple product types and lines.
• Excellent adaptability and decision-making skills under pressure, able to quickly formulate effective measures in complex situations.
• Good cross-departmental communication and negotiation skills, effectively collaborating with process, equipment, quality, planning, procurement, and other departments.
• Strong cost awareness and data sensitivity, able to drive improvement decisions through quantitative analysis.
• Mature people management skills, adept at motivating, coaching, and evaluating subordinates, fair and impartial, with leadership presence and team cohesion.