Associate or Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
Experience in production supervision or plant operations is a plus.
Familiarity with molding, sewing, assembly, or related processes preferred.
Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing reporting is preferred.
Responsibilities
Support daily manufacturing activities across Molding, Sewing, and Assembly departments.
Assist with production planning and scheduling to meet customer commitments.
Monitor production activities and communicate operational issues to the Plant Manager.
Drive safety culture across all levels of operations.
Maintain and organize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and documentation.
Collect and maintain manufacturing performance data and prepare reports.
Support cross-functional collaboration to achieve plant objectives.
Benefits
Full-time, permanent onsite position with a focus on operational excellence.
Opportunity to work closely with cross-functional teams.
Engagement in continuous improvement initiatives like Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
Support for professional development through training and onboarding activities.
Full Job Description
Reporting directly to the Director of Operations and Manufacturing (Plant Manager) at our Oberon manufacturing facility, the Manufacturing Operations Manager plays a key role in supporting daily plant operations and driving operational excellence. This position provides leadership and coordination across manufacturing functions, partnering closely with Production Supervisors, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and other cross-functional teams to ensure production goals, operational priorities, and business objectives are achieved efficiently and effectively.
This is a full-time, permanent onsite position based at our manufacturing facility in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, with additional support responsibilities for our American Safety Clothing, Inc. facility in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. The role requires onsite presence Monday through Friday and the ability to travel as needed between locations.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Plant Operations Support
Support the Plant Manager in coordinating daily manufacturing activities across the Molding, Sewing, and Assembly departments.
Assist with daily production planning, scheduling, and follow-up to ensure customer requirements and delivery commitments are met.
Monitor production activities and communicate potential delays, shortages, bottlenecks, or other operational issues to the Plant Manager and appropriate department leaders.
Drive the Plant Safety Culture at all levels of operations and in all activities.
Follow up on production priorities and action items to ensure timely completion.
Assist with coordinating labor, materials, equipment, and other resources required to support production.
Help maintain and organize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and other manufacturing documentation.
Support daily plant meetings, production meetings, and operational reviews.
Production Reporting and KPI Support
Collect, organize, and maintain daily and weekly manufacturing performance data.
Assist in preparing production reports, KPI dashboards, and management presentations.
Track key performance indicators such as production output, labor efficiency, downtime, scrap, rework, quality, and on-time delivery.
Identify trends or performance issues and bring them to the attention of the Plant Manager and department supervisors.
Assist with maintaining accurate production records and documentation.
Support the preparation of monthly operational reports for plant and executive leadership.
ERP/MRP and Administrative Support
Support accurate and timely transactions within the company's ERP/MRP systems.
Assist with production orders, work orders, inventory transactions, labor reporting, material usage, and other manufacturing-related system activities.
Help verify production information and resolve discrepancies between the manufacturing floor and ERP/MRP system.
Support data collection and maintenance related to bills of materials, routings, labor standards, and production processes.
Assist with maintaining accurate manufacturing records and documentation.
Support the Manufacturing Plant Engineer with administrative tasks, reports, presentations, and follow-up activities.
Leadership and Communication Support
Serve as a communication link between the Plant Manager, Production Supervisors, and other manufacturing departments.
Follow up with department leaders regarding assigned priorities, deadlines, and action items.
Support effective communication of production priorities and operational changes throughout the plant.
Participate in department meetings and provide follow-up on action items.
Promote teamwork, accountability, and a positive work environment.
Provide support during employee onboarding, training coordination, and other workforce-related activities as directed by management.
Assist with workforce planning and staffing coordination when requested.
Quality Support
Support the Plant Manager and Production Supervisors in maintaining compliance with company quality standards and customer requirements.
Assist with tracking production quality issues, defects, scrap, and rework.
Support investigations and follow-up activities related to quality concerns.
Assist with implementing and monitoring corrective and preventive actions.
Help ensure manufacturing documentation and processes are maintained according to company requirements and ISO standards.
Safety and Compliance Support
Promote a safe working environment and support the company's safety policies and procedures.
Assist the Plant Manager and department supervisors with safety-related follow-up activities.
Help coordinate safety meetings, training, audits, and documentation as requested.
Report unsafe conditions or potential safety concerns to the appropriate management personnel.
Assist with tracking corrective actions resulting from safety observations, audits, or incidents.
Support compliance with OSHA requirements and company safety standards.
Continuous Improvement
Support Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Assist with identifying opportunities to improve productivity, quality, efficiency, and cost.
Participate in Kaizen events, process improvement projects, Gemba walks, and other operational excellence activities.
Assist with collecting and analyzing data to support process improvement initiatives.
Help monitor the implementation and effectiveness of improvement actions.
Promote standardization and best practices across manufacturing departments.
Inventory and Material Flow Support
Assist with monitoring material availability and communicating potential shortages that may affect production.
Work with Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Production teams to support material requirements.
Assist with cycle counts, inventory accuracy initiatives, and investigation of inventory discrepancies.
Support efforts to improve material flow, organization, and workplace efficiency.
Help identify and communicate excess, obsolete, or problematic inventory conditions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Human Resources, and other departments to support plant objectives.
Assist with coordination of new product introductions, engineering changes, process improvements, and production transfers.
Support communication between manufacturing and other departments regarding production requirements and priorities.
Follow up on cross-functional action items and provide status updates to the Manufacturing Plant Engineer.
Assist with special projects and initiatives assigned by the Manufacturing Plant Engineer or Director of Manufacturing and Operations.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
Associate degree or Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
Equivalent combination of education, manufacturing experience, and demonstrated capabilities may be considered.
Experience:
Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
Experience supporting manufacturing operations, production supervision, manufacturing administration, or plant operations preferred.
Experience working with multiple manufacturing departments is a plus.
Experience with molding, sewing, assembly, or related manufacturing processes preferred.
Experience working with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing reporting is preferred.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement initiatives is a plus.
Skills and Competencies
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work effectively with employees at all levels of the organization.
Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Ability to follow up effectively and hold assigned action items accountable.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing reporting tools.
Basic understanding of manufacturing KPIs, production planning, inventory management, quality, and safety.
Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a cross-functional team.
Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement.
KEY SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:
Keep the Plant Manager informed of operational priorities, issues, and progress.
Maintain strong communication and follow-up across manufacturing departments.
Provide accurate and timely production information and reporting.
Help ensure production priorities are executed effectively.
Build positive working relationships with supervisors and employees.
Identify opportunities for improvement and actively support implementation.
Maintain a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, urgency, and attention to detail.
