Illinois Tool Works

Production Manager

Illinois Tool Works • $93K — $120K *
Mokena, IL 60448In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in operations, engineering, business, or related field preferred.
  • Five+ years of manufacturing leadership experience with direct supervision of front-line leaders and P&L ownership.
  • Experience in a lean manufacturing environment, leading production and support functions.
  • Proficient in managing production schedules, labor, and operational performance.
  • Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement, and production metrics.
  • Strong skills in problem-solving, communication, leadership, and employee accountability.
  • Ability to analyze operational and financial data.

Responsibilities

  • Execute daily production operations across three shifts to meet various goals.
  • Serve as the primary contact for operational escalations, including off-shifts and holidays.
  • Maintain high visibility and active leadership on the shop floor.
  • Manage first-shift operations while overseeing second- and third-shift Supervisors.
  • Identify and resolve immediate operational issues affecting production and quality.
  • Control production schedules and labor allocations to minimize shortage-driven changes.
  • Lead, coach, and hold accountable all levels of production staff.

Benefits

  • Full P&L accountability for financial performance of assigned cost centers.
  • Ownership of safety performance and compliance with regulations and company policies.
  • Opportunities for continuous improvement initiatives and development.
  • Support for coaching and succession planning for production staff.
Full Job Description
Job Description:

Position Summary

The Production Manager leads daily manufacturing operations for the assigned injection molding and assembly operations across all three shifts at the assigned manufacturing location. This role reports to the U.S. Operations Manager and ensures safe, efficient, and reliable production by maintaining a strong shop-floor presence and serving as the primary link between shifts. This role resolves immediate operational issues, manages production schedules and labor, and drives accountability for performance and cost. This role ensures consistent priorities, effective shift handoffs, timely escalation, schedule execution, technical support prioritization, labor management, employee accountability, and follow-through on operational issues to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.

Key Responsibilities
  • Execute daily production operations across all three shifts to meet safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and customer requirements.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for the assigned location, including off-shift, weekend, and holiday operational escalations.
  • Maintain high visibility and an active leadership presence on the shop floor.
  • Serve as the primary link between shifts and functions, ensuring consistent priorities, effective shift handoffs, clear ownership, timely escalation, and follow-through on operational issues.
  • Directly lead first-shift production operations and manage the second- and third-shift Production Supervisors.
  • Identify and resolve immediate operational issues that could affect production, quality, staffing, cost, or delivery.
  • Directly manage production schedules, labor allocation, staffing levels, overtime, and resource priorities. Maintain a forward-looking production and labor plan to reduce shortage-driven scheduling, last-minute schedule changes, and avoidable overtime.
  • Lead, coach, and hold accountable Production Supervisors, Team Leads, Setup Technicians, Material Handlers, and production operators.
  • Set priorities and partner with other leaders to hold technical & other resources accountable for resolving downtime, cycle-time losses, process instability, quality concerns, changeover issues, and other production constraints.
  • Hold hiring, disciplinary, and spending authority within approved limits.
  • Own performance for assigned production lines, departments, and value streams.
  • Own full P&L accountability for financial performance of assigned cost centers and their contribution to the plant's overall financial performance.
  • Control and improve conversion costs, including:
    • Direct and indirect labor
    • Overtime
    • Scrap
    • Premium freight
    • Variable inventory costs
    • External sorting
  • Review daily performance metrics, identify gaps, establish corrective actions, assign clear ownership and due dates, and escalate significant risks.
  • Partner with Quality, Materials, Maintenance, Engineering, and Human Resources to address operational constraints and ensure timely resolution.
  • Partner with Quality and Engineering to resolve production quality concerns, establish clear acceptance standards, contain questionable product, and ensure formal disposition before production or shipment continues. Promptly escalate unresolved quality concerns.
  • Ensure process changes, automation modifications, production startups, and restarts are properly evaluated, validated, documented, and communicated across all shifts.
  • Represent the plant to customers, auditors, and corporate leadership as required.
  • Own safety performance and culture. Ensure compliance with safety requirements, quality standards, work instructions, company policies, and applicable regulations.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, reduce waste, improve quality, strengthen standard work, and reinforce operational discipline and accountability.
  • Develop Production Supervisors, Team Leads, and operators through clear expectations, coaching, performance feedback, and succession planning.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in operations, engineering, business, or a related field preferred.
  • Five or more years of manufacturing leadership experience, including direct supervision of front-line leaders, P&L ownership, and multi-shift operations.
  • Experience directly leading production and production-support functions in a lean manufacturing environment.
  • Experience managing production schedules, labor, overtime, cost centers, and operational performance.
  • Working knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, quality systems, standard work, and production metrics.
  • Strong problem-solving, communication, leadership, and employee-accountability skills.
  • Ability to interpret operational and financial data and convert findings into clear actions.
  • Automotive, injection molding, automated assembly, or other high-volume manufacturing experience preferred.


Key Measures of Success
  • Safety performance
  • Quality and scrap
  • Schedule attainment and on-time delivery
  • Production plan stability and reduction in shortage-driven scheduling
  • Labor efficiency and overtime
  • Downtime and changeover performance
  • Premium freight
  • Inventory-related variable costs
  • External sorting costs
  • Productivity and conversion-cost performance
  • Shift-handoff effectiveness and corrective-action closure
  • Supervisor, Team Lead, and operator capability development


Compensation Information:

$93k-$120k

About Illinois Tool Works

ITW is an industrial manufacturing company that specializes in the fields of industrial machinery, engineering, operations, sales, marketing, finance, and accounting. It's in deep-sea oil rigs, aerospace technology, bridges and wind turbines, healthcare, the spaces in which they live and work, the cars they drive, and the mobile devices they rely on. It was founded in 1912 and headquartered in Glenview Nas, Illinois.

Illinois Tool Works Careers

Join the dynamic team at Illinois Tool Works (ITW), a global leader in diversified manufacturing, where innovation and excellence drive us forward. ITW offers unparalleled job opportunities, fostering a culture of growth and leadership in the industry.

Work You’ll Do

At Illinois Tool Works, you will be part of a professional community that thrives on creativity and innovation. Our employees are equipped with the skills needed to succeed and are provided with endless opportunities for professional growth. Engage in work that matters, with projects that transform industries and enhance futures.

Explore Career Paths

Whether you're seeking an internship, a graduate opportunity, or a seasoned professional position, ITW offers a range of career paths across various departments. Our team benefits from a supportive and diverse working environment where every member’s contribution is valued.

Innovate and Lead

Join a team where innovation leads to revolutionary solutions in industries worldwide. At ITW, you will work alongside industry experts to develop new ideas and strategies that keep us at the forefront of technological advancements. Your career at ITW will be marked by a continuous journey of growth and leadership.

Develop Your Skills

With ITW’s commitment to professional development and diversity training, you will enhance your skills through targeted training programs and workshops. These opportunities not only boost your career but also ensure you stay competitive in the job market.

Be Part of Our Culture

ITW is dedicated to building a culture that respects and embraces diversity, encourages innovation, and fosters leadership. Our team is our greatest asset, and we believe in providing them with the benefits and resources they need to succeed both professionally and personally.

Networking and Professional Growth

Expand your professional network through ITW’s global presence and collaborative work environment. Engage with professionals across different sectors, gaining insights that can lead to significant career advancements. Our networking events and professional groups help you connect with key industry leaders and peers.

Join Our Team

Search for open positions that match your skills and interests on the ITW Careers page. We are looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players who are ready to take their career to the next level.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest industry trends, company news, and career tips by following our careers blog. Personalize your experience by subscribing to job alert emails, tailored to your preferences and career goals. Explore the opportunities at Illinois Tool Works today and discover how your expertise can help shape the future of our company and the industries we serve. Join us in our mission to achieve excellence through innovation and leadership.
Learn more about Illinois Tool Works
Size
45,000 employees
Market Cap
$68.1 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
$2.1 billion
Founded
1912
5 Year Trend
+1.2%
Revenue
$12.5 billion
NASDAQ
ITW
* Ladders Estimates

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