Production Manager Paint

American Rheinmetall•Lansing, MI

About The Position

Sets and communicates production goals, operating strategies, and company deliverables to paint, coating, and pretreatment teams and supporting manufacturing departments/plants. Leads and enforces plant safety programs, ensuring all safety objectives, procedures, and regulatory requirements are met. Plans, schedules, and coordinates daily paint and pretreatment operations, including support of interplant paint projects, with priority placed on overall production output. Responsible for maximizing production efficiency, capacity utilization, and labor effectiveness while controlling costs and maintaining required quality standards. Accountable for production output, finish quality, and on-time shipment through direct involvement and leadership of subordinate supervisors to meet and exceed internal and external customer expectations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university and Manufacturing/Operations Management, or a related field or equivalent combination of education and hands-on manufacturing experience.
Minimum of 5 years of production management or supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience managing paint, coating, and pretreatment operations, including surface preparation and finishing processes.
Proven ability to lead production teams in a low-volume/high-mix, schedule-driven manufacturing environment
Strong working knowledge of manufacturing safety programs, OSHA requirements, and environmental compliance related to coating operations.
Experience with production planning, scheduling, and throughput optimization to meet output and delivery commitments.
Ability to drive and maintain quality standards and reduce defects in coating and finishing processes
Effective leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage priorities across departments.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Chemical Engineering, or Operations Management
8+ years of progressive leadership experience in paint, coating, or pretreatment manufacturing operations.
Hands-on experience with powder coating, liquid paint systems, and chemical pretreatment processes
Working knowledge of coating application equipment, cure systems, material handling, and process controls.
Experience supporting interplant or multi-facility paint projects and managing shifting production priorities.
Demonstrated success driving continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen) in a manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of environmental regulations related to coatings (VOC control, waste handling, wastewater treatment).
Experience managing labor, staffing, and capital equipment planning in a production setting.
Proficiency with manufacturing ERP/MRP systems and production reporting tools.
Proven ability to analyze production data and KPIs to improve throughput, yield, and on-time delivery.

Responsibilities

Ensure all safety requirements are met and are being followed according to rules and regulations.
Sets and communicates goals to meet company’s overall plan.
Work with all departments to ensure sales targets are being met.
Plan, organize, direct, and run optimum day-to-day operations to exceed our customers’ expectations by increasing production output, product quality and on-time shipping.
Increase production, asset capacity and flexibility while minimizing unnecessary costs and maintaining current quality standards.
Reviews production and operating reports and resolves operational, manufacturing, and maintenance problems to ensure minimum costs and prevent operational delays.
Reviews production costs and product quality and modifies production and inventory control programs to maintain and enhance profitable operation of division.
Develop systems and processes that track and optimize productivity and standards, metrics, and performance targets to ensure effective return on assets.
Develops or revises standard operational and working practices and observes workers to ensure compliance with standards.
Resolves grievances or submits unsettled grievances to Operation Leadership for action.
Coordinates production, distribution, warehousing, and sales in accordance with policies, principles, and procedures.