Manufacturing Manager

Arning Companies is seeking an experienced and results-driven Production Manager to lead a large-scale production team in a fast-paced modular construction and manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for overseeing all production operations, ensuring on-time delivery, superior quality, exceptional safety standards, and continuous improvement while driving accountability across the team. The ideal candidate has deep experience in modular building, construction processes, and modern manufacturing methodologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversight for all aspects of Modular Building Manufacturing, including Procurement, Framing, Insulation, HVAC Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Roofing, Flooring, Equipment Installs, Concrete, QC, Rough-in Inspections, Wrapping, Loading/Shipping, etc
• Lead, mentor, and manage a large production team (multiple supervisors, leads, welders, assemblers, and support staff)
• Own full production performance: schedule adherence, output, yield, labor efficiency, and on-time delivery to project timelines.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Quality Control, Construction/Installation, Engineering, Safety, Supply Chain, and Scheduling departments.
• Develop, implement, and sustain Lean manufacturing principles, 5S, Kaizen events, and visual management systems on the production floor.
• Drive a strong safety culture; ensure compliance with OSHA and internal safety standards with zero tolerance for unsafe acts.
• Hold team members and supervisors accountable through clear goals, regular performance reviews, coaching, and disciplinary action when necessary.
• Plan and optimize production floor layouts for new product lines, increased capacity, or process improvements (material flow, workstations, equipment placement).
• Oversee specialized processes including structural welding, laser cutting/processing, roofing systems, insulation installation, and modular assembly.
• Utilize data-driven decision making; comfortable with ERP/MRP systems, production dashboards, and basic scripting/automation (Python preferred) to improve reporting and process efficiency.
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for quality or production issues.
• Manage department budget, overtime, staffing levels, and capital expenditure requests.
• Champion continuous improvement projects that reduce waste, improve throughput, and lower costs.

Required Qualifications

• 7 years of progressive production leadership experience in modular construction, prefabricated building, heavy manufacturing, or construction-related manufacturing.
• Proven track record managing teams of 50 employees in a union or non-union environment.
• Strong working knowledge of welding processes (MIG, TIG, structural), laser cutting/forming, roofing systems, and insulation techniques used in modular buildings.
• Demonstrated expertise in Lean Manufacturing, 5S, value-stream mapping, and continuous improvement cultures.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; able to influence and align cross-functional teams (QC, Safety, Engineering, Construction).
• Understanding of building codes, OSHA standards, and quality assurance systems
• Experience holding people accountable in a fair, consistent, and direct manner while maintaining high morale.
• Proficiency in MS Office; experience with ERP systems (Epicor, SAP, NetSuite, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience designing or re-designing production floor layouts (AutoCAD or similar tool proficiency is a plus).
• Working knowledge of Python or other scripting languages for data analysis, automation, or custom reporting.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a strong plus in production environments.

Competencies

• Decisive leadership with a bias for action
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• High emotional intelligence and conflict-resolution ability
• Passion for safety, quality, and operational excellence
• Ability to thrive in a high-growth, deadline-driven environment