Manufacturing Manager

About Caldera Manufacturing Group

Caldera Manufacturing Group is a precision metal fabrication and manufacturing company operating facilities in Westminster, MD and Reading, PA. We produce components and finished assemblies for a diverse customer base spanning industrial tools, electrical, and utility equipment manufacturers. We are focused on strengthening our production operations, improving on-time delivery performance, and building a disciplined, data-driven manufacturing organization.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Manufacturing Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our manufacturing facility. This individual will be responsible for driving safety, quality, on-time delivery, productivity, employee engagement, and financial performance while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. This role owns production output, labor utilization, and workflow across assigned departments, and works closely with Planning/Scheduling, Quality, Materials, and Engineering to keep the shop running smoothly and to close out the backlog.

The ideal candidate has successfully managed manufacturing operations in an industrial, high-mix environment and has a proven track record of implementing Lean Manufacturing principles and building high-performing, accountable teams. This person will be a hands-on leader who is highly visible on the shop floor, a strong developer of supervisors and operators, and a disciplined user of data to drive decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Production Operations Direct daily manufacturing operations across assigned work centers to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets. Set daily and weekly production priorities in coordination with Planning/Scheduling to protect promised ship dates and reduce past-due backlog. Monitor throughput, labor efficiency, scrap, and downtime, and take corrective action when performance drifts from plan.

Team Leadership Directly supervise production supervisors, leads, and/or operators, depending on plant structure. Coach, train, and hold the team accountable to standard work, safety procedures, and quality requirements. Build a bench of capable supervisors and cross-trained operators; support hiring, onboarding, and performance management for the production workforce.

Performance Management & KPIs Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) across safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost, and use them to drive operational effectiveness and accountability throughout the plant.

Quality Ensure work is performed to print and to documented quality procedures; partner with Quality on nonconformance investigation, containment, and corrective action.

Safety & Compliance Maintain a safe working environment; enforce safety procedures, PPE requirements, and housekeeping standards. Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable regulatory requirements (OSHA and related standards).

Systems & Reporting Use the ERP system (Infor Visual) to release work orders, track job status, record labor and production transactions, and pull data needed for shift and weekly reporting. Provide regular, accurate reporting to the COO on production performance, backlog status, staffing, and key issues.

Capital & Process Improvement Lead capital improvement projects, process improvements, and productivity initiatives that expand capacity, reduce cost, or improve reliability.

Cross-Functional Coordination Work closely with Materials/Purchasing to ensure component and raw material availability aligns with the production schedule. Collaborate with Engineering on new part introduction, process routings, and manufacturability issues. Partner with customers, suppliers, and executive leadership as needed to support strategic objectives.

Shipping, Receiving & Inventory Management Ensure inbound material is received, inspected, and put away accurately and on time, and that outbound shipments are picked, packed, and shipped complete and on schedule to meet customer commitments. Maintain inventory accuracy across raw material, WIP, and finished goods, and drive cycle counting and discrepancy resolution.

Direct Reports

The Manufacturing Manager leads the following functions through direct reports:

Scheduling & Backlog Management Owns translation of the master schedule into an executable daily floor plan; flags capacity constraints, material shortages, or schedule conflicts early enough to be resolved; and drives the ongoing effort to reduce past-due backlog and improve on-time delivery to key customers.

Continuous Improvement Owns the plant's continuous improvement program (5S, lean, standard work, root-cause problem solving) to reduce waste, rework, and cycle time, and leads improvement projects across production departments.

Shipping, Receiving & Inventory Management Owns daily shipping and receiving operations and inventory accuracy across raw material, WIP, and finished goods, including cycle counting, transaction accuracy in the ERP system, and timely resolution of shortages or discrepancies.

Maintenance Owns preventive and corrective maintenance scheduling, equipment uptime and reliability, and repair prioritization to support the production schedule.

Manufacturing Process Experience

The ideal candidate has experience and working knowledge of several of the following manufacturing processes:

• Machining
• Welding
• Saw Cutting
• Metal Stamping
• Press Brake / Forming Operations
• CNC Machining
• CNC Programming and Operations
• Laser Cutting
• Powder Coating / Painting
• Fabrication and Assembly Operations

Qualifications

Required

• 8 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including direct supervision of production employees, ideally in metal fabrication, machining, or a related discrete manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated success managing a manufacturing operation with 100 direct labor employees
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities on the shop floor and drive results against a production schedule
• Strong financial and operational management skills, including budget and cost management
• Strong working knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methods, with a proven track record of implementing initiatives that deliver measurable results
• Experience working within an ERP/MRP system to manage work orders, labor reporting, and production data
• Solid understanding of workplace safety requirements and a demonstrated commitment to a safe work environment
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly across shifts and functions
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and general business software
•  

Preferred

• Experience with Infor Visual ERP
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial or Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience
• Background in metal fabrication, weldments, or precision machined components
• Experience supporting multi-site or multi-shift operations in a high-mix, low-volume industrial manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated history of building high-performing teams and creating a culture of accountability
• Competitive athletic participation, military leadership, or other experience that demonstrates discipline, teamwork, resilience, and a strong desire to win
• Familiarity with backlog/delivery performance reporting and working with private-equity-owned or investor-reporting environments
•  

Ideal Candidate Profile

The successful candidate is:

• A hands-on leader who is highly visible on the shop floor
• Data-driven and disciplined in decision-making
• Comfortable leading teams and holding people accountable
• Passionate about Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement
• Focused on developing people while driving results
• Competitive, resilient, and energized by solving complex operational challenges
• Capable of transforming manufacturing operations through leadership, process improvement, and operational excellence

Physical Requirements / Work Environment

This role is based primarily on the manufacturing floor and requires regularly walking the plant, being present during production hours (including some off-shift or weekend presence as production needs require), and working in a typical industrial manufacturing environment (noise, heat/cold variation, exposure to machinery). Reasonable accommodations can be discussed as needed.