Production Manager

Forest City Technologies is seeking an experienced Production Manager to join our leadership team in Rockford, Illinois. This position is a key operational leadership role responsible for driving manufacturing excellence, developing employees, and ensuring the safe, efficient, and timely production of high-quality products.

Reporting to the Operations Manager, the Production Manager provides day-to-day hands on leadership for manufacturing operations while fostering a culture built on safety, quality, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement. This position serves as the acting leader of the facility in the absence of the Operations Manager and plays an integral role in achieving operational and business objectives.

As the Production Manager, you will:

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve production, quality, safety, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Partner with Customer Service, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Shipping, and Human Resources to ensure operational excellence and exceptional customer satisfaction.
• Execute and monitor the Master Production Schedule while optimizing labor, equipment, materials, and production resources.
• Ensure manufacturing teams have the necessary tooling, raw materials, equipment, staffing, and machine readiness to support production schedules.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives that improve productivity, reduce waste, and increase operational efficiency.
• Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions to improve manufacturing performance.
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to improve equipment reliability and minimize downtime.
• Collaborate with Quality to maintain compliance with quality standards and support continuous improvement efforts.
• Promote a strong culture of workplace safety by partnering with Human Resources and EHS to ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and company policies.
• Develop, coach, mentor, and evaluate supervisors and employees while building a highly engaged, accountable, and high-performing workforce.
• Ensure accurate production reporting, labor reporting, inventory transactions, and operational performance metrics.
• Apply company policies consistently while fostering a respectful, collaborative, and positive work environment.
• Serve as acting facility leader during the Operations Manager's absence.
• Support the company's Quality Management System (QMS) and Environmental Management System (EMS) through compliance and continuous improvement.

Experience

• 10–15 years of progressive manufacturing operations experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in a Production Manager, Manufacturing Supervisor, Production Supervisor, Group Leader, or similar manufacturing leadership role.
• Proven success leading production teams while improving safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and employee engagement.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong cross-functional leadership experience working with Production, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and Human Resources.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred.
• Equivalent combinations of education, technical training, and manufacturing leadership experience will be considered.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, APICS/ASCM, or similar certifications are a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and employee development skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills.
• Excellent analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Customer-focused mindset with strong business acumen.
• Working knowledge of:
• Master Production Scheduling (MPS)
• Production planning and shop floor control
• Lean Manufacturing and Just-in-Time (JIT)
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies
• ERP/MRP manufacturing systems
• OSHA safety standards and environmental compliance
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and manufacturing information systems.
• Ability to lead multiple priorities while building collaborative relationships across departments.

Why Join Forest City Technologies?

At Forest City Technologies, we are committed to manufacturing excellence through innovation, teamwork, and continuous improvement. We believe our people are our greatest strength and invest in developing leaders who create a safe, respectful, and high-performing workplace.

This position does not offer a sponsorship.