What are the responsibilities and job description for the Production Manager position at Sterling Mattress Factory?
Job Overview
Sterling Mattress Factory is a small custom plant in Herrin, Illinois, acquired by Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). It produces the Sterling retail line and supports SHP’s mission that no child sleeps on the floor. This is a hands-on working-manager role: one building, a lean crew, custom orders, inventory that cannot stock out, and deliveries that must hit the dock on time.
The Production Manager owns day-to-day plant performance from raw materials through finished goods, delivery—production, inventory, people, equipment, the building, and the trucks.
Duties
Production & Product
- Plan and run daily production of the Sterling line, including custom and special-order builds; convert sales and SHP demand into a realistic schedule.
- Set output targets; track units, scrap, rework, and on-time completion. Enforce standard work, BOM accuracy, and quality from cut/sew through tape-edge, finish, and pack.
- Lead continuous improvement (changeover, waste, bottlenecks) and partner on process changes and new SKUs.
Inventory & Materials
- Own raw materials, WIP, finished goods, packaging, and spare parts. Keep counts accurate through cycle counts and reconciliation.
- Set min/max and reorder points to prevent stockouts of foam, innerspring, fabric, ticking, glue, thread, and other critical inputs.
- Receive and inspect inbound materials; quarantine nonconforming lots; flag lead-time and cost risks; stage finished goods in the right sequence.
Facility, Equipment & Maintenance
- Run the building: security, cleanliness, utilities, layout, and day-to-day facility issues. Uphold 5S so the plant is safe, presentable, and efficient.
- Own PM and reactive maintenance for sew, tape-edge, cutting, compression/pack, and related equipment; keep a simple PM calendar and spare-parts list.
- Keep forklifts, pallet jacks, racks, docks, and delivery vehicles inspected and serviceable. Coordinate repairs, leases, and capex with the Sr. Director of Business Operations.
People, Safety & Plant HR
- Hire, train, schedule, coach, and discipline production and delivery staff with SHP leadership and HR policy. Build a weekly labor plan that covers the line and trucks.
- Document performance and cross-train so the plant is not dependent on one person.
- Lead plant safety (PPE, guarding, LOTO awareness, chemicals, lifting, incident reporting) and keep required employment, training, and safety records.
Delivery, Quality, Cost & Reporting
- Manage the delivery team and outbound schedule: loads, routes, dock times, labeling, and protection. Enforce vehicle, insurance, and safety requirements.
- Own in-process and finished-goods quality; investigate defects and field complaints and put permanent fixes in place.
- Control labor, yield, scrap, maintenance, and supply spend against budget. Report units, inventory, open orders, downtime, safety, and delivery performance. Support Sterling AOP targets.
Qualifications
Required
- 5 years manufacturing or plant operations (mattress, upholstery, furniture, foam, or similar sewn goods strongly preferred); 2 years leading people on a production floor.
- Proven inventory discipline (cycle counts, min/max, receiving, stockout prevention). Hands-on comfort with production equipment and basic mechanical troubleshooting.
- Able to read work orders, BOMs, and simple metrics; competent in Excel/Google Sheets and a basic ERP/inventory system.
- Valid driver’s license; able to operate or oversee forklift-certified staff (certification may be obtained after hire). Authorized to work in the U.S.; full-time on-site in Herrin, IL.
Preferred
- Small-plant “multiple hats” experience (production, warehouse, maintenance, shipping); custom/MTO manufacturing; OSHA shop-floor and basic PM systems.
- Supervising drivers or a small private fleet; lean/CI exposure (5S, standard work, visual management); alignment with a dual commercial and nonprofit mission.
Working Conditions
Most of the day is on the plant floor and in the warehouse. The role requires standing and walking for extended periods; lifting, pushing, and pulling mattresses and materials (up to 50 lb unassisted; heavier with team lift or equipment); climbing stairs or step stools; and working around noise, dust, adhesives, and moving machinery. Occasional early starts, late finishes, or weekend work during peaks, breakdowns, or inventory events.
Pay: $20.00 - $24.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
Salary : $20 - $24