Production Manager

Founded in 1990, Utility Solutions is a designer and manufacturer of hot-line tools and products for the electrical power industry. Our success is based on working as a team to deliver high-quality products and unsurpassed customer service. We believe that each team member contributes directly to our growth and success as a company. Come grow with us!

We are seeking a Production Manager to join our team in Hickory, NC!

Job Summary

The Production Manager reports directly to the President and serves as a core member of the Operations Team alongside the Operations Manager and HR/People Manager. This role is responsible for leading daily manufacturing operations and ensuring production objectives are achieved safely, efficiently, and in alignment with company goals, customer requirements, and operational priorities.

The Production Manager provides leadership across production, machining, assembly, fiberglass, maintenance, and related manufacturing functions while partnering closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Planning, and HR. The ideal candidate is a hands-on manufacturing leader with strong operational and analytical capabilities who can drive accountability, production performance, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient, and on-time production across all production areas.
• Partner with the Operations Manager and HR/People Manager as part of the Operations Team to align staffing, production capacity, workforce development, and operational execution.
• Maintain a safe work environment and ensure compliance with OSHA and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
• Monitor daily production flow, schedule attainment, labor utilization, machine utilization, throughput, and operational performance metrics.
• Drive accountability for production efficiency, product quality, downtime reduction, scrap reduction, and overall operational performance.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing principles including 6S, Kaizen, Kanban, visual management, and process standardization.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Product teams to support manufacturability, process improvements, and new product introduction efforts.
• Work closely with Supply Chain and Planning to ensure material availability and production readiness.
• Analyze operational and production data to identify bottlenecks, improve productivity, and reduce operating costs.
• Prepare operational reports, manpower analyses, productivity measurements, and capital expenditure recommendations.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement throughout the production organization.
• Communicate effectively with employees, leadership, suppliers, and cross-functional departments to ensure operational alignment and issue resolution.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong operational leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to lead and develop production teams across multiple manufacturing disciplines.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Proven ability to drive operational execution and production performance. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work across all levels of the organization.
• Experience with production scheduling, labor planning, capacity planning, and manufacturing performance metrics.
• Strong computer and ERP/MRP system skills.
• Familiarity with CNC machining, fabrication, assembly, and industrial manufacturing operations preferred.
• Experience with project management tools and manufacturing process improvement initiatives preferred.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of manufacturing leadership experience in Production Management, Plant Management, or Operations Management roles.
• Experience in industrial, fabrication, machining, or engineered-product manufacturing environments preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and move throughout a manufacturing facility for extended periods.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to machinery, noise, dust, and varying temperatures.

This role is in-office, 8:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday.

Salary Range: $100,000-130,000 annually.