Job Title:  Production Manager III

Job Purpose

The Distribution Center APU Manager oversees all assembly, packaging, and outbound material flow activities within the Distribution Center (DC). This role ensures efficient product handling, inventory accuracy, safe operations, and high service levels that support customer delivery expectations. The manager will work cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Warehouse Operations, Quality, Maintenance, EHS, and Transportation teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Oversee daily assembly, value‑add, kitting, and packaging operations within the APU to ensure consistent flow, accuracy, and service performance.
• Support and strengthen inventory control processes, ensuring inventory accuracy, cycle count stability, and proactive shrink mitigation.
• Implement lean manufacturing and warehousing practices to drive throughput, eliminate waste, and standardize efficient workflows.
• Collaborate closely with Supervisors to align inbound material flow, outbound shipping priorities, and labor planning to meet customer and production demands.
• Ensure full compliance with all safety, EHS, and regulatory requirements while building and maintaining a strong, proactive safety culture.
• Minimize operational downtime and increase productivity by optimizing processes, reducing variability, and driving standard work adoption across shifts.
• Maintain and evolve operational dashboards, leveraging data analytics and KPIs to identify trends, improve performance, and guide decision‑making.
• Develop, coach, and mentor team members at all levels; ensure training completion and build a high‑performance, accountable, and engaged workforce.
• Support capital planning, equipment deployment, and automation initiatives that improve material flow, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Demonstrate servant leadership by fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and supportive work environment that empowers employees.
• Build and maintain a positive employee relations environment by supporting growth, development, and recognition of individual and team performance.
• Drive improvements in Direct Productivity (DP), First Pass Yield, scrap reduction, and 5S sustainment through disciplined lean practices.
• Standardize APU operations across all shifts, ensuring consistency in processes, accountability, training, and operational results.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to elevate operational excellence, strengthen cross‑functional partnerships, and sustain year‑over‑year improvements.
• Champion best‑in‑class EHS practices by developing an accident‑free culture, eliminating unsafe conditions, and ensuring prompt corrective actions.
• Achieve production output targets by optimizing resources, reducing waste, improving OEE, and driving positive manufacturing variances.

Establish, maintain, and ensure compliance with operational policies, procedures, and applicable standards including IATF 16949 and ISO 9001.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in operations management or equivalent experience in a high performing manufacturing organization

2. 5-8 years of progressive functional/leadership experience

3. Extensive experience with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, CI

4. Lean / six sigma background preferred

5. Strong leadership experience managing multiple projects and people

6. Knowledge of TPM and autonomous maintenance methodologies

7. Working knowledge of MES, MRP/ERP, QMS and data analytics

8. Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite

9. Knowledgeable of forecasting and budgeting

10. Must be well organized

General Job Requirements