Manager Production

JONATHAN LOUIS INTERNATIONAL•Gardena, CA

48m

About The Position

The Plant Manager oversees all day-to-day operations of JL’s Gardena California manufacturing facility, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance targets are consistently achieved. This hands-on operational leader is accountable for production output, staffing, planning, materials flow, product quality, facility maintenance, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role requires a strong people-first leadership style, proven experience running high-mix upholstery or related furniture operations, and the ability to partner closely with Scheduling, Supply Chain, Engineering, HR, Finance, and Customer Service team to meet the needs of JL’s customers.

Requirements

7–10 years of experience in upholstery furniture manufacturing or closely related labor-intensive production environment
5+ years in a plant leadership or production management role, managing 150–500+ employees across multiple departments
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, Business Administration, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
Proven success running high-mix manufacturing (SKUs, fabrics, frames, customization)
Strong working knowledge of labor planning, line balancing, production scheduling, and throughput optimization
Experience with ERP systems (Infor or equivalent)
Knowledge of Lean methodologies preferred
Demonstrated ability to lead teams, build culture, and drive accountability
Strong analytical, problem-solving, planning, and decision-making skills
Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and maintain a calm, solutions-oriented presence
Excellent communication and presentation skills for leadership-level reporting.

Responsibilities

Leads all direct plant production functions, including Woodshop, Sewing, Foam & Glue, Cushion & Filling, Upholstery, Assembly & Packaging, and Maintenance.
Provides daily leadership, staffing, line balancing, training, throughput optimization, and operational execution for these areas
Maintains on-time delivery and production efficiency targets in alignment with scheduling targets and customer ship windows
Translates daily, weekly, and monthly production goals into actionable plans for supervisors and team leaders
Ensures all finished goods meet JL quality standards with low repair/rework levels through consistent execution of JL’s production process and systems, quality standards, and safety protocols
Collaborate with QA, Engineering, and Customer Experience teams to address issues proactively and prevent recurrence
Enforces OSHA, California safety regulations, JL safety policies, and ensures a clean, orderly, hazard-free facility
Ensure compliance with all Company policies, including Safety, Quality, CTPAT, and operational standards
Ensures accurate labor planning, workforce allocation, training, and cross-training for key skill positions
Partners cross-functionally with company-wide support functions, including Supply Chain, Quality, Safety, Engineering, Shipping & Receiving, and Inventory Management to ensure alignment, communication, issue-resolution, and execution of shared standards within the plant
Manages operating budget, labor cost, overtime, material usage, scrap, productivity ratios, and efficiency metrics
Drives cost-reduction initiatives through waste elimination, process improvement, and better materials utilization
Ensures accurate reporting and alignment with Finance on weekly and monthly performance metrics
Directs, coaches, and develops supervisors, team leaders, and production teams
Reinforces JL leadership behaviors (clear communication, accountability, trust, motivation, continuous improvement)
Conducts performance evaluations, administer coaching/recognition, and partners with HR on staffing, discipline, and employee relations
Drives digital adoption and accuracy within ERP systems (Infor, Power BI), including labor reporting, orders, materials transactions, and production recording
Introduces new processes, technologies in partnership with IT, and layouts that enhance flow, reduce bottlenecks, and improve throughput
Supports new product launches by coordinating samples, pilot builds, and training sessions