Production Excellence Leader (Area Manager)

Continental•Sumter, SC

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for leading daily production operations to ensure safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets are achieved. The Production Excellence Leader will manage production schedules and resources to maximize output while minimizing downtime and waste. They will lead, coach, and develop production teams to build a high-performance culture, drive quality standards, and partner with quality teams to resolve issues through root cause analysis. The position ensures compliance with safety regulations, company policies, and environmental requirements, and champions continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and problem-solving methodologies. Responsibilities also include managing labor, materials, equipment, and inventory to support production goals, monitoring and analyzing KPIs to drive data-based decisions, and collaborating with maintenance, engineering, logistics, and other departments to ensure production efficiency. The role supports the Continental Business System (CBS) by driving accountability, standardization, continuous improvement, and team performance.

Requirements

Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field, with 7+ years of supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
14+ years of manufacturing supervisory/leadership experience or more if no relevant Bachelors Degree
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, with experience analyzing production data, tracking KPIs, developing reports, and presenting operational performance metrics to leadership.
Proven experience leading production operations in a manufacturing environment, including production scheduling, resource planning, quality management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and manage salaried and hourly employees while driving accountability, performance, and employee engagement.
Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, KPI management, root cause analysis, and data-driven decision-making to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
Experience managing cross-functional partnerships with quality, maintenance, engineering, logistics, and supply chain teams, with proficiency in Microsoft Office and manufacturing systems/ERP platforms.
Proven problem-solving skills utilizing root cause analysis and continuous improvement methodologies to drive sustainable results.

Nice To Haves

10+ years Tire experience

Responsibilities

Lead daily production operations to ensure safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets are achieved.
Manage production schedules and resources to maximize output while minimizing downtime and waste.
Lead, coach, and develop production teams to build a high-performance culture.
Drive quality standards and partner with quality teams to resolve issues through root cause analysis.
Ensure compliance with safety regulations, company policies, and environmental requirements.
Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and problem-solving methodologies.
Manage labor, materials, equipment, and inventory to support production goals.
Monitor and analyze KPIs to drive data-based decisions and improve operational performance.
Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, logistics, and other departments to ensure production efficiency.
Support the Continental Business System (CBS) by driving accountability, standardization, continuous improvement, and team performance.