Production Manager

ALPLA NOAM•Vandalia, OH

19d

About The Position

ALPLA is seeking a Production Manager to oversee daily molding operations and lead production teams. The role is responsible for meeting production schedules while maintaining quality, efficiency, safety, and cost targets. The manager works with planning, maintenance, and quality teams to optimize workflow, equipment reliability, and production output; develops employees; drives continuous improvement; and ensures compliance with applicable standards and policies. A bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, industrial technology, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent experience will be considered. The position requires 5–10+ years of manufacturing experience, preferably in high-volume plastic molding, and proven leadership in production management. Knowledge of plastics processing, including extrusion blow molding and/or injection stretch blow molding, is specified. The posting describes physical demands including standing, walking, reaching, climbing or balancing, handling objects, bending, kneeling, crouching, talking, hearing, sitting occasionally, and lifting items of varying weights.

Requirements

5–10+ years of manufacturing experience.
Proven leadership experience in a production management role.
Strong knowledge of plastics processing, including extrusion blow molding and/or injection stretch blow molding.
Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, industrial technology, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, with reasonable accommodations available as described in the posting.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in high-volume plastic molding preferred.
Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, industrial technology, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage daily molding operations and processes.
Ensure production schedules are met while maintaining quality and efficiency targets.
Monitor KPIs such as OEE, scrap rates, downtime, and productivity.
Coordinate with planning, maintenance, and quality teams to optimize workflow and output.
Supervise, coach, and develop production supervisors, technicians, and operators.
Drive employee engagement, accountability, and continuous skill development.
Ensure proper staffing levels and workforce planning.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize cycle times.
Implement Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for production issues.
Coordinate production execution for new molds, trials, and launches.
Ensure adherence to quality standards, including ISO and GMP where applicable.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance to address defects and implement corrective actions.
Maintain compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
Partner with maintenance teams to ensure preventive and predictive maintenance programs are effective.
Minimize equipment downtime and improve machine reliability.
Promote a strong safety culture and ensure safety policies and procedures are followed.
Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
Manage production budgets, including labor, materials, and operational costs.
Reduce scrap, rework, and inefficiencies to improve profitability.
Act in a safe and environmentally responsible manner by adhering to ALPLA policies, procedures, and OSHA safety standards.