Senior Production Manager

GATEKEEPER SYSTEMS•Arlington, TX

4d•$95,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Production Manager – Manufacturing & Warehouse Operations is responsible for leading all production and warehouse activities within a high-growth, technology-driven environment. This role drives operational excellence through data-driven decision-making, Lean Six Sigma methodologies, and disciplined execution across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people performance (SQDCP). The Production Manager owns throughput optimization, process stability, inventory accuracy, and labor efficiency while building scalable systems to support rapid business growth. This position partners cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to reduce variation, improve product quality, and enhance customer outcomes. Success in this role requires strong analytical capability, high emotional intelligence, and the ability to translate operational data into actionable strategies while developing high-performing teams.

Requirements

5–8+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, warehouse, or production operations, with demonstrated ownership of operational performance outcomes
Proven experience leading operations in a light manufacturing and warehouse environment, including production, material flow, inventory management, and facility operations
Demonstrated application of Lean Manufacturing principles including 5S, line flow optimization, Kanban systems, standard work, and line balancing, with measurable improvements in efficiency and throughput
Strong working knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean Six Sigma principles and structured problem-solving tools (5-Why, Fishbone, A3, DMAIC)
Proven ability to manage and improve operational performance using KPIs, metrics, and data-driven decision-making
Experience calculating and analyzing key operational metrics, including efficiency, cycle time, First Pass Yield (FPY), Defects per Unit (DPU), On-Time In Full (OTIF), and inventory performance
Demonstrated experience conducting time studies, cycle time analysis, and labor modeling to establish standards and improve productivity
Strong understanding of production flow, capacity planning, bottleneck identification, and throughput optimization
Experience managing production and warehouse teams, including supervisors and frontline employees, with responsibility for performance, engagement, and development
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and the ability to extract, analyze, and interpret operational data
Working knowledge of manufacturing, warehousing, plant housekeeping, and facility maintenance operations
Other duties as assigned

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher preferred) or demonstrated equivalent experience applying structured continuous improvement methodologies.
Experience in light manufacturing within a warehouse environment strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Lead and own end-to-end production and configuration operations, ensuring alignment to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people (SQDCP) performance targets
Establish, calculate, and manage key operational KPIs including efficiency, First Pass Yield (FPY), Defects per Unit (DPU), On-Time In Full (OTIF), inventory turns, and labor utilization
Ensure accuracy, integrity, and daily visibility of all operational performance data; drive accountability through disciplined KPI review cadence
Analyze KPI trends and performance data to identify gaps, prioritize improvement activities, and drive measurable operational outcomes
Conduct time studies and cycle time analysis to establish accurate labor standards, validate efficiencies, and identify capacity opportunities
Continuously evaluate and improve cycle times, line balance, and throughput performance to optimize productivity and meet customer demand
Assess and redesign manufacturing layouts, workstations, and material flow paths to improve efficiency, eliminate waste, and support scalable growth
Align production operations to takt time and demand signals, ensuring balanced flow and minimal overproduction or waiting
Lead structured root-cause analysis using methodologies such as 5-Why, Fishbone (Ishikawa), A3, and DMAIC to resolve operational and quality issues
Identify process variation, system constraints, and inefficiencies; implement corrective and preventive actions that drive sustainable performance improvements
Drive waste elimination across all areas of production and warehouse operations, including motion, waiting, defects, inventory, overproduction, and over-processing
Own inventory reduction initiatives through improved demand alignment, Kanban systems, and material flow optimization
Monitor and improve inventory performance including days on hand, aging, excess, and obsolete materials
Partner cross-functionally with Materials, Quality, and Engineering to align supply, improve flow, and reduce operational constraints
Develop and execute production schedules, labor plans, and sequencing strategies that align with customer demand and operational capacity
Monitor daily production performance including output, downtime, and labor efficiency; adjust operations proactively to meet targets
Ensure adherence to standardized work, process discipline, and operational controls to drive consistency and repeatability
Own quality performance by driving improvements in FPY and DPU through process control, data analysis, and defect reduction initiatives
Support new product introduction (NPI) through manufacturability analysis, pre-production builds, and validation of process capability
Promote and enforce a proactive safety culture with full accountability for safe work practices and continuous risk reduction
Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and team members in Lean principles, problem-solving methodologies, and data-driven decision-making
Build a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement through strong leadership and high emotional intelligence
Develop and implement scalable systems, standard work, and operational controls aligned with Lean and QMS principles
Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with business objectives, focusing on throughput, cost reduction, and operational efficiency
Improve operational visibility through the use of dashboards, reporting tools, and digital systems to enable real-time decision-making