Description
Position Summary:
The Production Manager, Assembly Solutions is a leadership role responsible for the end-to-end execution of Swagelok Southeast Texas’s (SSET) fabrication and assembly operations. This position owns on-time delivery, quality, continuous improvement, scheduling, and technician supervision across the shop floor. The Production Manager brings a process-engineering mindset to deliver quality outcomes, meet schedule, optimize resources and improve safety while scaling up the production system. This role works closely with several functions such as sales, engineering, project management and warehousing and reports to the Director of Operations.
Responsibilities:
Production & Operations Management
Own daily production scheduling and prioritization to optimize delivery schedule, quality, and floor operations
Meet and effectively communicate with sales to translate booked orders into a production schedule and production plan
Supervise technicians and production staff to maintain quality, schedule and safety
Identify and eliminate bottlenecks using structured manufacturing process improvement methods (value stream mapping, 5S, kaizen, root cause analysis)
Supervise technicians and project managers to troubleshoot and resolve product, process, and equipment issues; lead corrective action as needed
Develop structured processes and conduct regular meetings with sales, engineering, and project management to streamline order-to-production translation workstreams
Maintain safe work environment; lead ISO/SQS compliance Review drawings and production orders prior to shop floor use to ensure shop and quality has resources, equipment, tools and test connections to complete work
Standardize, Professionalize, and Optimize Assembly Plant
Develop and maintain a staffing model to handle existing workload and grow with sales
Manage weekly production schedule to ensure peak utilization of technicians while maintaining quality, safety, and meeting deadlines
Collaborate with senior management to forecast and implement capital equipment, facility improvements, and hiring to support SSET growth targets
Review and provide feedback to engineering, project management and warehousing to ensure that assembled solutions operations are world class
Lead daily PVD board meetings
Quality & Compliance
Ensure all quality and OSHA certifications are current — orbital welding, tube fitting installation, tube bending, leak testing, and others as required
Lead or participate in internal and external quality and safety audits, serve as point-person for complex quality issues
Monitor quality metrics and hold team accountable for them
Adopt and implement manufacturer led improvements and processes related to quality, cycle time reduction, safety, and other technological improvements (e.g., incorporate AI in production planning)
Team Leadership & Associate Development
Hold technicians accountable for quality, on-time production, safety and mutual respect on a sustained basis
Work with HR and Director of Operations to hire technicians, conduct performance reviews, develop and execute career pathways, and other actions such as PDPs and disciplinary issues
Create and execute training and coaching to ensure technicians have the right mix of skills and certifications
Work Develop team members for broader responsibility; identify high-potential associates for growth paths
Participate in cross-functional meetings and initiatives as needed
Develop and deliver comprehensive onboarding training plans for each tech level
Maintain accurate records (e.g., timesheets, certifications, and quality documentation)
Provide data to produce key metrics: OTD, quality rate, throughput, capacity utilization; Monitor key metrics, and use them for continuous improvement
Requirements
Education:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or related technical field preferred; equivalent experience considered
Experience:
5+ years of experience in an industrial assembly unit, manufacturing plant, fabrication shop or other related environment preferred
3+ years in a supervisory or management role with direct reports in an assembly, production, fabrication, or manufacturing environment preferred
PMP or equivalent project management credential with experience in continuous improvement (lean, kaizen, VSM etc.) a plus
Skills:
Strong manufacturing process improvement methodology — able to diagnose flow problems and drive structured solutions
Comprehension of fluid system function and related instrumentation products preferred
Proficiency in Microsoft Office specifically EXCEL and WORD
ERP experience required (SAP preferred)
Hands-on working on the shop floor as well interacting with all levels of leadership
Critical Success Factors:
Order fulfillment at or above 95% On-Time Delivery (OTD)
98%+ accuracy and quality across all production orders
Measurable, sustained improvement in throughput and flow efficiency through structured CI activity
Effective recruitment, supervision, training, and development of technicians to scale up operations
Core Competencies:
Strong orientation to serve customers and associates
Managing, supervising and developing technical associates
Cross functional interface with engineering, sales, warehousing, and accounting
Schedule Management and Capacity Planning
Translating product drawings and assembly plans into concrete production plans
Creating, monitoring and utilizing tracking metrics (OTD, quality defects, etc.)
Scope of position:
Physical Requirements: Regularly lift and/or move objects 10–50 lbs, occasionally lift objects exceeding 75 lbs., Frequently sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb, or balance in a shop environment
# Direct Reports: 8–15 Assembly Technicians and Shop Associates
Time Spent Traveling outside of service area: Minimal; occasional vendor or customer site visits
Estimated Budgetary Responsibilities: Shop-level operational budget; input into equipment and assembly plant planning, and staffing responsibilities
