Production Manager
Andritz · Ruston
Every day, ANDRITZ continues to deliver successful innovative solutions to our customers globally. Why are we so successful? Because we are passionate and love what we do! We are at the forefront of future engineering technologies, with solutions that ensure the success of our clients in key industries that are shaping the future of the world we live in.
***RELOCATION AVAILABLE***
Brief Description
Lead end-to-end manufacturing strategy and execution to convert business priorities, customer demand, and growth plans into safe reliable, and cost-effective results. Direct production leaders and coordinate cross-functional partners to improve capacity, workforce capability, quality, delivery, productivity, and financial performance. Establish a disciplined operating system, strengthen leadership depth, and sponsor Lean continuous improvement that enables scalable growth and consistently meets customer commitments.
Key Responsibilities
- Reports to the site leader and directs production supervisors and supporting production leaders across assigned manufacturing operations. Accountable for coordinating production performance with scheduling, supply chain, engineering, quality, EHS, maintenance, finance, and human resources.
- Own the manufacturing strategy and operating plan for all production activities from material receipt through fabrication, interim quality verification, coating/painting, and shipment.
- Translate the site business plan, sales forecast, backlog, and customer priorities into capacity, labor, equipment, and production plans that balance safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
- Lead, coach, and hold accountable production supervisors and supporting leaders; establish clear objectives, standard work, performance routines, succession plans, and development pathways.
- Build leadership bandwidth by strengthening frontline decision-making, delegation, cross-training, and coverage for critical production responsibilities.
- Establish and lead a tiered daily and monthly management system that uses operational KPIs, visual controls, root-cause analysis, and documented countermeasures to identify deviations, assign ownership, remove constraints, and sustain corrective action.
- Partner with scheduling, supply chain, engineering, quality, EHS, maintenance, and finance to identify constraints, manage risk, and improve total plant performance.
- Lead capacity planning and manufacturing readiness for business growth, new products, major projects, and capital equipment; define resource requirements and support business-case development.
- Set performance targets and lead corrective action to improve throughput, labor productivity, schedule attainment, first-pass quality, rework, scrap, overtime, inventory flow, and manufacturing cost while protecting safety, customer requirements, and delivery commitments.
- Sponsor Lean manufacturing, 5S, standard work, value-stream improvement, and problem-solving disciplines; ensure improvements are documented, trained, audited, and sustained.
- Ensure disciplined ERP execution through accurate and timely labor, material, inventory, and work order transactions; establish review routines that identify data gaps, correct recurring errors, and support reliable production planning and performance reporting.
- Partner with engineering to improve design-for-manufacturability, production methods, tooling,fixtures, templates, routings, and implementation of engineering changes.
- Partner with quality to maintain process controls, inspection discipline, nonconformance containment, corrective action, and compliance with customer and internal requirements.
- Consistently embody and promote the #1ANDRITZway core values and #ALeaders behaviors, fostering ownership, collaboration, openness, and customer focus.
- Partner with EHS to lead proactive risk reduction, employee engagement, regulatory compliance, and an injury-free culture; actively promote the ANDRITZ 8 Live-Saving Rules.
- Develop workforce plans covering staffing, skills matrices, recruiting priorities, cross-training, retention, and skilled-trades partnerships with schools and community organizations.
- Own production budgets and forecasts by monitoring labor, materials, supplies, repairs, and contracted resources; identify cost risks and opportunities early, implement corrective actions within delegated authority, and escalate material variances with clear recovery recommendations.
- Provide concise executive updates that summarize performance against plan, material constraints, business impact, recovery actions, capital needs, accountable owners, and required decisions;
escalate significant risks early with evidence-based recommendations.
Scope of Decision-Making Authority
1. Health, Safety, and Environment: Has authority and accountability to stop unsafe work, direct immediate risk-control measures, and allocate resources within delegated limits to restore safe operations. Escalates regulatory interpretations, significant residual risks, reportable events, and corrective actions with broader site impact to EHS and site leadership.
2. Production Strategy and Execution: Sets production priorities, operating cadence, resource deployment, workflow, and recovery plans within the approved site strategy, available capacity, and customer commitments. Escalates proposed changes that affect contractual scope, committed delivery dates, approved budgets, site capacity, or material business risk before implementation.
3. People and Organization: Defines expectations for production leaders, assigns responsibilities, and approves routine staffing assignments and overtime within delegated authority. In partnership with Human Resources and site leadership, recommends changes to organization design, headcount, hiring, promotion, succession, performance correction, and formal disciplinary action.
4. Financial and Capital: Manages production spending within approved budgets and delegated authority. Develops and presents recommendations for major repairs, capacity investments, automation, and capital equipment, supported by operational need, risk reduction, implementation requirements, expected benefits, and financial justification.
5. Quality and Process Governance: Approves production methods and process controls within established engineering, quality, and customer requirements. Escalates deviations, specification changes, or risks requiring formal technical or customer approval.
6. Continuous Improvement: Prioritizes and sponsors cross-functional improvement initiatives; assigns owners, resources, targets, and review cadence. Ensures gains are standardized, verified, and sustained.
7. Business Continuity and Risk: Leads production response to significant labor, equipment, material, quality, or schedule disruptions and communicates recovery options and business impacts to site leadership.
#1ANDRITZway Core Behaviors
- Customer Focus
- Ownership for Performance
- Shared Commitment
- Openness
#1ANDRITZway ALeaders Behaviors
- Lead by Example
- Lead the Business
- Care for People
- Guide the Team
Job Specific Competencies
- Acting Strategically
- Setting a Strategic Vision
- Managing Performance
- Developing Talent
- Driving Continuous Improvement
- Driving for Results
- Managing Resources
- Solving Complex Problems
- Working with Financial Information
- Working Safely
Qualifications (Required)
Education, Licenses, & Certifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations management, business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible manufacturing leadership experience.
- Formal training and demonstrated application of Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or structured problem-solving methods are required.
Experience:
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in fabrication, manufacturing, production, or assembly operations.
- Minimum of five years leading supervisors or managers in a manufacturing environment, with direct accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, workforce development, performance management, and execution of production plans.
- Demonstrated success delivering sustained results through operational improvement, capacity
expansion, organizational change, or capital-equipment implementation, including measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, or cost performance.
• Experience managing production budgets, labor planning, KPI systems, and cross-functional execution.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Ability to lead through influence and build effective relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
- Broad knowledge of fabrication operations, including cutting, welding, forming, machining, material handling, coating/painting, and shipping.
- Strong working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, quality-system, and customer compliance requirements applicable to manufacturing.
- Ability to convert business objectives and demand signals into practical manufacturing strategy, capacity plans, priorities, and measurable execution plans.
- Strong financial acumen, including labor and overhead performance, cost drivers, budgeting, forecasting, capital justification, and return-on-investment thinking.
- Advanced proficiency using ERP systems and production data to plan work, monitor execution, identify variances, and improve transaction accuracy, along with strong capability in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and operational performance reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to build leadership capability, delegate effectively, manage conflict, and create accountability across multiple production areas.
- Executive-level written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present risk, performance, and recommendations clearly.
Other Valued Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (Preferred)
- Master's degree in business, engineering, operations, or a related field.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
- Experience in engineered-to-order, project-based, or heavy steel fabrication environments.
Physical Requirements
- Mobility: Must be able to sit for long periods of time, bend, stoop, crouch, walk, climb or balance, and use hands and arms to reach for objects. Must be able to drive a personal and/or company vehicle and may be exposed to rain, cold, icy roads, wind, heat, and other driving conditions.
- Manual Dexterity: Must be able to use hands and arms to reach for objects and carry files. Must have good close vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to speak and hear.
- Lifting/Carrying: Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and carry files.
- Environmental Factors: The majority of work is performed in an office located in the production area, with frequent exposure to manufacturing areas, including cranes, welding, forklifts, and related equipment. When in manufacturing areas, may be occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, forklifts, and electricity. Noise levels are usually moderate; specific areas require approved hearing protection, eye protection, gloves, and other required PPE. Must maintain a current driver’s license and clean driving record when operating a personal and/or company vehicle.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.