Production Manager

SUMMARY:The production & supply chain manager plans, schedules, prepares, releases production orders, revises the schedule of production orders when necessary, collaborates with inventory control, purchasing, engineering, NPI, project management, and other areas of the organization as needed with a single focus of on-time shipment of customer orders.Manage the production logistics (personnel & activities) side of manufacturingInventory Control (MM), production planning (PP), production related purchasing requests, influence shipping & receiving. A significant portion of Huntsville Microoptics value creation occurs at key (strategic) external suppliers our organization must deepen cooperation, communication, and feedback process to improve these critical relationships. The production and supply chain manager has a key role in fostering and growing our strategic relationships with our external supply chain partners.Good communication skills, computer skills and the ability to be detail-oriented in a fast-paced custom manufacturing environment are key points of this position.RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO):Schedules and coordinates flow of work within the production department to ensure timely shipment of customer orders.Communicates and drives strategic supplier interactions and relationships through professionalcommunications and feedback processes with our strategic supplier network.Reviews, coordinates, and prioritizes customer orders, production schedules, and labor availability/capacity.Prepares long and short term production schedules (oversee 3X weekly production meeting).Communicates with manufacturing in regard to status of orders and required schedule changes.Opens and closes work orders.Communicates with co-workers (production & engineering management, supervisors, and employees), on problems, suggestions, and improvements as relates to on time shipment of customer orders.Analyzes production workloads, plant capacity data and performs mathematical calculations to determine manufacturing lead times and resource (personnel & equipment) requirements.Utilize the SAP production performance measurement and control (key performance indicators)Plans and schedules workflow for each department and operation according to previously established manufacturing sequences and lead times.Determines the status of assigned projects, expedites operations that delay schedules and alters schedules to meet unforeseen conditions.Monitors, analyzes & reports performance to schedule of production & production support activities, utilizing information derived from SAP (ERP) systems.Reports potential on time delivery risks to management on a daily basis, proposes appropriate actions to mitigate delivery risk.Schedules, expedites, co-ordinates the delivery and movement of critical raw material, WIP to assure that delivery commitments are met.Initiates replacement orders for lost, damaged or discrepant items.Actively supports Quality, Safety, and Environmental programs.Performs other duties and special projects as assignedREQUIREMENTS:Minimum 3 years of experience with ERP software as production planner, or materials manager or supply chain manager is required. SAP experience required. MS Office expertise required.Excellent communication skills verbal and written.Superb analytical, adaptability, problem-solving, decision-making and continuous process improvement skills.Ability to communicate effectively within all internal departments.Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables.Demonstrated good judgment in investigating issues.Bachelor degree in related field or equivalent required.Master Scheduling experience preferred.Understanding of LEAN manufacturing principals is a plus.As a team player must be able to work in an empowered team environment.Ability to work under pressure and deal with demanding internal & external customers.Must possess soft skills: conflict resolution and negotiation, personal effectiveness, creative problemsolving, strategic thinking, team building, and influencing skills.Expertise in dealing with people effectively and politely.APICS (American Production and Inventory Control Society) Certification a plus.In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.Physical Requirements:The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use of hands or fingers to handle, or feel objects, tools or controls and keyboarding; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear.The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.Work Environment:Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is not exposed to weather conditions and the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.