Job brief
We are seeking a strategic Factory Manager to lead our multi-shift manufacturing team and elevate our facility’s operational excellence. You will take full ownership of production planning, site safety, and capital equipment budgeting, ensuring that our output consistently meets market demand. This is an exciting opportunity for a process-driven leader to implement modern automation and lean strategies that drive significant cost savings. If you are passionate about building high-performance production cultures, we want you to shape the future of our manufacturing operations.
Key highlights
- Direct all daily production activities to achieve output targets while strictly maintaining product quality standards and manufacturing tolerances.
- Implement and lead lean manufacturing or Six Sigma initiatives to identify bottlenecks, reduce operational waste, and improve facility-wide throughput.
- Ensure total compliance with OSHA safety regulations and environmental policies, fostering a rigorous culture of workplace hazard prevention and training.
- Manage the comprehensive maintenance schedule for industrial machinery, coordinating with engineering teams to minimize unplanned equipment downtime and production delays.
What is a Factory Manager?
A Factory Manager serves as the senior operational leader responsible for all manufacturing processes, asset utilization, and production output within a facility. By integrating lean manufacturing methodologies and real-time ERP data, a Factory Manager optimizes resource allocation to ensure that high-volume production schedules meet strict quality control standards. This role is pivotal in balancing operational throughput with rigorous OSHA safety compliance, ensuring the factory serves as a high-performing engine for the organization’s supply chain.
What does a Factory Manager do?
A Factory Manager typically spends their day reviewing production KPIs via dashboard systems like SAP or Oracle, troubleshooting equipment downtime with maintenance teams, and leading daily stand-ups to address safety or workflow bottlenecks. They audit shop floor operations to ensure strict adherence to ISO 9001 standards and coordinate with procurement to manage raw material inventory levels. Furthermore, a Factory Manager drives continuous improvement projects, such as Kaizen events, to reduce manufacturing waste and increase overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) across the production line.
Key responsibilities
- Direct all daily production activities to achieve output targets while strictly maintaining product quality standards and manufacturing tolerances.
- Implement and lead lean manufacturing or Six Sigma initiatives to identify bottlenecks, reduce operational waste, and improve facility-wide throughput.
- Manage the comprehensive maintenance schedule for industrial machinery, coordinating with engineering teams to minimize unplanned equipment downtime and production delays.
- Ensure total compliance with OSHA safety regulations and environmental policies, fostering a rigorous culture of workplace hazard prevention and training.
- Analyze monthly production data and financial reports to optimize raw material inventory turns and control departmental manufacturing costs effectively.
- Coordinate cross-functional workflows between the shop floor, procurement, and logistics teams to ensure the timely delivery of finished goods.
- Execute talent development programs for production supervisors and operators, ensuring skill sets align with evolving automation and technical requirements.
- Lead capital improvement projects, including the installation and commissioning of new production hardware or modernized software integration systems.
Requirements and skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Management, or a related field required; Master’s degree or MBA is highly preferred.
- Minimum 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in a high-volume manufacturing environment, including managing multi-shift workforces.
- Expert proficiency in Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification to drive measurable process improvements.
- Advanced technical familiarity with modern ERP systems like SAP, Oracle NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics 365 for production scheduling.
- Deep understanding of OSHA regulatory compliance, factory safety protocols, and ISO 9001 quality management systems and documentation.
- Proven track record of managing departmental budgets exceeding $5M, with a focus on cost-per-unit reduction and resource optimization strategies.
- Ability to interpret complex technical schematics, CAD drawings, and performance dashboards to make data-backed operational decisions quickly.
- Exceptional ability to bridge the gap between technical maintenance teams and executive stakeholders through clear, data-driven performance reporting.
FAQs
What does a Factory Manager do on a daily basis?
A Factory Manager oversees the entire production floor, which involves monitoring real-time performance KPIs, addressing equipment malfunctions, and ensuring all safety protocols are followed. They review production schedules to meet customer demand, collaborate with supervisors to manage shift staffing, and conduct walkthroughs to identify potential process improvements. Additionally, they spend time analyzing manufacturing data to optimize costs and ensure the facility operates at peak efficiency.
What are the most important Factory Manager skills?
Top-tier skills for a Factory Manager include a mastery of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies, strong financial acumen for budget management, and the ability to operate enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Leadership skills are equally critical, specifically the ability to communicate safety and production goals to diverse teams. A deep understanding of industrial machinery and quality management systems like ISO 9001 is also essential for success in this role.
Who does a Factory Manager report to and work with?
A Factory Manager typically reports to the Director of Operations or the VP of Manufacturing. They work daily with a wide range of departments, including maintenance teams to fix machinery, procurement for material supplies, supply chain managers for shipping, and human resources for staffing and training needs. They also frequently present production reports and strategy updates to C-suite executives.
Why is the role of a Factory Manager vital to an organization?
The Factory Manager is responsible for the company’s ability to convert raw materials into revenue-generating products efficiently and safely. By minimizing downtime, reducing waste, and maintaining high quality, they directly influence the company’s profit margins and reputation in the market. Without an effective Factory Manager, a manufacturing business risks falling behind production targets, incurring unnecessary costs, and failing to meet critical industry safety standards.