Fabrication Operations Manager

Description

The Fabrication Operations Manager provides leadership and oversight for manufacturing operations, including Automation, Fabrication, Powder, Fence, Assembly, and Shipping & Receiving. This position is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality operations that meet customer requirements, production schedules, and operational objectives. This role leads production teams through effective workforce planning, employee development, and operational excellence initiatives while partnering with other departments and leadership to drive performance and support business growth.

The Fabrication Operations Manager champions a Lean Manufacturing culture focused on customer value, continuous improvement, waste reduction, and employee development. This position promotes people centric systems that foster accountability, problem solving, and sustainable operational performance. Success in this position is measured through safety, quality, delivery, productivity, employee engagement, and overall operational performance.

Responsibilities:

• Lead fabrication and manufacturing operations across multiple production areas, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and productivity objectives are achieved.
• Develop supervisors, leads, and production employees through coaching, training, performance management, and succession planning.
• Plan labor, equipment, and production resources to support customer commitments and business demands.
• Support quoting, project planning, and capacity planning activities by providing manufacturing expertise and operational input.
• Establish, monitor, and drive performance against key operational metrics including safety, quality, delivery, productivity, labor utilization, inventory accuracy, scrap reduction, and employee engagement.
• Champion a Lean Manufacturing culture through continuous improvement, problem solving, waste elimination, Kaizen activities, and standardized work practices.
• Promote a strong safety culture through employee engagement, accountability, hazard recognition, and compliance with company and regulatory requirements.
• Lead daily operational reviews and ensure timely corrective action when safety, quality, delivery, cost, or productivity targets are not achieved.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Leadership to identify process, equipment, automation, and facility improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Human Resources on hiring, employee relations, workforce development, and performance management.
• Communicate effectively with customers, leadership, and cross functional teams regarding production schedules, project status, quality concerns, and operational priorities.
• Maintain and promote 7S standards throughout all operational areas.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing, fabrication, automation, or industrial production environment.
• Experience leading and developing teams in a fabrication or manufacturing setting.
• Strong knowledge of fabrication and manufacturing processes, with experience in several of the following areas: welding, CNC equipment, fiber lasers, press brakes, robotic welding, powder coating, fence, assembly, and shipping/receiving operations.
• Advanced blueprint reading and interpretation skills.
• Knowledge of production planning, labor management, scheduling, inventory control, and operational performance metrics.
• Strong leadership, communication, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing ERP systems.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel between company, supplier, and customer locations as business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• Experience leading Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Kaizen, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience developing people-centric systems that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems, including ECI M1 or similar software.
• Bilingual English and Spanish communication skills.

Work Environment / Physical Demands

• Ability to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, and observation of operations for extended periods.
• Ability to conduct Gemba walks, observe workflow, and identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and operational performance.
• Ability to lead meetings, training activities, safety discussions, and continuous improvement initiatives in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds occasionally.
• Exposure to manufacturing environments including varying noise levels, moving equipment, dust, and changing temperatures.
• Ability to sit at a desk and perform computer-based work for extended periods.
• Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including steel-toed footwear, while in manufacturing environments.