Fabrication Shop Manager
Position Summary
The Fabrication Shop Manager is responsible for the overall operation, productivity, safety, quality, and profitability of the fabrication shop. This position will manage daily fabrication activities involving heavy structural steel fabrication, sheet metal fabrication, welding, machining, miscellaneous custom fabrication, and repair work.
The Shop Manager will supervise shop personnel, coordinate production schedules, review drawings and work orders, ensure materials and equipment are available, maintain quality standards, and make sure projects are completed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
The ideal candidate is an experienced fabricator and strong leader who can work alongside employees when necessary while also effectively managing people, production, materials, and customer requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Shop Operations
- Manage day-to-day operations of the fabrication shop.
- Plan, schedule, and prioritize fabrication work based on project requirements and deadlines.
- Assign work to welders, fabricators, fitters, and other shop personnel.
- Monitor production progress and make adjustments to keep work on schedule.
- Coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ensure shop equipment, tools, and work areas are properly maintained and organized.
- Identify production bottlenecks and implement solutions to improve efficiency.
Fabrication & Welding
- Oversee heavy steel fabrication, structural steel, sheet metal, and miscellaneous fabrication projects.
- Review drawings, sketches, specifications, and work orders to determine fabrication requirements.
- Ensure proper fit-up, welding, cutting, forming, grinding, drilling, and finishing procedures are followed.
- Assist with complex fabrication and welding projects when necessary.
- Verify dimensions, tolerances, and finished products meet project requirements.
- Ensure proper welding procedures and quality standards are followed.
Personnel Management
- Supervise, train, and develop shop employees.
- Establish clear expectations for productivity, workmanship, attendance, and safety.
- Monitor employee performance and address issues promptly.
- Assist with hiring and evaluating fabrication personnel.
- Cross-train employees to increase shop flexibility and productivity.
- Promote teamwork and accountability throughout the shop.
Safety & Quality
- Maintain a strong safety culture throughout the fabrication shop.
- Ensure employees properly use PPE, tools, machinery, cranes, forklifts, welders, cutting equipment, and other shop equipment.
- Enforce company safety policies and applicable OSHA requirements.
- Conduct regular shop inspections and address unsafe conditions.
- Maintain high standards of workmanship and quality control.
- Identify and correct fabrication errors before they result in rework or project delays.
Materials & Inventory
- Coordinate material requirements for upcoming projects.
- Monitor steel, sheet metal, welding consumables, hardware, and other fabrication supplies.
- Minimize material waste and unnecessary scrap.
- Coordinate with purchasing to ensure materials arrive when needed.
- Maintain appropriate inventory levels of commonly used shop supplies.
Project Coordination
- Work closely with project managers, engineers, estimators, customers, and field personnel.
- Review project requirements and identify potential fabrication issues before production begins.
- Provide realistic production schedules and completion dates.
- Communicate changes, delays, material issues, and other problems promptly.
- Help develop labor and material estimates for future projects when requested.
- Coordinate completed work for delivery, installation, or shipment.
Equipment & Maintenance
- Ensure fabrication equipment is properly maintained and operational.
- Coordinate repairs and preventive maintenance on welders, plasma cutters, saws, shears, press brakes, forklifts, and other shop equipment.
- Identify equipment needs and make recommendations for upgrades or replacement.
- Maintain an organized and efficient shop layout.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in a fabrication or welding environment preferred.
- Previous supervisory or shop management experience preferred.
- Strong knowledge of structural steel and sheet metal fabrication.
- Strong welding and fabrication knowledge.
- Ability to read and interpret fabrication drawings, blueprints, and shop drawings.
- Experience with MIG and/or TIG welding; knowledge of stick welding preferred.
- Experience with cutting, forming, drilling, fitting, grinding, and general metalworking.
- Ability to accurately measure and verify fabricated components.
- Strong understanding of shop safety practices.
- Ability to operate or supervise the operation of cranes, forklifts, saws, plasma cutters, press brakes, shears, and other fabrication equipment.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and changing priorities.
- Ability to lead a team while maintaining high standards for quality and productivity.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with structural steel fabrication.
- Experience with heavy equipment or industrial fabrication.
- Experience with sheet metal fabrication and forming.
- Experience reading architectural, structural, mechanical, or engineering drawings.
- Experience with CNC plasma or other CNC fabrication equipment.
- Experience with estimating labor and material requirements.
- Experience working with engineers and project managers.
- Experience in a job-shop or custom fabrication environment.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in a fabrication shop environment.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, climb, and work around machinery for extended periods.
- Ability to lift and move materials as required.
- Ability to work around welding fumes, noise, heat, dust, and other normal shop conditions.
- Ability to wear required PPE at all times.
Performance Expectations
The Fabrication Shop Manager will be expected to:
- Complete work safely and on schedule.
- Maintain high fabrication and welding quality.
- Minimize scrap, rework, and material waste.
- Keep employees productive and properly assigned.
- Maintain an organized and efficient shop.
- Communicate production issues before they become major problems.
- Develop and maintain a strong fabrication team.
- Help improve shop processes, productivity, and profitability.
Take ownership of the overall performance of the fabrication shop.