Production Manager

Air Distribution Technologies, Inc (ADTI) is seeking a hands-on, results-oriented Production Manager to lead manufacturing operations at our ASC facility in Ponca City, Oklahoma. This facility is a key Tier 2 operation within our manufacturing network and is currently focused on operational transformation, performance improvement, and sustainable growth within a private equity-owned organization.

The Production Manager is responsible for leading all production activities and delivering results across safety, quality, delivery, productivity, inventory accuracy, and cost performance. This position will lead production supervisors and hourly manufacturing employees while partnering closely with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Human Resources, and Finance.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of improving manufacturing performance, developing teams, driving accountability, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives in a metrics-driven environment. This leader must be comfortable operating in a turnaround situation where urgency, visibility, and measurable results are critical to success.

What You'll Do:

Production Leadership

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives.
• Develop and execute production plans aligned with customer demand and business goals.
• Drive schedule attainment and ensure customer commitments are met.
• Manage labor resources effectively to optimize staffing, productivity, and operational performance.
• Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and accountability throughout the production organization.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor and actively engage with employees and supervisors.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote and reinforce a strong safety-first culture.
• Ensure compliance with all company safety policies, OSHA requirements, and environmental regulations.
• Lead efforts to reduce workplace incidents, near misses, and safety risks.
• Conduct safety audits and drive corrective actions to completion.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Drive measurable improvements in productivity, throughput, labor efficiency, and manufacturing performance.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing principles and High-Performance Team methodologies.
• Reduce scrap, rework, downtime, and non-value-added activities.
• Support plant turnaround initiatives focused on improving operational performance and profitability.
• Utilize production metrics and data to identify opportunities and implement corrective actions.

Quality & Customer Satisfaction

• Partner with Quality and Engineering teams to improve product quality and manufacturing consistency.
• Drive accountability for first-pass yield, defect reduction, and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure adherence to manufacturing procedures, specifications, and quality standards.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective action activities.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop Production Supervisors and frontline manufacturing employees.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and feedback.
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and succession planning activities.
• Partner with Human Resources to manage employee relations and performance issues.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, engagement, and continuous improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Supply Chain to improve material availability and inventory performance.
• Collaborate with Maintenance to improve equipment reliability and uptime.
• Work closely with Engineering to improve manufacturing processes and support new product introductions.
• Support capital projects and operational improvement initiatives.
• Participate as a key member of the plant leadership team.

What We're Looking For:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Minimum 7 years of manufacturing experience.
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing production teams, supervisors, and manufacturing operations.
• Experience leading operations in a fabrication, assembly, industrial, HVAC, or engineered products manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of production planning, labor management, quality systems, and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated success improving operational KPIs and manufacturing performance.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in sheet metal fabrication, welding, assembly, HVAC, or industrial manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading teams through operational transformation or turnaround initiatives.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or Continuous Improvement experience.
• Experience working in a private equity-owned organization.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and production scheduling tools.
• Multi-shift manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience managing inventory, productivity, and cost reduction initiatives.

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