Production Operations Manager | Litchfield County, CT

Our client is seeking a results-driven and highly skilled Operations Manager with extensive experience in production and operational management in a medical injection molding and medical assembly environment

Client Details

Our client helps teams bring complex components and devices from idea to market success with entrepreneurial speed and sustainable results in demanding markets such as medical devices and life sciences, aerospace and energy. As a single-source provider, they excel at a broad range of specialized capabilities including engineering, molding, extrusion, coatings, and assembly. They also provide decades of deep expertise and a global network of facilities spanning the US, Mexico, Canada and China for flexible production options.

Description

• Production Management:
  • Oversee day-to-day production operations for medical injection molding and assembly processes, ensuring productivity, quality, and efficiency targets are consistently met.
  • Manage shift supervisors and production engineers, with an oversight of 120 production personnel across three shifts running 24-6 to meet production goals and maintain operational continuity.
  • Develop and implement strategies to optimize workflows, reduce waste, and enhance production processes specific to medical manufacturing.
  • Coordinate with cross-functional teams to support seamless integration of new products and production changes within a regulated environment.
• Safety Leadership:
  • Serve as the leader of safety within the building, championing a culture of safety awareness and accountability.
  • Perform regular safety audits and inspections to ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations, taking corrective actions as needed.
  • Provide safety training and development programs for employees to ensure awareness of safety protocols and best practices.
• Leadership and Culture Development:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing production team, fostering a culture of accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement.
  • Implement GEMBA walks to observe, engage, and gain insights into production processes directly on the floor, promoting transparency and proactive problem-solving.
  • Conduct regular production meetings to review key performance metrics, address issues, and align teams on objectives and improvement opportunities.
  • Promote a culture of process adherence, encouraging team members to actively participate in identifying areas for improvement and taking ownership of solutions.
• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Production Planning & Scheduling: Work closely with planners and schedulers to ensure production aligns with demand, achieving on-time delivery targets.
  • Customer Service: Collaborate with customer service to provide accurate, real-time information on production status, ensuring customers are informed and expectations are managed.
  • Purchasing: Partner with purchasing to ensure that all materials are on-site and on time for production, minimizing downtime and maintaining efficiency.
  • Tooling & Engineering: Collaborate with tooling and engineering teams on equipment, tooling maintenance, and any engineering changes, ensuring alignment with production needs and schedules.
  • Quality Assurance: Work closely with the quality team to ensure adherence to quality standards and regulatory requirements, collaborating on corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Human Resources: Partner with HR to align on labor needs, ensuring adequate staffing levels and proactively addressing employee relations, engagement, and retention within the production team.
• Operational Efficiency:

• Analyze and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify areas for improvement and drive efficiency within medical molding and assembly operations.
• Apply Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve productivity in line with medical industry standards.

• Quality Assurance:
  • Collaborate with Quality Assurance to ensure adherence to medical device quality standards, including ISO 13485 and FDA regulations.
  • Implement corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives to address and prevent quality issues.
  • Develop and maintain quality assurance protocols to reduce defects and ensure the highest level of patient safety and satisfaction.
• Budget and Resource Management:
  • Manage the production budget, ensuring cost-effective use of resources and materials for medical molding and assembly operations.
  • Coordinate with procurement to maintain a steady supply of medical-grade materials that meet stringent quality standards.
  • Forecast labor and equipment needs based on production demands and regulatory requirements.

Profile

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in operations management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in a production management role within medical injection molding and assembly or a regulated manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of driving operational efficiency and leading teams to success.
• Strong knowledge of medical manufacturing standards, including ISO 13485 and FDA regulations.
• Proficiency in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other process improvement methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and manage a diverse team.
• Experience managing budgets, production schedules, and quality assurance in a regulated environment.

Competencies

• Leadership: Inspires and motivates teams, leads by example, and fosters a collaborative work environment.
• Safety Focus: Actively promotes a safe work environment, adheres to safety protocols, and leads by example in fostering a culture of safety.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Thorough understanding of medical manufacturing standards, ensuring compliance with all quality and safety regulations.
• Analytical Skills: Uses data-driven insights to make informed decisions and drive continuous improvement.
• Problem Solving: Identifies issues quickly and implements effective solutions to maintain productivity.
• Attention to Detail: Ensures high accuracy and standards in all production tasks, maintaining compliance with regulatory and quality requirements.
• Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment, able to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing demands.
• Process-Oriented: Embeds a culture of process improvement and adherence, using tools like GEMBA walks, production meetings, and employee engagement to reinforce a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Collaboration: Proactively engages with internal teams (planning, customer service, purchasing, tooling/engineering, quality, HR, and safety) to align goals, resolve issues, and enhance overall operational efficiency and team engagement.

Job Offer

Competitive Benefits Package

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.