Production Manager – Metal Fabrication

THE COMPANY

Our client is a well-established industrial manufacturing company with operations in Mexico and North America, with a focus on quality, operational excellence, and customer-driven manufacturing, the company designs and manufactures stainless steel tanks, pressure vessels, kettles, silos, mixers vessels, reactors and integrated process systems utilized in critical production lines throughout North and Central America. Their manufacturing operation combines advanced metal fabrication capabilities with a strong commitment to safety, continuous improvement, and on-time delivery. Serving sectors such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cosmetics, and dairy, the company has built a strong reputation for delivering custom-engineered solutions tailored to complex production environments.
The organization is currently experiencing continued growth and is seeking experienced operational leadership to support and optimize its production and fabrication activities based in Tenango del Valle, Edo de Mexico, 25 minutes from Toluca, 15 minutes from Metepec and 45 minutes from Santa Fe (Mexico City).

THE POSITION

Job Summary
Manages and coordinates the activities of the production team involved in the metal fabrication process, which includes such processes as laser cutting, metal stamping, stainless steel rolling, manual bending, automated bending (metal  forming), CNC milling, and spot welding. Directly supervises a team of 35 to 40 employees. Full accountability for translating demand into safe, efficient, on-time output, while protecting quality and cost.

Essential Functions

• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and maintain a clean, orderly, and safe work environment.
• Interpret blueprints, specifications and job orders and effectively communicate job assignments according to planning priorities.
• Elaborates production schedule in conjunction with engineering director. This also includes the daily work plan and manpower planning.
• Plans headcount needs relative to output expectations and ensures realistic schedules are aligned with capacity and constraints.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain and Planning on MRP, materials availability, and priorities.
• Deliver the production plan against schedule and customer demand.
• Balance capacity across cutting, bending, machining, welding, finishing, and assembly. 
• Remove bottlenecks and drive flow.
• Hit cost targets (labor efficiency, scrap reduction, machine utilization) and KPI’s.
• Hire, train, and develop talent; build bench strength. This includes training on new equipment.
• Recommend methods to improve product quality and product efficiency.
• Interact effectively with others, communicating job schedule statuses and equipment.
• Communicate with all manufacturing departments to ensure timely completion and shipment of customer orders.
• Leads production meetings including schedule status and addresses issues. 
• Coordinate preventative maintenance for all fabrication equipment.
• Maintain product quality to spec (ISO, ASME, customer requirements).
• Assess employee performance as per company guidelines.
• Special projects as assigned.

THE CANDIDATE

Education and General Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience as a Production Manager in a similar job shop manufacturing environment.
• Proven working knowledge of machinery and equipment involved in metal fabrication processes. Experience some or all of the following: metal rolling, metal bending / forming, polishing, welding, laser cutting, metal stamping, etc.
• Experience with Salvagnini metal bending machines, a plus.
• Requires a solid understanding of bills of material concepts and structures.
• Requires a solid understanding of manufacturing routings.
• Knowledge of production planning and manpower planning.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems. (i.e Aspel a plus).
• Familiarity with AutoCAD (Inventor) able to read blueprints and drawings.
• Minimum of Intermediate Excel skills required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to creatively solve problems.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Flexible to accommodate changing priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree, technical degree, or equivalent experience.
• Bi-lingual Spanish and Fluent in English (75%+).
• Certified Forklift Operator.

Leadership

• • Ability to coach and lead the team.
  • Possess business judgment and solid problem-solving skills.
  • Display confidence and strong analytical skills.