Production Manager

Technique is looking for a Production Manager to join our team at our Jackson, Michigan facilities. This position reports to the Operations Manager and is responsible for the overall performance of the Welding, Tube Laser, and Tube Bending departments. This is a leadership role focused on directing supervisors, leads, and operators, and on managing the people, equipment, and workflow that turn raw tube and components into finished welded assemblies. Key responsibilities include capacity planning and scheduling across all three departments, coordinating builds with the Materials group, developing department leaders, tracking performance metrics, driving process improvements, and keeping product flowing from cutting through bending to welding and on to downstream operations.

The ideal candidate brings proven management experience in a manufacturing environment, with a strong working knowledge of welding processes, fiber tube laser cutting, and CNC tube bending. They build strong teams, hold people accountable, and stay organized while balancing prototype, emergency, and production work across multiple departments. A strong understanding of PLC controls and GD&T, familiarity with welding standards and certifications, proficiency with E2 for finding build information and process flow, and a commitment to following all Technique QMS processes are critical to success in this role.

Responsibilities:

• Manage Weld, Tube Laser, and Tube Bending – Direct the overall operation of all three departments, including supervisors, leads, and operators across shifts.
• Capacity planning and scheduling – Set and work production plans across all three departments to meet the expectations of internal and external customers, balancing prototype, emergency, and production orders.
• Plan builds with Materials – Utilize and understand the customer master sheet and work with the Materials group to plan builds, confirm tube and material availability, and set priorities across departments.
• Keep product flowing – Manage the handoffs from tube laser to tube bending to welding, removing bottlenecks and ensuring each department is loaded with the right work at the right time.
• Develop department leaders – Hire, coach, and develop supervisors and leads, holding them accountable for safety, quality, delivery, and team performance.
• Train and evaluate employees – Ensure employees in all three departments are trained, cross-trained where practical, evaluated, and receive timely performance reviews.
• Track and report performance – Establish and monitor key metrics such as on-time delivery, scrap, rework, labor efficiency, and machine utilization, and report results to management.
• Oversee welding quality and certifications – Ensure welders are qualified to required procedures and standards (such as AWS D1.1 and D17.1), and that WPS/PQR and welder qualification records are maintained.
• Manage equipment and tooling – Oversee the condition and readiness of tube lasers, benders, welding equipment, fixtures, and bend tooling, coordinating preventive maintenance and repairs with the maintenance team.
• Support engineering and quality – Work with engineering and quality to launch new parts, resolve dimensional, bending, and weld quality issues, and complete root cause and corrective actions.
• Drive process improvements – Identify and implement improvements to setup time, cycle time, fixturing, scrap reduction, and throughput, and share best practices across departments and sites.
• Recommend capital and staffing needs – Assess capacity and recommend equipment, tooling, and staffing investments to support growth.
• Lead by example – Set the standard for safety, quality, work habits, and professionalism across all three departments.
• Serve as person in charge – Act as the person in charge when the Operations Manager is unavailable.
• Promote a safe workplace – Enforce safe work practices, including weld fume control, laser safety, machine guarding, and housekeeping, and address unsafe conditions or behaviors promptly.
• Support troubleshooting – Support troubleshooting of production, equipment, and PLC control issues, coordinating with maintenance and engineering to minimize downtime.
• Maintain work instructions – Ensure work instructions and setup sheets for all three departments are written, current, and followed as processes change.
• Communicate across shifts, departments, and sites – Lead production meetings and shift handoffs, and keep management informed of status, issues, and staffing needs.
• Support HR – Support HR in all functions and documentation, including hiring, attendance, discipline, and employee relations.
• Follow Technique QMS – Ensure all three departments follow all Technique QMS requirements and their processes.
• Other duties as assigned – Perform other duties as assigned by the Operations Manager.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED; associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a manufacturing, engineering, technical, or business-related field preferred
• 5+ years of supervisory or management experience in a manufacturing environment, including managing supervisors or leads
• Hands-on experience with welding (MIG/TIG), CNC tube laser cutting, and/or CNC tube bending; experience in precision sheet metal, tube fabrication, or welded assemblies strongly preferred
• Working knowledge of welding standards and welder qualification requirements (AWS D1.1, D17.1, or similar)
• Proven ability to build, train, evaluate, and lead teams across multiple departments and shifts
• Experience setting and managing production metrics, schedules, and capacity plans
• Strong understanding of PLC controls and processes to support fault-finding and troubleshooting
• Advanced GD&T understanding and the ability to read blueprints, weld symbols, and tube bend data
• Ability to utilize E2 to find information for builds and process flow
• Working knowledge of quality management systems and the ability to follow all Technique QMS processes
• Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience preferred
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• This position requires standing and walking the shop floor for much of the shift, with the ability to occasionally lift and/or move items up to 50 pounds
• Comfortable working in a manufacturing environment with exposure to fumes or airborne particles, hazardous chemicals, moving mechanical parts, industrial equipment, laser and welding arc hazards, vibration, and loud noise
• Local travel between Technique’s Jackson-area sites required; valid driver’s license required
• Must be eligible to work in the United States

About Technique:

Technique is a Michigan-based precision sheet metal and welded assemblies manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, automotive, motorsports, medical, and food processing industries. We specialize in high-speed prototypes, ultra-low volume stampings, tubing, and assemblies for production and emergency-based manufacturing.

Our employees enjoy a work culture that values safety, integrity, teamwork, learning opportunities, and results.

Technique benefits include paid time off, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), 401(k), 401(k) matching, professional development, referral program, paid training, on-the-job training, employee assistance program, and tuition reimbursement.

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Account
• 401(k)
• 401(k) Matching
• Professional Development
• Referral Program
• Paid Training
• On The Job Training
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Technique is an equal employment opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.