Director, Manufacturing

The Director of Manufacturing is responsible for overseeing and optimizing the production processes within an organization. This role involves managing the entire manufacturing operation, ensuring product quality, maintaining production schedules, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives. The Director of Manufacturing plays a crucial role in aligning manufacturing operations with the company's strategic objectives and fostering a culture of efficiency, quality, and safety.

The Director of Manufacturing also works closely with other departments within the company, including sales, product management, engineering, and finance to ensure products are of the highest quality and are produced in a manner that is efficient and cost-effective.

This new role will take the current Manufacturing manager role and incorporate service and work directly with Engineering to streamline the NPI transition to Manufacturing. Ultimately creating one team to handle product lifecycle from inception to obsolesces. While simultaneously developing and implementing

processes to ensure continued growth.

This role will demand change and improvements, the status quo is not acceptable, excellence is the goal.

Responsibilities:

• Directly supervise/oversee manufacturing, sourcing, quality and service team members in a production environment, setting goals and directing career paths.
• Work closely with R&D, Engineering and Product Management to launch NPI projects to production. Ensure assembly/test documentation, quality, sourcing, service, and training plans are implemented.
• Manage operational budget to meet inventory and manufacturing business objectives.
• Routinely communicate production, service, & quality KPI metrics to key stakeholders.
• Ensure product configuration compliance. Support engineering changes, maintain and update BOMs, work instructions, and sourcing updates.
• Work with vendors and part suppliers on quality, sourcing and/or engineering related issues.
• Continuous improvement of the manufacturing and quality processes.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and promote a safe work environment.

Experience and skills required:

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and lead high-performing manufacturing and service teams in a technical environment.
• Experience in managing cross-functional teams and working collaboratively with other departments.
• Highly knowledgeable of the product lifecycle process from inception to obsolescence.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing manufacturing and sourcing challenges.
• Experience leading a service organization including customer training & product support.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Solid interpersonal skills, including the ability to coach team members and foster positive working relationships with all levels of the organization and external partners.
• Willingness and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and production forecasts.
• Deep understanding of process improvement sufficient to coordinate manufacturing process changes across functional departments.
• Proficiency in ISO 9001 Quality & KPI Metrics management, ERP Systems (Infor Syteline), inventory management, lean manufacturing, and global shipping of regulated products.
• Working knowledge of Class3B lasers and clean room manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience working on products used in military, homeland security, or pharmaceutical applications highly desirable.

Education required:

• B.A./B.S. with a minimum 20 years of experience or M.S. with 15 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience in an Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, or Industrial Management product manufacturing role.