Manufacturing Lead

** Optical Precision Manufacturing Lead
***
* Location:

** Adrian, Michigan
** About the Position
** This is a hands-on manufacturing leadership role responsible for driving production performance, quality, and process excellence within a highly precise manufacturing environment. You will lead a team of technicians and operators while developing scalable manufacturing processes that support consistent quality, throughput, and operational execution.

The ideal person enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges, developing high-performing teams, and creating the structure and discipline required to achieve world-class production results.

This role offers the opportunity to build and improve manufacturing systems supporting advanced technologies where precision, repeatability, and quality are critical to overall product performance.
** Responsibilities
* * Lead, develop, and mentor a team of technicians and operators within a precision manufacturing environment

Drive production performance to meet schedule, quality, yield, and delivery objectives

Establish and optimize scalable, repeatable manufacturing processes

Reduce variability, scrap, and rework through disciplined process control and operational rigor

Strengthen documentation, standard work, process controls, and manufacturing procedures

Partner cross-functionally with engineering, assembly, quality, and production teams to drive operational improvements

Lead structured root cause analysis and problem-solving efforts to resolve production issues

Identify process bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to improve efficiency and throughput

Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, productivity, and manufacturing excellence

Maintain safe, organized, and high-performing production environments
** Who You Are
** Most effective leading teams on the manufacturing floor rather than from behind a desk Comfortable making decisions in fast-paced environments where priorities evolve quickly

Highly analytical with a structured approach to troubleshooting and problem-solving

Earn credibility through technical competence, accountability, and follow-through

Passionate about building processes that are repeatable, scalable, and sustainable

Driven to develop people, improve systems, and continuously raise performance standards
** Experience Requirements
** 5+ years of experience in precision manufacturing environments such as aerospace, medical devices, machining, advanced manufacturing, or related industries

Demonstrated experience leading technicians, operators, or manufacturing teams

Track record of driving measurable operational improvements in quality, yield, throughput, or efficiency

Experience implementing and maintaining manufacturing processes, documentation, and production standards

Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and root cause analysis capabilities

Comfortable operating in high-mix, high-precision, or technically complex production environments
** What You Bring
** Strong manufacturing leadership experience with a focus on accountability, quality, and execution

Ability to identify sources of variation and implement sustainable corrective actions

Experience developing standard work, process controls, and operational procedures

Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across multiple functional groups

Data-driven mindset with the ability to make informed operational decisions

Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
** Preferred Qualifications
** Exposure to optics, metrology, precision surface manufacturing, or highly technical production environments

Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies

Experience supporting production scale-up efforts or transitioning products from development into production

Familiarity with advanced manufacturing technologies and precision measurement systems

Experience working closely with engineering teams on process development and manufacturability improvements
** What Success Looks Like
**** Production Performance
** Within the first six months, production schedules are being met more consistently,…