Production Manager; Hands-On Manufacturing

Production Manager (Hands-On Manufacturing)

Iron Leaf Designs is seeking an experienced, highly hands-on Production Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our manufacturing floor.

This is not a desk-based management position. We are looking for a working manager who will be actively involved on the shop floor alongside the production team. The right candidate will be comfortable leading employees, organizing production, operating and troubleshooting equipment, performing quality control and final inspections, training team members, and stepping directly into production whenever needed.

This position reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO ) and will play a key role in building an efficient, organized, safe, and accountable production environment.

• Lead and coordinate daily manufacturing and production activities.
• Work directly alongside the production team on the shop floor.
• Establish daily priorities and assign work based on production schedules and deadlines.
• Monitor jobs throughout the production process to ensure work stays on schedule.
• Assist with machine setup, operation, troubleshooting, and production as needed.
• Supervise and support CNC, plasma, press brake, fabrication, and general production personnel.
• Perform and oversee quality control and final inspection of completed parts and products to ensure they meet drawings, specifications, tolerances, and company quality standards.
• Utilize precision measuring and inspection equipment; experience with CMM tools is preferred.
• Identify quality issues, determine root causes, and work with the production team to correct problems and prevent recurrence.
• Train new and existing employees on equipment, processes, safety procedures, quality requirements, and production expectations.
• Ensure employees have the materials, drawings, tooling, and information necessary to complete their work.
• Identify production bottlenecks and proactively resolve issues that could impact deadlines.
• Maintain high standards for quality, accuracy, productivity, and workmanship.
• Coordinate with inventory, shipping/receiving, and other operational functions.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and safe manufacturing environment.
• Ensure equipment is properly maintained and report or coordinate necessary repairs.
• Track production progress and communicate scheduling concerns, equipment issues, staffing needs, quality concerns, and other operational matters to the COO.
• Help develop and improve shop procedures, workflows, quality processes, and production standards as the company grows.
• Hold team members accountable while maintaining a professional, respectful, and productive work environment.
• Perform hands-on production work whenever necessary to keep jobs moving and meet customer deadlines.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in an industrial fabrication shop.
• Hands-on experience with CNC machinery, press brakes, and other industrial-grade fabrication equipment.
• Previous supervisory, team lead, or production management experience in a manufacturing or fabrication environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production workflow, quality control, and shop-floor efficiency.
• Ability to read and interpret production drawings, measurements, specifications, and tolerances.
• Experience performing quality control and final inspections using precision measuring tools.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot production and equipment issues.
• Ability to train, coach, lead, and hold production employees accountable.
• Ability to manage multiple jobs, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to work hands-on alongside the production team throughout the workday.

• Experience with CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) tools and inspection processes.
• Experience with CNC plasma cutting equipment.
• Experience with press brake setup and operation.
• Experience with saws, metalworking equipment, fabrication tools, and material handling equipment.
• Experience establishing or improving manufacturing workflows, quality procedures, and shop-floor processes.

The ideal candidate is a leader and a doer. This position requires someone who can manage production while remaining actively involved in the work being performed on the shop floor.

We're looking for someone who takes ownership. If a machine needs attention, a…