Press Area Manager; Automotive Manufacturing

Press Area Manager (Automotive Manufacturing)

Forest, MS

The Press Area Manager is responsible for supervising and coordinating the daily activities of press technicians and team leads. This role serves as the primary communication link between management and the production floor while ensuring safety, quality, productivity, cost control, and employee development objectives are achieved.

Leadership & Team Management

• Supervise and coordinate daily activities of press technicians and leads.
• Conduct daily pre-shift meetings to review attendance, work assignments, and company updates.
• Lead by example in attendance, quality, accountability, and professionalism.
• Assign work and balance labor within the department.
• Train new employees and transferred team members.
• Coach employees and recommend corrective actions when necessary.
• Serve as the primary communication link between management and production employees.
• Resolve employee concerns fairly and consistently.
• Ensure technicians have the tools and supplies needed to perform their jobs.

Safety & Quality

• Promote and enforce all company safety policies and procedures.
• Conduct safety meetings and investigate workplace incidents.
• Coordinate corrective actions with Safety and Quality teams.
• Ensure Lockout/Tagout procedures are followed.
• Maintain 5S and housekeeping standards.
• Perform safety inspections and ensure compliance with safety checklists.
• Verify inspection requirements are followed.
• Coordinate process and product changes with the Quality Department.
• Monitor scrap, rework, and containment activities while driving corrective actions.

Production & Operations

• Ensure production schedules are achieved.
• Monitor productivity using strokes per minute (SPM) and other production metrics.
• Track die availability and support equipment readiness.
• Monitor utilities and encourage efficient resource utilization.
• Identify and eliminate waste, including excess material usage and oil leaks.
• Drive departmental cost reduction and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor support group activities and escalate issues as needed.

Education

• High School Diploma or GED.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of related industrial manufacturing experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of press operation experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of leadership experience in a press manufacturing environment.

Required Skills & Requirements

• Ability to operate all machines within the assigned press area.
• Ability to adjust automated equipment.
• Experience using MIG and Arc welding equipment.
• Strong leadership and employee coaching skills.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of safety, quality, and production processes.

Preferred Competencies

• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on waste reduction and cost savings.
• Experience monitoring production metrics and productivity.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and 5S principles.
• Ability to build strong relationships across production, quality, maintenance, and management teams.
• Strong focus on employee accountability and development.

Working Conditions

• Manufacturing environment with responsibility for overseeing daily production operations.
• Frequent interaction with production employees, supervisors, quality, maintenance, and management.
• Requires regular movement throughout the production floor and the ability to respond quickly to operational issues.

This is a direct hire position through Onin staffing, relocation assistance is available. This employer provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package to be discussed upon interview.