Operations Manager - Machining

About Chandler Industries

Chandler Industries is a premier contract manufacturer specializing in precision machining, EDM, sheet metal fabrication, and a range of value-added services. We excel in providing exceptional value through responsive customer service, technical expertise, and innovative lean manufacturing practices. Our commitment to delivering world-class quality and on-time performance has made us a trusted partner for our customers. Chandler operates five divisions, including four in Minnesota—Blaine, Long Prairie, Montevideo, and Wyoming—and one in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.

Chandler Industries is a premier contract manufacturer specializing in precision machining, EDM, sheet metal fabrication, and a range of value-added services. We excel in providing exceptional value through responsive customer service, technical expertise, and innovative lean manufacturing practices. Our commitment to delivering world-class quality and on-time performance has made us a trusted partner for our customers. Chandler operates five divisions, including four in Minnesota—Blaine, Long Prairie, Montevideo, and Wyoming—and one in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.

We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager – Machining who understands that outstanding manufacturing performance starts with strong leadership. This is a highly visible role for a leader who can develop people, build accountability, lead complex manufacturing projects, and bring strong CNC machining knowledge to the operation. The ideal candidate combines exceptional people leadership with solid technical machining expertise and project management skills.

You’ll lead the day-to-day machining operation while developing supervisors and employees, improving performance, introducing new products and technologies, and driving projects that strengthen our capabilities, capacity, quality, and efficiency.

• Lead and develop people. Coach, mentor, and develop supervisors, leads, machinists, and support staff. Set clear expectations, provide meaningful feedback, recognize strong performance, and address performance issues effectively.
• Build a high-performing team. Recruit, hire, onboard, develop, and retain talented employees while creating a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and employee growth.
• Lead key manufacturing projects. Oversee projects involving new product introduction (NPI), machine upgrades, new manufacturing technologies, capacity improvements, and process optimization. Establish project priorities, coordinate resources, and keep initiatives on track to meet goals, timelines, and budgets.
• Coordinate cross-functional execution. Bring together Operations, Engineering, Quality, Materials, Maintenance, suppliers, and customers as needed to successfully execute projects and new product launches. Ensure teams remain aligned on deliverables, responsibilities, timing, and results.
• Provide machining leadership and technical direction. Apply strong knowledge of CNC machining and precision manufacturing to support the operation, troubleshoot machining and production issues, and help teams identify practical solutions.
• Advance machining capabilities. Help evaluate and implement new machining equipment, technologies, tooling, and processes that improve productivity, quality, capacity, and competitiveness.
• Drive operational performance. Ensure production schedules and customer delivery requirements are achieved while maintaining high standards for safety and quality. Improve KPIs including machine utilization, cycle times, productivity, throughput, and on-time delivery.
• Champion continuous improvement. Lead Lean…