Operations Director - Precision CNC Machining
22 hours ago
Lafayette
Overview Digital Machining Systems is a leading ISO 9001:2015 certified precision CNC machining services company in Lafayette, Louisiana. With advanced machining technology, a highly skilled team, and a reputation for quality and customer service, we produce precision machined components in our clean, modern facility. From the most basic through the very complex, we are a trusted manufacturing partner for a wide range of OEM and end-use clients that have repeated demand for “shoe-box size and smaller” mechanical components and assemblies. With almost 35 years of success behind us, we are expanding our organizational structure to support the next stage of growth. We are looking for an Operations Director to join and help lead our team to even greater levels of performance, efficiency, quality, industry diversification, and client and team satisfaction. Position Summary The Operations Director is responsible for managing all shop floor and production-related functions, including personnel management, labor and resource allocation, scheduling, expediting, and capacity planning, to ensure safe and on-time delivery while meeting all customer and quality management system specifications. Reporting directly to the CEO, this individual will ensure operational excellence and strategic readiness while overseeing daily shop operations, driving continuous improvement, and fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and excellence. This position requires a proven leader with strong manufacturing experience—ideally with experience in CNC machining, quality, and Lean, who can effectively balance strategic planning with hands-on shop management. We will be taking applications through November 16th and then begin a screening and interviewing process. These duties include, but are not limited to, the following: ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Production Management • Delegation, coordination, and management of work and work assignments to manufacturing employees with consideration of skill levels, machine capabilities, and work required., • Manage production schedules, labor allocations, and workflow to maximize efficiency and delivery performance. Continuously monitor, update, adjust, and expedite accordingly., • Daily communications with Customer Service regarding delivery and capacity updates with proactive forecasting and priority and expediting adjustments accordingly., • Manage on-time delivery performance while ensuring all quality requirements., • Actively assist and coordinate production personnel as needed during peak demand, expedite, or “all-hands-on-deck” situations., • Forecast capacity gaps, adjust labor deployment, and utilize available time for maintenance, process, and facility improvements. Keep the CEO and the Manufacturing Administrative Manager appraised of upcoming capacity openings and working to prevent ‘gaps’ in the scheduled work. When such gaps cannot be avoided, redeploying and organizing available labor into other areas and/or productive preventive maintenance or facility and equipment improvement efforts., • Provide accurate capacity and delivery projections to the Manufacturing Administrative Manager to support quoting and customer support., • Partner with engineering and quoting to ensure manufacturability, accurate routing and estimates, and lead times., • Drive lean initiatives, setup reduction, and continuous improvement in production processes., • Generate, monitor, evaluate, and report on production data and key performance metrics to drive performance and accurate job cost accounting., • Advise the CEO in strategic planning and budgeting for future equipment, employee, and resource needs., • Manage and maintain the overall shop and equipment cleanliness and organization for optimal safety, efficiency, and presentation. Foster a culture of continual maintenance with available labor during cycle or idle time opportunities and building in periodic clean/maintain/shine routine without adversely affecting production schedule., • Supervision and direct management of all production manufacturing employees to include Manufacturing Cell Leaders, Receiving, Sawing, Machining, Finishing, and Shipping personnel., • Manages employee performance issues, concerns, difficulties, disputes, improvement plans including “hire and fire” authority., • The Operations Director has a direct responsibility and majority impact on employee morale and can influence it greatly. Actively works to foster a positive, high performing, rewarding, and accountable culture and leads by example., • Assists and mentor all direct lead reports with managing the employees they lead., • Provides ongoing performance reviews for all reports with clear, fair, equitable, respectful, and constructive feedback., • Assists the CEO with maintaining equitable and balanced employee compensation according to the actual objective relative value contribution of each to the organization., • Assists in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of production personnel, as well as making determinations on when to hire and not hire new employees dictated by maintaining optimal utilization of resource capacity and production flow efficiency., • Authorizes, manages, and monitors production employees’ requests for time-off, leave, early departures, and sick leave, etc., keeping within the parameters and operating philosophy of the CEO., • Conducts personnel management reporting functions such as performance and improvement reviews, compensation reviews, leave/vacation approvals, attendance records, and related functions and provide to the Office Manager to facilitate proper employee file maintenance., • Drive employee development through cross-training, succession planning, and skill advancement., • Stand in for the leadership responsibilities of Cell Leaders during unavoidable absences or resignations and adjust resources and labor accordingly to mitigate., • Continually monitor and evaluate opportunities for improvement in all production areas and methods and continually work to improve workflows., • Always representing the company and owner in a manner consistent with company policy, core values, owner philosophy, and strategic objectives - conducting business in every manner legally, morally, fairly, and with complete integrity., • Working closely with the Office Manager and the owner in ensuring that the company efficiently manages cash flow and target profitability., • Keeping the owner advised of all known issues that may potentially harm the business integrity or objectives. Competencies Required: • Excellent leadership, organizational, communication, interpersonal, emotional intelligence, and team-building skills., • Strong knowledge of manufacturing quality systems (ISO, AS9100) preferred., • Operational excellence expert– with quality, productivity, capacity planning, machine and labor utilization, cost reduction, and continuous improvement principles., • Proficient with computer information systems, email, Office 365, Google Docs/Sheets, and ERP/MRP tools., • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills., • Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and projects in a dynamic often changing environment (unexpected absences, machine breakdowns, changing due dates, etc.)., • Ability to communicate effectively and lead group meetings., • Strong judgment, adaptability, and decision-making skills. Education & Experience Required: • 10-years minimum experience managing a manufacturing environment; Operations Management, Production Management, Engineering Management, or equivalent, • Prior experience in CNC machining or precision manufacturing preferred., • High School diploma required. Bachelor’s degree in business, management, industrial tech or engineering preferred., • Strong financial & business acumen and experience in job cost accounting, • Ability to communicate in English clearly and effectively in group meetings, one-on-one conversations, and with external stakeholders., • Professional and clear representation of the company with clients, employees, and vendors. Physical Demands • Machine shop environment, • Must be able to hear, talk, walk, and stand the majority of an 8-10 hour day., • Must be able to consistently lift items up to 30 lbs. without pain or injury., • Frequently required to use hands and fingers, handle and feel mechanical components, and reach with hands and arms., • Must be available to work during expected hours for this position, generally 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (1-hour lunch) with the ability to perform periodic management functions at earlier or later hours occasionally for managing late or early shift efficiencies and performance., • Must have reliable transportation to and from work., • Must be able to wear safety glasses and hearing protection (the noise level in the work environment can be moderately loud for some people)., • Frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, machines, and sharp tools and edges., • May be subject to oils and mild chemicals (air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids). Why Join Us? • If you love manufacturing and are looking for a manufacturing family, we are your people., • This is an excellent opportunity to play a key leadership role in helping an established, reputable, growing, customer-focused CNC machining business to reach the next levels of growth and excellence., • You will have a direct and immediate impact on business strategy, operations, team morale and culture, and organizational performance., • Collaborative, hands-on environment where leadership and initiative are valued., • Competitive compensation, performance incentives, and benefits package DOE.