Production Manager
7 days ago
Rockford
Job Description Value Added Distributors is seeking an experienced, understanding, and growth-driven person to improve and refine the operations at our Rockford, IL, industrial facility! We're looking for a motivated leader to become our new full-time Production Manager and optimize our daily activities. You'll work Monday through Friday from 6:30 am to 4:00 pm and enjoy benefits like: • Competitive, experience-based salary, • Health insurance, • Dental, • Vision, • Paid vacation, • Holidays, • 401(k) with employer match ABOUT US At Value Added Distributors, LLC, we are not just an applied industrial distributor but a company that builds careers, relationships, and futures. Since 1995, we've combined practical innovation and small‑company values to create a workplace defined by integrity, respect, and continuous improvement. Our team enjoys the security of a growing company, opportunities to advance from within, and a clean, well-lit space to do meaningful work. With long-term career development, our company is a place where hard work is recognized, ideas are valued, and people come first. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES As our Production Manager, you'll oversee our manufacturing team and ensure they complete accurate and compliant work. In addition to supervising the day-to-day operations, you'll play an active role in team development, business growth, and process optimization. This leadership role impacts our short- and long-term success by: • Collaborating with the branch manager to supervise daily activities and ensure all SOPs, safety policies, and quality standards are followed, • Resolving quality issues and providing support as needed to minimize non-conformances, • Overseeing all production areas, monitoring workforce planning, and adjusting schedules to ensure open positions are filled, • Performing accurate data entry and database management, • Conducting time management studies to help improve operations, • Strategically allocating resources (labor, equipment, materials, etc.) to optimize workflows, improve efficiency, and minimize bottlenecks, • Maintaining a sense of urgency to ensure we meet quality expectations, delivery timelines, and profitability targets, • Proactively identifying and resolving issues that could disrupt production, • Providing employees with timely feedback, coaching, training, and encouragement, • Forming working relationships with customers, peers, managers, vendors, sales teams, etc., • Supporting employee improvement and empowerment in alignment with company objectives, • Overseeing material procurement, • Striving to meet and exceed production targets, • Associate degree or equivalent experience related to business, engineering, mechanics, fluid power manufacturing, and/or quality control management, • 3+ years of leadership experience, preferably in manufacturing, • Familiarity with Lean and/or Six Sigma principles, • Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel proficiency, • Ability to type 25+ wpm, • Ability to diagnose and solve mechanical issues, • Ability to troubleshoot and work on fluid power systems, • Ability to train others in procedural, safety, and quality standards, • Ability to safely lift 40+ lbs. using proper lifting techniques, • Empathetic, respectful, and calm personality, • Strong communication (verbal/written), presentation, and customer service skills, • Excellent organizational and time management skills, • Comfort with technology and learning new applications/approaches, • Mechanical aptitude with an understanding of how tools and machines interact with each other, • Solid judgement and decision-making skills, even while under pressure, • Multitasking and time management skills, • Basic math skills, • OSHA 30-hour certification, • First Aid, CPR, and BBP certifications