Production Manager

Location: Nicholasville Ky
Reports To: Director of Operations

About Sargent & Greenleaf

Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) delivers proven lock solutions that protect people and assets at home, at work, and in communities around the world. As a trusted provider of high-security safe locks and locking systems, we serve a wide range of industries and applications with innovative security solutions. Our mission is to make the world more secure today and in the future.

Position Summary

The Production Manager is responsible for leading all production operations while driving continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility. This hands-on leadership role oversees production team leads and frontline employees, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of daily manufacturing activities. The Production Manager serves as a critical link between strategic business objectives and shop-floor performance, balancing operational execution, employee development, and process improvement to achieve sustainable results.

Key Responsibilities

Production Operations & Leadership

• Lead daily production activities across manufacturing and assembly operations, including casting, machining, paint, trim, mechanical assembly, and electronic assembly.
• Execute production schedules and allocate labor and resources to meet customer and business requirements.
• Monitor daily performance and proactively address issues impacting safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Maintain a strong presence on the production floor to provide leadership, support, and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and safety standards.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to resolve production challenges and improve operational performance.

People Leadership & Development

• Directly supervise, coach, and develop production team leads and frontline employees.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, engagement, and continuous learning.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback and development opportunities.
• Partner with Human Resources on employee relations, performance management, and workforce planning activities.
• Review and approve employee attendance, timekeeping, and labor utilization.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing

• Lead lean manufacturing initiatives and continuous improvement efforts aligned with company objectives.
• Utilize lean tools and methodologies such as 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), and A3 problem-solving.
• Identify process inefficiencies and implement solutions to eliminate waste, improve workflow, and increase productivity.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and cross-functional improvement projects.
• Champion a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Performance Management & Metrics

• Establish, monitor, and communicate key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and employee engagement.
• Analyze production data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions to improve operational performance.
• Ensure performance metrics are visible, understood, and actively managed across production teams.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including production supervision or management.
• Proven experience leading team leads, supervisors, and frontline production employees.
• Demonstrated success implementing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience in machining, assembly, metal fabrication, or related manufacturing environments preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and operational excellence methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical abilities.
• Ability to interpret production data and drive performance improvements.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Success Measures

The successful candidate will:

• Achieve and sustain safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets.
• Develop a highly engaged and accountable production team.
• Drive measurable improvements in efficiency, throughput, and cost performance.
• Lead and sustain a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Support the organization's growth through strong execution and effective leadership.