GTI Fabrication→
Manufacturing Operations Manager at GTI Fabrication in Buffalo, NY
Skills
Job Description
GTI is a contract manufacturing partner supporting customers in renewable energy, power generation, infrastructure, and industrial systems.
We fabricate custom designed, purpose-built enclosures and skids for our customers and perform mechanical and electrical integration in-house, delivering a true turn-key product to our customers. Our scope spans Engineering, prototype builds, through full production, requiring teams that can move fast, adapt, and execute with precision.
GTI Values: Safety I Quality I Customer Obsession I Speed I Agility
The Production Manager is responsible for the day-to-day execution and performance of production within an assigned manufacturing value stream. This leader will own staffing, scheduling, throughput, output, safety, quality, delivery, and cost while leading and developing Production Supervisors and their teams.
This role serves as a critical connection point between Production and the broader manufacturing organization. While functions such as Metal Fabrication, Welding, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Material Flow maintain their own functional leadership, the Production Manager is responsible for coordinating closely with these teams to ensure work moves efficiently from one stage of manufacturing to the next.
The ideal candidate is a strong shop-floor leader with experience in contract manufacturing, engineered-to-order production, and complex integrated products who can translate production requirements into daily execution, identify constraints, develop frontline leadership, and drive measurable improvements in manufacturing throughput.
Responsibilities
Production Leadership & Execution
- Lead daily production operations for an assigned manufacturing value stream from material release through final shipment.
- Own production staffing, scheduling, labor allocation, throughput, output, and daily execution against the production plan.
- Lead and develop Production Supervisors and their teams across a production organization of approximately 25–100+ employees.
- Establish clear expectations and accountability for frontline leadership and production employees.
- Maintain a strong presence on the manufacturing floor, identifying issues and driving timely resolution.
- Ensure production priorities are aligned with customer requirements, manufacturing schedules, and business objectives.
- Monitor production performance and adjust labor, priorities, and resources as conditions change.
- Drive consistent execution across shifts and ensure effective communication between production teams.
Safety, Quality, Delivery & Cost
- Own production performance across **Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC)** within the assigned value stream.
- Maintain OSHA compliance and reinforce a visible, hands-on safety culture throughout production.
- Partner with EHS to identify risks, implement corrective actions, and improve shop-floor safety performance.
- Partner with Quality to address defects, rework, nonconformances, and recurring production issues.
- Drive on-time execution while maintaining established quality and safety standards.
- Monitor labor efficiency, overtime, scrap, rework, productivity, and other key production cost drivers.
- Establish and track production KPIs to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
Throughput & Continuous Improvement
- Identify and eliminate production bottlenecks that impact throughput, cycle time, and customer delivery.
- Drive manufacturing throughput optimization across the assigned value stream.
- Apply Lean Manufacturing principles to improve production flow and operational performance.
- Lead and participate in **Value Stream Mapping, Value Stream Maps, Kaizen events, root-cause problem solving, and continuous improvement initiatives**.
- Improve material flow, work sequencing, floor utilization, and handoffs between manufacturing disciplines.
- Support organizational streamlining and Value Chain Management initiatives that improve end-to-end manufacturing performance.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to improve standard work, production processes, tooling, and manufacturing efficiency.
New Product Introduction & Manufacturing Readiness
- Drive production readiness for new product introductions and manufacturing ramps.
- Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management to identify production risks before products reach the manufacturing floor.
- Ensure labor, tooling, work instructions, materials, processes, and production capacity are prepared to support launch requirements.
- Identify manufacturability and execution concerns early and drive cross-functional resolution.
- Support production ramp-up and stabilization of new customer programs.
Cross-Functional Value Stream Leadership
The Production Manager is a **production leadership role** and does not directly manage every manufacturing discipline supporting the value stream. Fabrication, Welding, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain maintain their own functional leadership.
However, Production sits at the center of execution, and the Production Manager is expected to have significant cross-functional influence over how these teams work together.
The Production Manager will coordinate closely with:
- **Metal Fabrication** – production sequencing, capacity, priorities, and handoffs into downstream operations.
- **Welding Operations** – scheduling, production requirements, quality, and downstream handoffs.
- **Mechanical & Final Assembly** – production flow, staging, labor coordination, and final execution.
- **Manufacturing Engineering** – process improvements, production readiness, tooling, standard work, and NPI support.
- **Quality Operations** – defect resolution, rework reduction, corrective actions, and quality performance.
- **Material Flow / Supply Chain** – inbound material timing, shortages, production staging, and material availability.
- **Program Management** – customer priorities, program milestones, schedule requirements, and manufacturing execution.
The Production Manager is expected to resolve cross-functional friction, escalate constraints when necessary, and ensure work moves efficiently between disciplines without unnecessary delays.
Requirements
7–10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including direct experience leading Production Supervisors and frontline manufacturing teams.
Demonstrated experience managing production organizations of approximately 25–100+ employees.
Experience within contract manufacturing, including EMS, industrial manufacturing, engineered-to-order, or similarly complex production environments.
Experience with complex, engineered-to-order products and manufacturing processes.
Strong working knowledge of metal fabrication, welding, mechanical assembly, and final assembly operations.
Demonstrated ability to manage production staffing, scheduling, throughput, capacity, labor utilization, and output.
Strong understanding of manufacturing throughput optimization and constraint management.
Experience partnering with Program Management on customer-driven manufacturing programs.
Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Value Stream Mapping, Value Stream Maps, Kaizen, root-cause problem solving, material flow optimization, organizational streamlining, and Value Chain Management.
Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) and manufacturing readiness activities.
Working knowledge of OSHA requirements and manufacturing safety practices.
Experience working within ERP/MRP systems; SAP experience preferred.
Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth manufacturing environment with changing customer and production priorities.
Preferred
Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Supply Chain, or a related discipline preferred.
Experience supporting high-volume manufacturing within an engineered-to-order environment.
Formal Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma training/certification preferred.
Experience utilizing production KPIs and ERP/MRP data to drive operational decision-making.
Experience working within a rapidly scaling manufacturing organization.
Preferred Industry & Product Experience
We are particularly interested in manufacturing leaders with experience producing complex, integrated, engineered products, including:
- Modular Data Centers
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
- Power Distribution Equipment
- Electrical Enclosures
- Switchgear
- Industrial Equipment
- Energy Infrastructure
- Modular Power Systems
- Engineered Industrial Assemblies
Experience within **contract manufacturing, electrical equipment manufacturing, industrial systems, energy infrastructure, data center infrastructure, or other complex engineered manufacturing environments** is highly desirable.
Benifits and Perks
GTI Energy offers a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support employees and their families while providing long-term career growth opportunities within a fast-growing manufacturing organization. Benefits may include:
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match (where applicable)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Sick time in accordance with state and local requirements
• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage
• Career advancement opportunities within a rapidly growing organization
• Exposure to advanced manufacturing, modular infrastructure, and large-scale industrial projects
• Collaborative, fast-paced environment with strong operational and engineering leadership
• Employee-focused culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement
Benefits eligibility and offerings may vary based on position, location, and employment classification.
GTI promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other Federal or State legally-protected classes. We also value the safety of all employees and work hard to maintain a Drug Free Workplace.