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Production Manager

Otter Tail Corporation

Fargo, ND

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Analysis Skills, Calendar Management, Coaching, Communication Skills, Continuous Improvement, Corrective Action, Cross-Functional, Customer Support/Service, Documentation, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), Equipment Maintenance/Repair, Extrusion, Housekeeping/Cleaning, Human Resources, Identify Issues, Leadership, Lift/Move 25 Pounds, Machine Tool, Maintain Compliance, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Operations, Manufacturing Systems, Materials Tracking, Microsoft Office, OSHA, Onboarding, Operational Communications, Operational Support, Operations, Operations Management, Operations Processes, Organizational Skills, People Management, Performance Analysis, Performance Management, Performance Metrics, Physical Demands, Preventative Maintenance, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Process Management, Product Packaging, Product Support, Product Testing, Production Control, Production Management, Production Planning, Production Schedule, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Compliance, Reliability Engineering, Resin, Root Cause Analysis, Safety Compliance, Safety/Work Safety, Staff Development, Startup, Team Building, Team Lead/Manager, Technical Operations, Test Requirements, Workplace Issues
LOCATION
Fargo, ND
POSTED
2 days ago
Description



Essential Functions





+ Lead, coordinate, and supervise daily production operations for PVC pipe extrusion lines and related downstream processes.



+ Plan staffing, production schedules, and line priorities to meet safety, quality, output, and customer delivery expectations.



+ Oversee bulk material handling, resin compounding, and blending operations to ensure accurate recipe formulation, consistent material quality, and uninterrupted supply of compound to the extrusion lines.



+ Drive reliable plant performance by ensuring extrusion lines are properly staffed, set up, supplied, and operated in accordance with established standards.



+ Oversee extrusion operations to ensure pipe dimensions, appearance, belling, print, packaging, and overall product quality meet company and customer specifications.



+ Monitor daily production results, labor usage, scrap, downtime, changeovers, and throughput, and take action to improve performance.



+ Work closely with operators, leads, maintenance, and quality personnel to troubleshoot process variation, equipment issues, and product nonconformances.



+ Ensure process settings, work instructions, setup requirements, and production standards are followed consistently across shifts.



+ Promote a culture of reliability and responsibility by holding team members accountable for safe work, product quality, attendance, housekeeping, and operational discipline.



+ Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions related to scrap, downtime, quality defects, customer complaints, and production inefficiencies.



+ Partner with Maintenance to improve equipment uptime, preventive maintenance coordination, startup readiness, and long-term extrusion line reliability.



+ Coordinate with Quality to maintain compliance with product standards, testing requirements, documentation expectations, and nonconformance response processes.



+ Support new product trials, process improvements, tooling changes, and operating parameter adjustments to improve extrusion performance and product consistency.



+ Ensure raw materials, regrind usage, packaging materials, and line support resources are available to sustain production requirements.



+ Maintain safe and organized production areas, including compliance with OSHA requirements, company safety rules, machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and good housekeeping practices.



+ Review production data and key performance indicators and communicate results, priorities, and performance gaps to plant leadership.



+ Lead assigned supervisors, leads, technicians, and operators through coaching, training, performance feedback, and development.



+ Support hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, performance management, and employee development within the production team.



+ Collaborate with Shipping, Planning, and Customer Service to align production output with customer demand and delivery commitments.



+ Support after-hours and off-shift production needs, including urgent operational issues, startup support, and critical plant coverage when required.



+ Perform other duties as assigned in support of manufacturing operations.





Supervisory Responsibilities



This position directly supervises assigned production employees and production leads, extrusion operators, downstream technicians, and other manufacturing personnel as assigned. Responsibilities include assigning work, monitoring performance, coaching employees, supporting skill development, addressing routine employee issues, and partnering with Human Resources and plant leadership on hiring, discipline, and performance management.



Qualifications



Education and Experience





+ Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, engineering, operations, industrial technology, or a related field preferred; equivalent manufacturing leadership experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.



+ Minimum of 5 years of manufacturing, production, or process operations experience, preferably in plastics, extrusion, pipe, or other continuous manufacturing environments.



+ Minimum of 3 years of supervisory or production leadership experience in an industrial setting.



+ Experience with extrusion equipment, process troubleshooting, product quality systems, and manufacturing performance metrics preferred.



+ Experience leading teams in a safety-sensitive, quality-driven manufacturing environment required.





Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities





+ Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production scheduling, labor planning, and process discipline.



+ Working knowledge of PVC pipe extrusion processes, downstream handling, and quality requirements preferred.



+ Ability to analyze downtime, scrap, throughput, and quality trends and implement effective corrective actions.



+ Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills related to production equipment, process performance, and team execution.



+ Strong leadership and accountability skills with the ability to build team capability and maintain performance expectations.



+ Effective communication skills with the ability to work across Maintenance, Quality, Planning, Shipping, and leadership teams.



+ Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with ERP, production reporting, or manufacturing systems preferred.



+ Strong commitment to safety, quality, reliability, and continuous improvement.





Competencies





+ Production leadership



+ Extrusion process management



+ Safety and compliance



+ Quality assurance



+ Team development



+ Continuous improvement



+ Problem-solving and root cause analysis



+ Production planning and execution



+ Cross-functional coordination



+ Reliability and accountability





Working Conditions



Ability to manage and support a 24/7 continuous manufacturing operations, including communication with overnight supervisors. This position works in both office and manufacturing environments and requires regular presence on the production floor. The role involves exposure to industrial equipment, noise, heat, moving machinery, and varying plant conditions. The Production Manager must be available to support operational needs outside normal business hours, including occasional weekends or off-shift coverage.



Physical Requirements





+ Ability to stand and walk for extended periods in a manufacturing environment.



+ Ability to climb stairs, bend, stoop, reach, and move throughout the plant safely.



+ Ability to occasionally lift or move items up to 25 pounds.



+ Ability to wear required personal protective equipment and work safely around industrial equipment.









Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.

About the Company

O

Otter Tail Corporation