Production Manager

Manufacturing Manager

Ohio Valley Gasket Employment Type: Full-Time Location: On-Site, West Chester, Ohio

About Ohio Valley Gasket

Ohio Valley Gasket is a family-owned gasket manufacturing business with approximately 20 employees, including 10 manufacturing employees. We take pride in our quality workmanship, dependable customer service, and commitment to meeting our customers’ needs.

As a small family business, every employee plays an important role in our success. We value teamwork, accountability, initiative, and people who take pride in their work.

We are seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Manager to lead our manufacturing team, oversee daily production, maintain our equipment, and ensure customer orders are completed accurately and on time.

Position Overview

The Manufacturing Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation and performance of our manufacturing department. This includes production planning, employee leadership, equipment maintenance, quality control, safety, and continuous improvement.

The manager will supervise approximately 10 manufacturing employees, work closely with company leadership, and coordinate with purchasing and sales to ensure materials are available to meet production requirements.

This position is ideal for an experienced manufacturing professional who combines strong leadership skills, mechanical aptitude, and a small-business mindset. The successful candidate will be comfortable managing people and production while also rolling up their sleeves to solve problems and keep operations running smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations and lead a team of approximately 10 production employees.
• Develop and maintain production schedules to meet customer deadlines and delivery commitments.
• Prioritize jobs based on customer requirements, material availability, staffing, and equipment capacity.
• Monitor production progress and resolve bottlenecks, delays, and scheduling conflicts.
• Ensure employees have the materials, tools, equipment, and instructions needed to complete jobs efficiently.
• Communicate production status, challenges, and priorities to company leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, workflow, and manufacturing efficiency.

Employee Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise, train, coach, and develop manufacturing employees.
• Establish clear expectations for productivity, quality, attendance, safety, and accountability.
• Develop employee work schedules and assign responsibilities based on production requirements.
• Monitor employee performance and conduct performance reviews.
• Address performance concerns promptly and professionally.
• Make hiring recommendations and participate in interviewing, selecting, and onboarding manufacturing employees as needed.
• Encourage cross-training and employee development to improve flexibility and production coverage.
• Foster a positive, respectful, team-oriented workplace.

Equipment Maintenance and Facility Upkeep

• Take responsibility for the maintenance, reliability, and proper operation of manufacturing equipment.
• Perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, and basic equipment troubleshooting.
• Diagnose equipment problems and coordinate more complex repairs with outside service providers or equipment vendors.
• Minimize unplanned downtime and maintain appropriate maintenance records and schedules.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability, safety, and performance.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe manufacturing facility.

Inventory and Purchasing Coordination

• Work closely with purchasing to communicate raw material and supply requirements.
• Review production schedules and identify upcoming material needs.
• Help prevent production delays caused by material shortages.
• Monitor material usage, scrap, and waste to improve cost control.
• Communicate changing production priorities and urgent material requirements to purchasing.
• Assist with inventory accuracy and investigate discrepancies as needed.

Quality Control

• Ensure products meet customer specifications and established quality standards.
• Monitor manufacturing processes and reinforce proper work procedures.
• Investigate defects, scrap, rework, and customer quality concerns.
• Implement corrective actions to prevent recurring issues.
• Promote employee ownership of product quality and attention to detail.

Safety and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized manufacturing environment.
• Ensure employees follow safety procedures and operate equipment properly.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflow, production efficiency, and material utilization.
• Reduce downtime, scrap, rework, and unnecessary operating costs.
• Monitor key performance measures, including on-time delivery, productivity, quality, and equipment downtime.
• Provide regular updates to company ownership on manufacturing performance, staffing, maintenance, and operational concerns.

Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing, production supervision, or manufacturing operations.
• Proven ability to organize and lead employees while meeting production schedules and customer commitments.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and the ability to troubleshoot manufacturing equipment.
• Experience performing routine maintenance and coordinating equipment repairs.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience managing employee workloads, production priorities, and workplace expectations.
• Understanding of quality control, workplace safety, and efficient manufacturing practices.
• Ability to coordinate material requirements and production priorities with purchasing.
• Basic computer skills, including email, spreadsheets, and production or inventory systems.
• Dependable, self-motivated, and willing to take ownership of results.

The Three Strengths We Value Most

1. Production Leadership

The ability to organize and lead a team of 10 manufacturing employees, establish clear priorities, manage workloads, and keep customer orders moving through production on schedule.

1. Mechanical Aptitude

The ability to handle routine equipment maintenance, troubleshoot mechanical problems, recognize potential equipment issues, and coordinate more complex repairs to minimize downtime.

1. Small-Business Mindset

A hands-on, self-motivated approach. Someone who takes initiative, communicates directly with company leadership, solves problems without waiting to be told what to do, and is willing to pitch in wherever needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in gasket manufacturing, rubber products, industrial components, fabrication, or similar manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with gasket materials, cutting processes, and customer-specific manufacturing requirements.
• Ability to read technical drawings and interpret product specifications.
• Experience with preventive maintenance, production scheduling, and continuous improvement.
• Previous experience in a small, privately owned or family-run manufacturing business.

A college degree is not required. We value practical manufacturing experience, leadership ability, mechanical skills, sound judgment, and a strong work ethic over formal education alone.

What Success Looks Like

The Manufacturing Manager will be expected to deliver measurable improvements and consistent results in the following areas:

• Customer orders are completed accurately and shipped on time.
• Manufacturing employees understand their priorities and are held accountable for performance.
• Production schedules are organized, realistic, and consistently managed.
• Equipment is properly maintained, with minimal unplanned downtime.
• Material shortages are minimized through effective coordination with purchasing.
• Product quality remains consistent while scrap and rework are reduced.
• Employees work safely and maintain an organized production environment.
• Communication with company leadership and other departments is clear and proactive.

What We Offer

• An important leadership role in an established family-owned manufacturing business.
• Direct communication with company leadership and the opportunity to influence business operations.
• Meaningful responsibility and the ability to make a visible impact.
• A collaborative work environment where initiative, reliability, and practical problem-solving are valued.
• Competitive compensation based on experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance, 401K with employer match, Paid Time Off

Pay: $70,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) 5% Match
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person