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A leading global industrial materials manufacturer is seeking a Production Manager to lead day-to-day operations within a high-temperature refractories manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for driving performance across safety, people, quality, delivery, and cost (SPQDC) while developing a high-performing team in a fast-paced, process-driven facility.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on leader with experience in ceramics, refractories (including monolithic materials such as castables, gunning mixes, and ramming mass), refractory brick, or other high-temperature materials who thrives in environments involving kilns, furnaces, thermal processing, and heat-intensive operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations, including scheduling, staffing, and throughput optimization to meet customer demand
• Drive a culture of safety excellence, including risk assessments, incident investigations, audits, and regulatory compliance within a high-temperature manufacturing environment
• Oversee manufacturing processes related to refractory products, including monolithic materials (castables, gunning mixes, ramming mass), refractory brick, and furnace or kiln lining systems
• Monitor and improve key performance metrics including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), yield, scrap, downtime, and on-time delivery
• Lead and develop teams across production and maintenance, ensuring accountability, engagement, and performance
• Implement and sustain Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, and continuous improvement initiatives, including Gemba-based shop floor leadership
• Drive root cause analysis (8D) and corrective actions to reduce defects and improve the cost of non-quality
• Partner with engineering and maintenance teams to support Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and preventive/predictive maintenance programs to maximize equipment uptime and reliability
• Support and lead capital projects, automation initiatives, and process improvements focused on cost reduction, safety, and efficiency gains
• Ensure compliance with ISO standards, environmental regulations (waste, emissions, wastewater), and safety protocols
• Oversee production reporting, ERP system accuracy (SAP, JDE, or similar), and performance tracking
• Manage workforce planning including labor utilization, attendance, and shift coordination in a structured manufacturing environment
• Maintain strong cross-functional communication across operations, engineering, quality, and leadership teams

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in production or manufacturing leadership within refractories, ceramics, metals, foundry, glass, cement, steel, continuous casting, molten metal processing, or similar high-temperature industrial environments
• Proven experience leading teams in a plant or production setting with accountability for operational performance
• Strong background in process manufacturing, kilns, furnaces, refractory linings, or thermal systems
• Experience with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, TPM, or other operational excellence methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to drive improvements in OEE, throughput, and cost performance
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, JDE, or similar), production planning, and data-driven decision making
• Knowledge of quality systems, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement tools
• Familiarity with safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance in an industrial setting
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Metallurgy, or a related technical field preferred

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $120,000 – $140,000
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Relocation assistance provided

This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of production within a highly specialized advanced materials and refractory manufacturing environment, supporting applications in high-temperature processing, furnace and kiln systems, and molten material handling, while playing a key role in driving operational excellence, workforce development, and plant performance.