Manufacturing Manager

Position Overview

The Manufacturing Manager oversees all in-shop production operations for our woodworking facility, including CNC machining, hand woodworking, and product assembly. This role ensures that production goals are met efficiently, safely, and to our exacting quality standards.

Working closely with an offsite production planner, the Manufacturing Manager coordinates shop schedules, manages material flow, maintains high CNC productivity, and leads continuous improvement efforts across the shop floor. The ideal candidate combines technical woodworking knowledge, leadership ability, and a commitment to craft manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

Production Coordination

• Coordinate daily and weekly production activities with the offsite production planner.
• Balance workloads between CNC, hand woodworking, and assembly operations.
• Ensure raw materials are available and staged to support uninterrupted CNC operations.
• Maintain an active work list of in-progress and upcoming jobs, including secondary operations and handwork tasks.
• Support the CNC Lead with scheduling priorities and communication between departments.

Team Leadership and Development

• Supervise and coach shop employees across CNC, woodworking, and assembly areas.
• Develop and implement a training and skill development program to improve efficiency, craftsmanship, and safety.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Quality, Safety, and Process Improvement

• Uphold craftsmanship and quality standards in all products.
• Ensure adherence to safety procedures and maintain a clean, organized workspace.
• Identify process bottlenecks and lead initiatives to improve productivity and material utilization.

Performance Tracking and KPIs

• Establish, track, and interpret key performance indicators (KPIs) for production efficiency, quality, and delivery.
• Understand and communicate what each KPI measures, why it is important, and how to act on the data.
• Work with leadership to translate KPI insights into process improvements and training priorities.

Collaboration and Communication

• Serve as the key point of contact between shop floor operations, offsite planning, and design/prototyping teams.
• Communicate progress, issues, and resource needs clearly and proactively.
• Support the transition of new products from design to production.

Required Skills and Background

• 5+ years of experience in woodworking, CNC manufacturing, or small-scale craft production.
• Proven experience in team leadership or production management.
• Strong understanding of CNC operations, woodworking techniques, and shop workflow.
• Ability to read and interpret CAD/CAM files and woodworking drawings.
• Familiarity with production tracking systems and KPI reporting.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Commitment to safety, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing mixed-method production (CNC and handcraft).
• Background in Lean Manufacturing, 5S, or other efficiency frameworks.
• Interest in or appreciation for fiber arts, spinning, or weaving products.
• Hands-on experience developing training materials or skill matrices.

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Consistent CNC uptime and balanced shop workflow.
• Well-trained, motivated employees growing in skill and confidence.
• Reliable, high-quality output meeting production goals.
• Transparent use of KPIs that inform decision-making and drive improvement.
• A safe, efficient, and collaborative shop culture.