Position Summary
The Manufacturing Manager is responsible for leading Rockford's operational functions including Manufacturing, Aftermarket Services, Planning, Procurement, Inventory, and Shipping/Receiving. This role ensures the efficient execution of custom projects by aligning people, materials, equipment, and schedules across the organization.
Working closely with Engineering, Project Management, and Product Development the Manufacturing Manager provides strategic and day-to-day leadership to ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the quality standards expected by our clients.
As a key member of the leadership team, the Manufacturing Manager is responsible for operational performance, resource utilization, production planning, continuous improvement, and the development of high-performing teams across multiple functional areas.
Key Areas of Responsibility
Manufacturing & Plant Operations
- Lead all manufacturing activities including fabrication, assembly, quality control, and shipping.
- Responsible for sublet processing.
- Design & develop product-specific manufacturing cells and assembly lines.
- Ensure safe, efficient, and productive plant operations.
- Monitor capacity, workflow, and project execution to achieve delivery commitments.
- Support facility, equipment, and tooling improvement initiatives.
Planning & Resource Coordination
- Oversee enterprise-wide operational manufacturing planning and scheduling.
- Balance labour, equipment, and facility resources across multiple projects and departments.
- Collaborate with Project Managers, Product Development and Engineering leadership to establish priorities and resolve resource constraints.
- Monitor workload forecasts and support capacity planning decisions.
Procurement & Supply Chain
- Lead procurement activities and vendor relationships.
- Ensure timely acquisition of materials and services required to support project execution.
- Oversee inventory management practices and material availability.
- Drive continuous improvement in purchasing efficiency and supplier performance.
Aftermarket Services
- Lead the Aftermarket team in supporting machine uptime, customer service, maintenance, warranty repairs, upgrades, and spare parts requirements.
- Ensure timely response to client needs and service requests.
- Support business growth through development of aftermarket programs and client relationships.
Operational Excellence
- Develop and monitor key performance indicators related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and operational efficiency.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization.
- Improve business processes, workflows, systems utilization, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Support implementation and optimization of ERP and operational systems.
Leadership & Team Development
- Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to supervisors, procurement, aftermarket, and manufacturing teams.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Participate in recruitment, workforce planning, succession planning, and performance management activities.
- Promote employee engagement and professional development.
Strategic Leadership
- Contribute to organizational planning and operational strategy.
- Participate in budgeting, forecasting, and capital planning activities.
- Provide operational insight to support growth, profitability, and client satisfaction objectives.
- Act as a key liaison between Operations, Engineering, Project Management, and Executive Leadership.
Education & Experience
- Degree, diploma, or equivalent combination of education and experience in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 7-12 years of progressive manufacturing or operations experience.
- Minimum 3 years of leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience in custom manufacturing, engineered-to-order, heavy industrial, mining, agriculture, energy, or related industries is strongly preferred.
Technical Knowledge
- Strong understanding of fabrication, machining, welding, assembly, and manufacturing processes.
- Experience with production planning, scheduling, and capacity management.
- Familiarity with ERP systems and manufacturing reporting tools.
- Understanding of quality management principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Knowledge of manufacturing cost drivers and operational performance metrics.
Leadership Competencies
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Proven ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and manage competing priorities.
- Practical problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
- Ability to build relationships across engineering, project management, procurement, and manufacturing functions.
- Comfortable working in a dynamic environment where priorities shift based on project demands
