Job Title

Growing manufacturing company that has been in business for over 40 years has an outstanding opportunity available in the Chicago metropolitan area for a Production & Quality Manager. This position will have 8 direct reports. The Quality & Production Manager is responsible for leading all manufacturing, quality, and shipping operations to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant production that meets customer and business requirements. This role oversees daily shop operations, quality systems, inspection processes, and shipping performance while driving continuous improvement in productivity, scrap reduction, on-time delivery, and customer satisfaction. This position is a hands-on leader who builds discipline, accountability, and process consistency within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Key Responsibilities Production Leadership Lead daily manufacturing operations to meet production schedules and delivery commitments Supervise Production Team Lead and production staff; ensure appropriate training, performance management, and workforce planning Monitor productivity, labor efficiency, and overtime Identify and implement process improvements to improve throughput and reduce waste Ensure compliance with safety policies and manufacturing standards Quality Management Own the company’s quality management system and inspection processes Supervise Inspection/Quality Team Lead and inspection staff Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for customer complaints and internal non-conformances Reduce scrap, rework, and quality-related costs Ensure product conformance to customer specifications and regulatory requirements Support continuous improvement initiatives Shipping & Fulfillment Oversee shipping operations to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant order fulfillment Supervise shipping staff and coordinate workload priorities Ensure proper documentation, labeling, packaging, and customer-specific requirements are met Monitor on-time shipment performance and resolve delays proactively Cross-Functional Coordination Partner with Purchasing to ensure material availability aligns with production needs Coordinate with Sales on production timing and feasibility Collaborate with Data Analytics to track KPIs and drive data-based improvements Performance & Metrics Ownership Own KPIs including: On-time delivery Scrap and rework rates Labor efficiency Customer complaints Report operational performance and improvement initiatives to senior leadership Qualifications 3-5+ years of manufacturing leadership experience Demonstrated experience managing both production teams and quality systems Experience supervising team leads or front-line supervisors Strong understanding of root cause analysis and corrective action processes Working knowledge of ERP systems Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, and manufacturing instructions Strong organizational and communication skills Preferred Experience in small to mid-sized manufacturing environments Experience in ISO-certified environment Background in process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.) Experience in plastic injection molding, extrusion, thermoplastics, rubber, TPE, elastomers, blow molding, thermoforming, or polyolefins would be a plus. This position offers a very competitive base salary, bonus potential and comprehensive benefits.