Production Manager
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Sep 30, 2026. First seen by Alion on Aug 7, 2026. Copeland scores B on the Alion truth index.
About Us
We are a global climate technologies company engineered for sustainability. We create sustainable and efficient residential, commercialand industrial spaces through HVACR technologies. We protect temperature-sensitivegoods throughout the cold chain. And we bring comfort to people globally. Best-in-class engineering, design and manufacturing combined with category-leading brands in compression, controls, softwareand monitoring solutions result in next-generation climate technology that is built for the needs of the world ahead.
Whether you are a professional looking for a career change, an undergraduate student exploring your first opportunity, or recent graduate with an advanced degree, we have opportunities that will allow you to innovate, be challenged and make an impact. Join our team and start your journey today!
PRODUCTION SECTION MANAGER
1. JOB PURPOSE
The Production Section Manager is responsible for the overall operational performance of all production lines and machining operations at the plant. This role provides hands-on leadership and coaching to Production Supervisors and their teams, ensuring that daily operations consistently meet the plant's targets for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, People Development, and Digital/ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) performance.
The role requires close day-to-day collaboration across cross-functional teams to keep production running smoothly, and plays a key part in building a culture of structured problem-solving, operational discipline, and continuous improvement across the site.
2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & KPIs
Safety & Workplace Standards
Build a zero-accident culture by embedding proactive hazard-prediction routines (KYT), safety observations, and behavior-based safety practices across all production areas.
Ensure all safety audit findings and corrective actions are closed within 14 days of being raised.
Maintain workplace organization (5S) audit scores at 80% or above across all production and machining areas.
Lead safety briefings, near-miss reviews, and root-cause investigations for any safety-related incident.
Quality Assurance & Process Integrity
Ensure 100% first-part confirmation before resuming full production after every changeover or process restart.
Lead and support supervisors in structured problem-solving (SPS) and Kaizen improvement projects to eliminate recurring quality issues such as welding defects, part-forming non-conformances, and assembly errors.
Maintain process capability (Cpk) of 1.33 or above for all critical-to-quality dimensions, and sustain a First Pass Yield (FPY) of 98% or above.
Delivery & Production Efficiency
Achieve and sustain the plant's daily/shift production output targets across all production lines.
Improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) to 81% or above through systematic analysis of production losses and targeted countermeasures.
Apply Lean Manufacturing tools - including quick changeover techniques (SMED), line balancing, and elimination of the 8 wastes - to improve throughput and reduce non-value-added activities.
Maintain an on-time delivery rate above 99% to ensure customer commitments are met.
Cost Management
Identify, develop, and lead cost-reduction projects covering scrap, consumables, packaging, and utility/energy consumption, aligned with the plant's annual cost-savings targets.
Partner with the Finance team to validate and sign off on cost savings delivered through Kaizen and SPS projects.
People Leadership & Development
Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance management to all Production Supervisors, setting clear expectations and holding regular one-on-one reviews.
Act as escalation point and operational cover when a Supervisor is absent, to ensure continuity of production.
Build a strong internal succession pipeline (Team Leader → Supervisor) through structured competency development and Individual Development Plans (IDPs).
Ensure skill matrices are kept up to date, with 100% of operators multi-skilled and qualified for their assigned roles.
Conduct bi-annual performance reviews and career development discussions with all direct reports.
Lead daily and weekly Layered Daily Management (LDM) meetings to align cross-functional teams on daily priorities and issues.
Digital Transformation & ESG
Champion the adoption of digital OEE dashboards and predictive maintenance tools on the shop floor, ensuring data accuracy and operator buy-in.
Lead site ESG initiatives such as glove recycling, compressed-air leak reduction, and VOC (volatile organic compound) emission reduction.
Report progress on these initiatives to the Operations Manager and Plant Steering Committee on a regular basis.
3. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: Operations Manager
Direct reports: Production Supervisors and, through them, Team Leaders and operators across all production lines and machining
Works closely with: Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, Planning, Finance, and HR to resolve day-to-day issues and drive improvement projects
4. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Bachelor's degree or above in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Industrial Management, or related field.
7-10+ years progressive manufacturing experience (automotive, compressor, or precision engineering preferred), including 5+ years in a management role.
Proven leadership coaching supervisors and managing multi-line production operations.
Strong command of Lean tools - Kaizen, SMED, SPS/8D - and OEE, scrap/defect reduction, cost control, and safety management.
Strong cross-functional communicator across Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain.
Track record leading change and building a continuous-improvement / digital-transformation culture.
Business-level English, written and spoken.
Our Commitment to Our People
Across the globe, we are united by a singular Purpose: Sustainability is no small ambition. That’swhy everything we do is geared toward a sustainable future-for our generation and all those to come. Through groundbreaking innovations, HVACR technology and cold chain solutions, we are reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency in spaces of all sizes, from residential to commercial to industrial.
Our employees are our greatest strength. We believe that our culture of passion, openness, and collaboration empowers us to work toward the same goal - to make the world a better place. We invest in the end-to-end development of our people, beginning at onboarding and through senior leadership, so they can thrive personally and professionally.
Flexible and competitive benefits plans offer the right options to meet your individual/family needs.We provide employees with flexible time off plans, including paid parental leave (maternal and paternal), vacation and holiday leave.
Together, we have the opportunity - and the power - to continue to revolutionize the technology behind air conditioning, heatingand refrigeration, and cultivate a better future. Learn more about us and how you can join our team!
Our Commitment to Inclusion & Belonging
At Copeland, we cultivate a strong sense of inclusion and belonging where individuals of all backgrounds, and with diverse perspectives, are embraced and treated fairly to enable a stronger workforce. Our employee resource groups play an important role in culture and community building at Copeland.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Copeland is an Equal Opportunity/AffirmativeAction employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to providing a workplace free of any discrimination or harassment.