Job Description

Manufacturing Manager

Position Purpose

The Manufacturing Manager ensures Caton delivers on its promise: precision, reliability, and speed in every high-voltage connector and cable assembly we build. This role owns production execution — driving discipline, quality, and flow on the shop floor — while developing a team of supervisors and assemblers into a high-performing, accountable unit. Success means customers always receive on-time, flawless products; employees take pride in their craftsmanship; and operations continuously improve in alignment with Caton’s strategic vision.

What Great Looks Like

• Orders are consistently shipped on time or early with quality that earns zero customer escapes .
• Production runs with predictable cadence ; bottlenecks are solved quickly at the lowest level.
• Employees are engaged, accountable, and confident in their roles; turnover is below industry average.
• Supervisors manage their cells effectively, with clear tier meetings and problem-solving routines.
• Production, engineering, quality, and purchasing collaborate seamlessly, with no surprises .
• Continuous improvement is visible: lead times shorten, costs drop, and processes stabilize each year.

What’s Unacceptable

• Frequent missed ship dates or reactive fire-fighting as the default mode.
• Weak adherence to AS9100 discipline (work instructions, documentation, traceability).
• Supervisors not held accountable, resulting in unclear direction for assemblers.
• Metrics hidden, manipulated, or ignored.
• Employees feeling disconnected from the mission or quality of their work.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & People

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, technicians, and assemblers to build a disciplined, accountable team .
• Run structured daily tier meetings to review SQDC (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost) performance.
• Set clear expectations, hold supervisors accountable, and reinforce Caton’s core values .

Production Execution

• Translate business goals into daily production priorities and ensure alignment across shifts.
• Oversee scheduling, work order release, and labor allocation to maximize throughput.
• Drive adherence to documented processes, ensuring compliance with AS9100 and customer requirements.

Quality & Compliance

• Champion right-first-time manufacturing; enforce work instructions, drawings, and inspection standards.
• Support corrective actions and lead root cause analysis for production issues.
• Ensure documentation, configuration control, and traceability are flawless.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead lean initiatives tailored to low-volume/high-mix environments.
• Implement visual management, SQDC boards, and kaizen events.
• Partner with Engineering to improve manufacturability and reduce rework.

Decision Rights

• Authority to approve production schedules, labor assignments, and work order priorities.
• Authority to enforce shop floor discipline, including stopping production for quality/safety concerns.
• Budgetary responsibility for direct labor hours and overtime usage.
• Input into capital equipment purchases, hiring decisions, and training investments.
• Escalates: major capital expenditures, strategic headcount changes, or cross-departmental conflicts.

Goals & Performance Metrics

• ≥ 98% On-Time Delivery to promise date.
• ≤ 2% Internal Defect Rate (or equivalent DPPM).
• Labor efficiency aligned to budgeted hours.
• Year-over-year productivity gains (lead time, throughput, cost).
• Employee engagement and retention targets achieved.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years in manufacturing leadership, ideally in electronics/cable assembly or aerospace/defense.
• Strong knowledge of AS9100D/ISO 9001 QMS requirements.
• Proven track record leading teams, driving performance, and implementing lean practices.
• ERP experience required (SAP strongly preferred).
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

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