Production Manager, Finishing & Special Processes

Recruiting Partner: Kalyn Schreckhise

Elk Grove Village, Illinois | Engineering | Not Remote | $125,000 to $145,000 | Job ID: 183616

Job Summary

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Join a growing precision manufacturer as a Production Manager, Finishing & Special Processes and take ownership of daily production performance across multiple specialized manufacturing departments. You will lead supervisors and their teams responsible for deburring, assembly, precision grinding, EDM, brazing, and other finishing operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and consistent production of high-quality components.

This role is ideal for a hands-on manufacturing leader with a strong technical or engineering background who enjoys developing supervisors, solving complex production challenges, and improving processes in a precision manufacturing environment. You'll have the opportunity to lead specialized operations supporting demanding aerospace and defense customers while building a foundation for continued leadership growth.

Production Manager, Finishing & Special Processes | What You Will Do

  • Oversee daily production operations across deburring, assembly, grinding, EDM, brazing, and other assigned special-process departments
  • Lead, coach, and develop department supervisors while establishing clear expectations for safety, quality, productivity, and accountability
  • Execute production schedules, balance labor resources, and monitor throughput, work-in-process, equipment utilization, and departmental performance
  • Identify production bottlenecks, capacity constraints, and workflow inefficiencies, implementing practical solutions to maintain delivery commitments
  • Ensure specialized manufacturing processes follow approved procedures, technical specifications, operator qualifications, and customer requirements
  • Partner with Process Engineering to resolve technical challenges, improve process capability, and implement approved manufacturing improvements
  • Maintain strong quality standards involving workmanship, traceability, inspection requirements, and controlled manufacturing processes
  • Collaborate with Quality to address nonconformances, corrective actions, recurring defects, and customer-specific requirements
  • Drive improvements in labor productivity, operational efficiency, equipment utilization, scrap reduction, and production flow
  • Coordinate with Production Control, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Quality, and Manufacturing Engineering to keep production running efficiently
  • Develop employee training, cross-training, workforce flexibility, and succession planning across assigned departments
  • Maintain a strong shop-floor presence, promoting a safe, organized, and accountable manufacturing environment
  • Support compliance with AS9100, applicable special-process requirements, and internal quality management systems

Production Manager, Finishing & Special Processes | What You Bring

  • High school diploma required; technical degree, associate's degree, bachelor's degree, or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience preferred
  • 7+ years of manufacturing, production operations, supervision, or related experience with progressively increasing responsibility
  • Demonstrated experience leading production supervisors and driving performance across multiple manufacturing functions
  • Background in precision manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or similarly demanding manufacturing environments strongly preferred
  • Experience overseeing finishing, assembly, precision grinding, EDM, brazing, heat treatment, or comparable specialized manufacturing processes preferred
  • Strong understanding of production scheduling, labor utilization, manufacturing workflow, equipment efficiency, and operational performance
  • Ability to interpret manufacturing documentation, technical specifications, and established process requirements
  • Understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T, and manufacturing inspection requirements preferred
  • Familiarity with AS9100, controlled manufacturing processes, and aerospace quality requirements preferred
  • Experience using ERP/MRP systems and production reporting tools preferred
  • Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional coordination skills
  • Ability to maintain a visible, hands-on leadership presence in an active manufacturing environment

Production Manager, Finishing & Special Processes | Compensation and Opportunity

  • Target base salary: $120,000–$150,000, depending on qualifications and experience
  • Target annual performance bonus: 10%
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Paid time off
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Opportunity to lead multiple specialized manufacturing departments
  • Direct exposure to operations leadership and technically complex manufacturing processes
  • Meaningful responsibility for improving productivity, quality, and workforce performance
  • Opportunity to develop supervisors and build a high-performing production organization
  • Potential advancement into broader manufacturing and operations leadership roles
  • Relocation may be considered for qualified candidates

 

JOB ID: 183616

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Kalyn Schreckhise

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Additional Information

At Goodwin Recruiting, our clients seek qualified candidates, and that is what we deliver. A person’s age, gender, race, color, marital or family status, national origin, disability, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity has no bearing on whether they are able to do the job. We evaluate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that meet the requirements of the position and aim to open doors and change lives. We work hard to identify a broad slate of candidates for each of our clients, with many hiring success stories to share.

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Kalyn Schreckhise

Senior Recruiting Partner and Learning & Resource Coordinator