Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Davidson, NC

Position Summary:

The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing daily production workflow and operational efficiency across both company facilities. This role works closely with management teams to ensure production schedules, staffing, inventory flow, and operational processes are aligned to meet business goals, customer deadlines, and quality expectations.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong experience in apparel manufacturing and screen-printing operations who can balance labor and workflow across departments, resolve operational challenges, drive process improvements, and confidently address performance, accountability, and staffing issues with both employees and management. This role requires an active floor presence, frequent travel between facilities, and direct involvement in daily operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee and coordinate workflow between both company facilities to ensure operational efficiency and production continuity.
• Travel frequently between both company locations to support operations, monitor workflow, and maintain alignment across teams.
• Work closely with department managers and supervisors to balance staffing, production capacity, and workflow demands.
• Monitor production performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement corrective actions to improve throughput and efficiency.
• Ensure production schedules and priorities are executed effectively to meet customer deadlines.
• Maintain a strong floor presence and actively support teams in resolving operational issues in real time.
• Drive accountability and performance across operational teams.
• Address operational concerns proactively and make decisions that support company goals and production needs.
• Oversee with planning, warehouse, purchasing, and production teams to ensure material availability, inventory accuracy, and efficient workflow execution.
• Monitor inventory levels, production flow, and work-in-progress to minimize delays, shortages, and operational disruptions.
• Support production planning efforts to maximize efficiency, labor utilization, and resource allocation.
• Manage relationships with operational vendors and service providers, including equipment suppliers, maintenance contractors, logistics providers, inventory management partners, and other facility-related vendors.
• Coordinate vendor services, equipment maintenance, operational support, and facility-related needs to ensure uninterrupted production and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee and support import and export operational activities, including shipment coordination, documentation review, inventory movement, and communication with logistics providers and business partners.
• Analyze operational, production, inventory, labor, and supply chain data to support decision-making, identify trends, and improve overall business performance.
• Develop, review, and maintain operational reports, key performance indicators (KPIs), and metrics to measure productivity, efficiency, inventory accuracy, and operational effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflow, labor efficiency, communication, inventory management, and operational processes.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and support the implementation of Lean Manufacturing principles throughout operations.
• Develop and implement standardized operational procedures, best practices, and process controls.
• Support the implementation, optimization, and effective utilization of ERP, MRP, inventory management, and operational systems.
• Build strong working relationships with employees, supervisors, and leadership teams across both facilities.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and support to supervisors and operational staff.
• Address employee concerns, operational conflicts, and workplace challenges professionally and effectively.
• Have direct and constructive conversations regarding performance, accountability, operational expectations, and workplace concerns with employees and management.
• Foster teamwork, accountability, and positive employee relations.
• Communicate operational priorities, updates, and expectations clearly across departments.
• Promote and enforce workplace safety standards, company policies, and operational procedures.
• Support a clean, organized, and safe production environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Minimum of five (5) years of operations management experience in a manufacturing environment; apparel manufacturing, screen printing, or related production experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, inventory control, warehouse operations, material flow, capacity planning, and overall manufacturing operations.
• Experience with ERP, MRP, inventory management, and production planning systems; ApparelMagic experience strongly preferred. Experience with RFID inventory tracking, barcode scanning technology, and inventory accuracy initiatives is a plus.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies, including Kaizen, Kanban, Root Cause Analysis, Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagrams, 5 Whys, and waste reduction initiatives.
• Proven ability to analyze operational, production, inventory, labor, and performance data to identify trends, drive process improvements, and support business decisions.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multiple departments, developing supervisors, driving accountability, resolving conflicts, and leading teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and changing business demands.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, and the ability to effectively communicate with employees, customers, vendors, and leadership at all levels of the organization.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred.

Education/Certification Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in operations management, Business, Industrial Engineering, or related field preferred; equivalent operational experience may be considered.

Physical, Cognitive, Safety and Environmental Demands:

• Frequent walking throughout production, warehouse, office, and distribution areas, including regular movement between company facilities.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, climb stairs, and perform routine inspections of equipment, inventory, and production processes throughout the workday.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or move materials, supplies, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Frequent use of computers, mobile devices, and office equipment for reporting, analysis, communication, and operational planning.
• Ability to analyze complex operational information, prioritize multiple competing demands, make sound business decisions, and effectively manage changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain focus, attention to detail, and situational awareness while overseeing multiple departments, projects, and operational activities simultaneously.
• Ability to effectively communicate, lead teams, conduct meetings, provide coaching, and address operational and personnel matters in a professional manner.
• Frequent travel required between company facilities and occasional travel to vendors, customers, or business-related meetings as needed.
• Work environment includes exposure to manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution operations with varying noise levels, moving machinery, powered industrial vehicles, production equipment, inks, chemicals, dust, and changing temperatures.
• Must be able to safely navigate active production and warehouse environments while complying with all company safety policies, procedures, and required personal protective equipment (PPE) standards.
• Must be comfortable working directly on the production floor and maintaining an active presence in operational areas to support employees, monitor performance, and resolve issues in real time.
• Ability to respond appropriately and effectively to operational emergencies, production disruptions, safety concerns, and time-sensitive business demands.

Royce Apparel Inc is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. Employment decisions, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, transfer, discipline, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. Royce Apparel is committed to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Royce`s primary focus is to offer fashion forward merchandise and a great work environment for its employees with a family atmosphere. Royce follows current fashion trends and pays particular close attention to fabric and embellishment details.