Index Search Group

Our client, an established U.S. wire and cable manufacturer supporting critical infrastructure markets, is seeking a Production Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing operations at its DeKalb, Illinois facility.

The Production Manager will be responsible for production performance, safety, quality, delivery, and operational efficiency. This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who is comfortable spending time on the production floor, developing supervisors and employees, solving operating problems, and driving measurable improvement.

The Environment

The facility manufactures aluminum, aluminum-clad, and copper wire products built to specific customer requirements. The Production Manager will work closely with maintenance, quality, planning, and company leadership to balance production schedules, labor, equipment capacity, and inventory.

Success requires a leader who can create accountability while building an engaged, team-focused culture. The environment is fast-paced and operationally demanding, with a strong focus on safety, quality, productivity, and on-time customer delivery.

Key Focus Areas

• Lead daily production activities to achieve safety, quality, schedule, and delivery requirements.
• Manage and develop production supervisors and hourly manufacturing employees.
• Monitor throughput, downtime, scrap, labor efficiency, productivity, and OEE.
• Identify production bottlenecks and implement solutions that improve output and equipment utilization.
• Partner with Maintenance to strengthen preventive maintenance and quickly resolve equipment issues.
• Collaborate with Quality to ensure products meet customer specifications and internal standards.
• Coordinate with Planning and Scheduling to balance labor, capacity, inventory, and production priorities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and root cause problem-solving.
• Support hiring, training, performance management, and employee development.
• Maintain a safe, clean, organized, and efficient manufacturing environment.

What Success Looks Like

Success for the Production Manager includes:

• Consistent achievement of production schedules and customer delivery commitments.
• Measurable improvements in throughput, equipment uptime, labor efficiency, and scrap.
• Stronger daily management practices and greater accountability across the production team.
• Supervisors who are equipped to lead, coach, and address performance issues effectively.
• Close coordination among production, maintenance, quality, and planning.
• A visible commitment to workplace safety, product quality, and continuous improvement.

Candidate Profile

• 5-10 years of manufacturing leadership experience in a high-volume production environment.
• At least three years managing production operations as a Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Operations Manager, or similar leader.
• Experience leading supervisors and hourly employees in a fast-paced manufacturing facility.
• Wire and cable manufacturing experience is strongly preferred, especially involving aluminum, aluminum-clad, or copper wire.
• Knowledge of drawing, stranding, insulating, or related wire manufacturing processes is preferred.
• Experience using operational KPIs to improve productivity, reduce waste, and strengthen performance.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, and continuous improvement practices.
• Strong leadership, communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations management, or a related field is preferred.
• Ability to work on-site in DeKalb, Illinois.