Production Manager

Dimensions of Job: 

• Will supervise hourly skilled employees.
• Will supervise salaried production supervisors.

Principal Accountabilities: 

• Assists in establishing department objectives; communicates objectives to team members and provides guidance and assistance to assure they have the necessary skills and equipment to meet the objectives.
• Ensures timely and efficient delivery of crude minerals by providing recommendations for the repair and preventive maintenance of equipment and facilities, and by managing process improvements across the whole plant.
• Establishes production plan, identifies opportunities for improvements and communicates shortfalls to management; facilitates corrective action to provide continuous improvement and assures that high quality products are produced in a safe and efficient manner and meet customer specifications.
• Responsible for scheduling of assigned equipment to meet production demand.
• Responsible for Oracle production supervisor responsibilities to ensure department needs are met.
• Train process technicians on Oracle duties and ensure the accuracy of data entered on each shift; correct deficiencies and implement measures to help eliminate them.
• Work with Production Planner and Inventory Manager to develop production scheduling for the wash plant, spray dryers, Calciner, bulk loading, and tank car wash out; assists the Plant Manager in long range planning based on the annual forecast.
• Initiates, evaluates, and provides suggestions for modifications in the automation for process areas.
• Responsible for the daily supervision of the process to include schedules, vacation requests, and discipline.
• Assists in investigating customer complaints and establishing corrective action plans.
• Maintains communication with team members and members of management to keep up with changes in specifications; coordinates with other department's activities to maintain current knowledge of processes and equipment of assigned area.
• Empowers employees to identify problems and to develop creative and cost-efficient solutions to correct these problems; maintains department records, including employee training, production, inventory, etc.
• Works closely with production teams and Maintenance Department to ensure timely maintenance of equipment such as ordering and delivery of supplies.
• Assures that teams are trained in all applicable Federal and State laws, KaMin Safety, ISO procedures and corporate policies such as confined space, MSDS, and lock-out procedures.
• Applies the KaMin values and assures that employees are well informed and adhere to KaMin’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Major Challenges: 

• To monitor the work environment to prevent and eliminate hazards to employees, contractors, and visitors; train employees to recognize hazards and prevent incidents.
• To maintain effective upward and downward communication between the teams, other departments, and upper management.
• To stay abreast of equipment and process changes and ensure safety is designed into changes.
• To remain flexible enough to accommodate changes in the production plan to satisfy customer demands.

Decision Making Authority: 

• Recommends hiring and performance decisions for the production department.
• Assures that people under his supervision are complying with company policies and obeying all safety and environmental rules and regulations.
• Evaluates employees' performance and assists with plans and training needed to bring performance to standard or better.
• Authorized to independently make decisions; to change workflow, start-up, shutdown, call in maintenance, authorize overtime or vary scheduling to meet customer demands.
• Authorized to make safety and environmental decisions to ensure the health and welfare of employees and environment.

Competencies: 

• Five to seven years of production experience in kaolin preferred or a combination of education and experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or process science preferred to maximize processing and utilization of plant equipment
• Demonstrated ability to use excellent interpersonal skills to interact and communicate well with others
• Must have working knowledge of statistics and SPC.
• Must have complete knowledge of Production/Shipping equipment and processes, general knowledge of how to operate equipment, and general knowledge of processes that interface with department.
• Must have facilitator and leadership skills
• Must have general knowledge of Federal, State, and Company policy, including safety and environmental regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to organize time and priorities to effectively handle multiple functions to maintain production and assure that equipment is operating efficiently.
• Writes clear, concise memos, letters, and instructions which others can understand; verbally transmits ideas, instructions, and information so they are clearly understood by others.

Note: KaMin retains the right to make changes to this job description at any time.  The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee.  Other duties, responsibilities or activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.