Senior Manager, Production

Company Overview:

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases is a leading provider of cryogenic pumps, heat exchangers, process systems, turboexpanders, services, and solutions for the liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied hydrogen (LH2), and industrial gases industries. Applications include fueling stations, marine engines, peak shaving, power generation, virtual pipelines, carbon capture, geothermal power and well stimulation. We are a subsidiary of Nikkiso Company Ltd, a leading industrial manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with $1.5 B USD in annual revenue, 8000 + employees worldwide, and publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Nikkiso ACD is an engineering and manufacturing company specializing in machinery designed to operate at cryogenic temperatures as low as 420 degrees Fahrenheit, the boiling point of Liquid hydrogen. For over 50 years, Nikkiso ACD has specialized in centrifugal and reciprocating pumps as well as turbines for air separation. Nikkiso ACD has the most diversified product line in the industry covering nearly every application requiring pumps or turboexpanders.

This position is based at Nikkiso ACD, LLC, located in Santa Ana, CA.

This is a hands-on role and at times requires working directly with the assemblies. The Production Manager manages various production/assembly teams and activities in the production/assembly processing areas. This includes, but it is not limited to production planning, directing and monitoring the production groups to meet production goals while maintaining safety and quality standards and established specifications, schedules and volume/cost/loss targets. The Manager will be liaising with various support groups such as Safety, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, (i.e., Planning), Procurement, among others; these joint efforts will be focused on developing production schedules, managing change, and allocating labor/capital resources. This individual must be able to drive Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across the production/assembly areas and ensure all projects are delivered in a safe manner, at the highest quality standards, while maintaining budgetary guidelines and strict deadlines.

• Provide effective team leadership during times of change and production ramp up.
• Responsible for production activities in a manufacturing/assembly environment of high precision components with the goal to develop and implement system-level/strategic solutions to optimize efficiency and resource utilization, increase safety levels, minimize costs and maintain high quality standards.
• Coordinate team activities to optimize cost performance through capital investment programs, optimizing operating working capital usage and minimizing waste through the development of a continuous-improvement culture that includes Lean Six Sigma methodology, GMP, 5S and Kaizen principles.
• Build a strong production team, providing a balanced focus between strategic, tactical and operational activities through exceptional servant leadership, while providing a clear vision and inspiring staff to achieve excellence.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrate the ability to influence others to accept practices and approaches.
• Proactively work with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Facilities, EHS, QC, and other various departments within the company while incorporating best practices into the manufacturing environment.
• Must be able to effectively drive Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across the manufacturing/assembly areas, ensuring all projects are delivered with the highest quality standards, while maintaining time and budget guidelines.
• Communicate to stakeholders the impact of technological changes and potential effects on supply and provide recommendations and solutions without compromising quality or service.
• Contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on manufacturing activities.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Precision Manufacturing/Assembly
• Production Control through work order prioritization/Sales In-put
• Material Management and materials handling
• Manufacturing Engineering through job routers and appropriate part drawings
• Maintenance of tools and equipment
• Work Environment through 5S and lean practices
• Open and truthful communications to all associates
• Provide all necessary training and mentoring.
• Promote quality and a high level of workmanship.

• Bachelors Degree in business, manufacturing, industrial or related engineering discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience whereby requisite knowledge, skills and abilities have been demonstrated.
• Minimum ten years experience in manufacturing operations in an industrial equipment manufacturing environment with a minimum of five years of management experience.
• Understanding of & familiarity with marine class societies is a plus.
• Computer skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office software, MRP/ERP software, Project Management software.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, work independently, be detail-oriented and thorough.
• Knowledge of raw materials, manufacturing processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of pumps and turbo expander products.

• Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair and maintenance.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, production methods and coordination of resources.
• Verbal communication skills: speaks clearly and persuasively to convey information effectively; actively listens to understand, asks questions as appropriate and responds well to questions.
• Written communication skills: writes clearly and informatively, providing reports, documentation, detailed instructions, or specifications to others.
• Analytical skills: identifies complex problems and reviews related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions or corrective actions; considers the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate solutions or alternatives; determines how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes; identifies measures or indicator of performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance.
• Organizational skills: Manages and completes duties and projects on time and within budget; plans, prioritizes, and organizes work to achieve production goals and objectives with excellent follow through and follow up on assigned duties and projects.
• Interpersonal skills: Builds positive team spirit by developing constructive and cooperative working relationships and interdepartmental group commitments to effectively influence the actions of others to achieve production goals and objectives.
• Computer skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office software, MRP/ERP software, Project Management software.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, work independently, be detail-oriented and thorough.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred