Production Manager III

As the largest pureplay adhesives company in the world, H.B. Fuller's (NYSE: FUL) innovative, functional coatings, adhesives and sealants enhance the quality, safety and performance of products people use every day. Founded in 1887, with 2024 revenue of $3.6 billion, our mission to Connect What Matters is brought to life by more than 7,500 global team members who collaborate with customers across more than 30 market segments in over 140 countries to develop highly specified solutions that enable customers to bring world-changing innovations to their end markets. Learn more at www.hbfuller.com.

Position Overview

The Production Manager oversees all plant operations across three shifts with the objective of safely achieving maximum production of high-quality products while maintaining strong employee morale. This role supports continuous quality improvement initiatives to meet or exceed customer needs and contributes to process enhancements through audits, project implementation, and cross-functional collaboration.

Primary Responsibilities

Operations Leadership (60%)

• Manage direct and indirect Operations staff across three shifts in a 5-day, 24-hour manufacturing environment.

• Troubleshoot formulation, process, and systems issues, implementing changes to improve efficiency and quality.

• Support Innovation and Marketing in evaluating new or potential product runs, including costing and trial execution.

• Partner with Engineering and Facility teams on process or system modifications.

• Participate in plant committees such as Safety, Quality, 5S, and Housekeeping.

• Coordinate operational activities for Innovation projects, including trial scheduling, pilot line staffing, operator training, and process capability tracking.

• Lead safety initiatives, raise awareness, and ensure timely completion of training requirements.

• Manage staffing levels, participate in interviews, and oversee the onboarding process.

• Address workforce issues and support employee involvement in problem solving.

Production & Process Optimization (25%)

• Lead efforts to reduce downtime, improve change-over efficiency, and optimize production processes.

• Oversee pre-production planning and post-production reviews, including ISO and internal QI follow-up.

• Evaluate production methods and conduct investigations on work instructions, procedures, and equipment setup.

• Identify cycle-time reduction opportunities and implement corrective training as needed.

Plant Support (15%)

• Serve as back-up Shift Manager during critical runs and absences.

• Assist Engineering teams with evaluation of new equipment or technologies.

• Support the Plant Manager to ensure compliance with all Safety, Health, and Environmental regulations.

• Develop and execute production plans to identify cycle-time savings.

• Manage performance, training, and development for 16 direct and indirect reports.

• Recommend process changes, update ISO work instructions, and maintain quality documentation.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (engineering, chemistry, or business preferred).

• Five years of Operations Management experience.

• Strong leadership, organizational, planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Minimum two years of experience with ISO-9001 quality systems.

Preferred Requirements

• Lean Six Sigma experience (Green Belt or Black Belt strongly preferred).

• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

• Certified ISO-9001 lead auditor training.

• Knowledge of OSHA regulations.

• Experience with design of experiments.

#LI-MB1

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, and geographic location.

In addition to your salary, H.B. Fuller offers employees a competitive total rewards package including comprehensive benefits, incentive and recognitions programs, health & wellness benefits, 401K contributions, paid time off and paid holidays. Eligibility may vary.

H.B. Fuller is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and proud to have created a collaborative culture where employees around the world are seen, heard, and respected. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or marital status or status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected classification.

H.B. Fuller does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with H.B. Fuller, a written service agreement must be executed by Human Resources prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed service agreement, H.B. Fuller shall not be obligated for payment of any fee or compensation.