Operations Manager Machining
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Operations Manager Machining
Objective
Lead and oversee all machinery to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production performance aligned with business objectives. The Operations Head – Machining is responsible for driving operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, morale, and environmental indicators while ensuring continuous improvement, manufacturing stability, productivity enhancement, and customer satisfaction.
This role is accountable for the coordination and optimization of manpower, equipment, processes, materials, and resources within the machining operation, ensuring compliance with automotive industry standards and Lean Manufacturing principle.
Main Responsibilities
- Lead and manage all machining production operations, ensuring compliance with safety, quality, delivery, cost, morale, and environmental objectives.
- Develop and execute operational strategies to improve productivity, efficiency, and performance.
- Ensure production targets, KPIs, and customer requirements are consistently achieved.
- Coordinate and optimize manpower, production flow, machine utilization, tooling, and material handling activities.
- Oversee production planning execution to guarantee on-time deliveries and operational continuity.
- Promote and maintain a strong safety culture focused on zero lost-time incidents and risk prevention.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives through Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and TPS methodologies.
- Implement and sustain operational excellence tools including VSM, FIFO, standardized work, line balancing, OEE, Kanban, pull systems, SPC, and root cause analysis.
- Lead cost reduction and productivity improvement projects focused on scrap reduction, labor optimization, cycle time reduction, and process efficiency.
- Support and coordinate new product launches, volume ramp-ups, process validations, and manufacturing readiness activities.
- Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 14001, customer-specific requirements, and internal quality systems.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Logistics, Warehouse, and HR teams to ensure operational alignment and issue resolution.
- Monitor and improve manufacturing indicators including OEE, productivity, scrap, downtime, throughput, labor efficiency, and customer complaints.
- Lead problem-solving activities using structured methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, FMEA, Pareto Analysis, Fishbone Analysis, and corrective action systems.
- Ensure preventive and corrective maintenance coordination to maximize equipment availability and operational reliability.
- Develop and mentor production leadership teams including superintendents, supervisors, and operators.
- Promote employee engagement, accountability, teamwork, and continuous development within the operation.
- Support automation, digitalization, and Industry 4.0 initiatives to improve manufacturing processes.
- Ensure proper resource allocation and operational discipline to maintain plant performance objectives.
Position Requirements
Master’s Degree is desirable. Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, systems engineering, or related field.
- Minimum 7–10 years of experience in machining operations within automotive or metalworking manufacturing environments.
- Minimum 3–5 years in leadership or management roles overseeing machining production operations.
- Strong and deep technical expertise in machining processes, CNC manufacturing, metal cutting operations, tooling strategies, and precision manufacturing.
- Proven experience managing high-volume machining operations focused on productivity, quality, delivery, and cost optimization.
- Advanced operational knowledge in machining environments include cycle time optimization, process capability, cutting parameters, tool life management, fixture validation, and machining stability.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary production teams in machining-intensive manufacturing operations.
- Proven experience driving continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives within machining processes.
- Experience with new product launches, machining process validation, production ramp-up, and manufacturing process optimization.
- Experience in customer-focused automotive manufacturing operations.
- Technical Knowledge: Strong technical expertise in multi-axis machining operations including 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC machining environments. Experience with machining centers, process capability improvement, tooling optimization, setup reduction, and precision manufacturing control. Advanced knowledge of machining processes, CNC operations, tooling, cutting parameters, fixtures, GD&T interpretation, and manufacturing systems. Advanced understanding of Lean Manufacturing and Toyota Production System (TPS). Knowledge of: Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), FIFO, Spaghetti Diagrams, Standardized Work, OEE. Kanban Systems, Pull Systems, Line Balancing, Root Cause Analysis, Six Sigma Methodologies, APQP, PPAP, SPC, MSA, and FMEA, Knowledge of IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 standards, Experience with productivity improvement, scrap reduction, and cost optimization projects. Understanding of maintenance planning and equipment reliability. Knowledge of automation and Industry 4.0 initiatives is desirable.
- Leadership Competencies: Strong leadership and decision-making skills. Result oriented mindset with strong problem-solving capabilities. Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills. Workforce management and team development capabilities. Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced manufacturing environments. Strategic thinking with operational execution focus. Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills. High sense of accountability and ownership.
- Languages: Advanced English proficiency required
At Nemak, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D&I) play a fundamental role in everything we do and are the underlying platform on which our culture is built. We foster a culture that is safe, respectful, fair and inclusive for all of our employees and job applicants. Our value proposition relies on innovation and cross-cultural teamwork, which is only possible when we strive for belonging and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We understand the impact equality and of varied perspectives that welcome better ideas to solve complex problems for improvement and transformation.
We are proud to have bias-free conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, and promotions, and we welcome all our employees and job applicants. We strongly prohibit any form of workplace harassment or discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
Operations Manager Machining
Objective
Lead and oversee all machinery to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production performance aligned with business objectives. The Operations Head – Machining is responsible for driving operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, morale, and environmental indicators while ensuring continuous improvement, manufacturing stability, productivity enhancement, and customer satisfaction.
This role is accountable for the coordination and optimization of manpower, equipment, processes, materials, and resources within the machining operation, ensuring compliance with automotive industry standards and Lean Manufacturing principle.
Main Responsibilities
- Lead and manage all machining production operations, ensuring compliance with safety, quality, delivery, cost, morale, and environmental objectives.
- Develop and execute operational strategies to improve productivity, efficiency, and performance.
- Ensure production targets, KPIs, and customer requirements are consistently achieved.
- Coordinate and optimize manpower, production flow, machine utilization, tooling, and material handling activities.
- Oversee production planning execution to guarantee on-time deliveries and operational continuity.
- Promote and maintain a strong safety culture focused on zero lost-time incidents and risk prevention.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives through Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and TPS methodologies.
- Implement and sustain operational excellence tools including VSM, FIFO, standardized work, line balancing, OEE, Kanban, pull systems, SPC, and root cause analysis.
- Lead cost reduction and productivity improvement projects focused on scrap reduction, labor optimization, cycle time reduction, and process efficiency.
- Support and coordinate new product launches, volume ramp-ups, process validations, and manufacturing readiness activities.
- Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 14001, customer-specific requirements, and internal quality systems.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Logistics, Warehouse, and HR teams to ensure operational alignment and issue resolution.
- Monitor and improve manufacturing indicators including OEE, productivity, scrap, downtime, throughput, labor efficiency, and customer complaints.
- Lead problem-solving activities using structured methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, FMEA, Pareto Analysis, Fishbone Analysis, and corrective action systems.
- Ensure preventive and corrective maintenance coordination to maximize equipment availability and operational reliability.
- Develop and mentor production leadership teams including superintendents, supervisors, and operators.
- Promote employee engagement, accountability, teamwork, and continuous development within the operation.
- Support automation, digitalization, and Industry 4.0 initiatives to improve manufacturing processes.
- Ensure proper resource allocation and operational discipline to maintain plant performance objectives.
Position Requirements
Master’s Degree is desirable. Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, systems engineering, or related field.
- Minimum 7–10 years of experience in machining operations within automotive or metalworking manufacturing environments.
- Minimum 3–5 years in leadership or management roles overseeing machining production operations.
- Strong and deep technical expertise in machining processes, CNC manufacturing, metal cutting operations, tooling strategies, and precision manufacturing.
- Proven experience managing high-volume machining operations focused on productivity, quality, delivery, and cost optimization.
- Advanced operational knowledge in machining environments include cycle time optimization, process capability, cutting parameters, tool life management, fixture validation, and machining stability.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary production teams in machining-intensive manufacturing operations.
- Proven experience driving continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives within machining processes.
- Experience with new product launches, machining process validation, production ramp-up, and manufacturing process optimization.
- Experience in customer-focused automotive manufacturing operations.
- Technical Knowledge: Strong technical expertise in multi-axis machining operations including 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC machining environments. Experience with machining centers, process capability improvement, tooling optimization, setup reduction, and precision manufacturing control. Advanced knowledge of machining processes, CNC operations, tooling, cutting parameters, fixtures, GD&T interpretation, and manufacturing systems. Advanced understanding of Lean Manufacturing and Toyota Production System (TPS). Knowledge of: Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), FIFO, Spaghetti Diagrams, Standardized Work, OEE. Kanban Systems, Pull Systems, Line Balancing, Root Cause Analysis, Six Sigma Methodologies, APQP, PPAP, SPC, MSA, and FMEA, Knowledge of IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 standards, Experience with productivity improvement, scrap reduction, and cost optimization projects. Understanding of maintenance planning and equipment reliability. Knowledge of automation and Industry 4.0 initiatives is desirable.
- Leadership Competencies: Strong leadership and decision-making skills. Result oriented mindset with strong problem-solving capabilities. Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills. Workforce management and team development capabilities. Ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced manufacturing environments. Strategic thinking with operational execution focus. Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills. High sense of accountability and ownership.
- Languages: Advanced English proficiency required
At Nemak, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D&I) play a fundamental role in everything we do and are the underlying platform on which our culture is built. We foster a culture that is safe, respectful, fair and inclusive for all of our employees and job applicants. Our value proposition relies on innovation and cross-cultural teamwork, which is only possible when we strive for belonging and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We understand the impact equality and of varied perspectives that welcome better ideas to solve complex problems for improvement and transformation.
We are proud to have bias-free conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, and promotions, and we welcome all our employees and job applicants. We strongly prohibit any form of workplace harassment or discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.